ALBANY, N.Y., March 18, 2008
New N.Y. Gov., Wife, Each Admit Affairs
David Paterson Says Several Relationships Took Place During Marriage's Rough Patch
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Play CBS Video Video Role Model To The Blind Gov. David Paterson, who is legally blind, has given hope to the visually impaired. A staggering 70 percent of the nation's legally blind are unemployed. Byron Pitts reports.
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Video Gov. Paterson Sworn In "CBS News RAW": After much applause, David Paterson was sworn in as the governor of New York. Paterson is New York's first African-American governor.
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Video Patersons Acknowledge Affairs "CBS News RAW": Gov. David A. Paterson, D-N.Y., and his wife, Michelle, acknowledge the affairs that they both committed in their marriage. Paterson says that although laws were not broken, he wanted to come clean.
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New York Gov. David Paterson, right, discusses marital infidelities as his wife Michelle Paige Paterson looks on during a news conference at the state Capitol in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, March 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
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Newly-sworn-in New York Gov. David Paterson and his wife, Michelle, acknowledged to the New York Daily News that they each had affairs, but did not go into details. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink)
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Eliot Spitzer announces his resignation as his wife Silda looks on Wednesday, March 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin)
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Photo Essay Transfer Of Power New York State's first black governor takes office in wake of Spitzer scandal
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Interactive Spitzer Scandal New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer is the target of a federal prostitution investigation.
Gov. David Paterson said the affairs happened during a rough patch in his marriage, and that the employee did not work for him. He insisted he did not advance her career, and that no campaign or state money was spent on the affairs.
"I do not feel I have broken my commitment to the people of New York state," Paterson said at a news conference with his wife, Michelle Paige Paterson.
Paterson, 53, admitted an affair in an interview with the Daily News on Monday after he was sworn in, but his comments Tuesday indicate the couple's fidelity problems went deeper than he first acknowledged. He is not having an affair now, he said.
The Patersons said they both had affairs during a time when their marriage was headed toward divorce. But they admitted the infidelity, sought counseling and have built a stronger marriage and family.
"We dealt with it as a family," his wife said. "A marriage has peaks and valleys ... no marriage is perfect."
"I think we have a marriage like many Americans, maybe even like many of you," the governor told reporters. "Elected officials are really just reflections of the people we represent."
Paterson said the affairs took place since about 1999, and extended into his term as lieutenant governor. He said he did not reveal the affairs during his time as a senator, Senate minority leader or lieutenant governor because no one had asked and he came forward because he did not want the rumors to cloud his governorship.
"I didn't want to be blackmailed," he said.
Paterson, who is legally blind and the state's first black governor, ascended to office after Spitzer's resignation last week amid allegations the former governor hired a high-priced prostitute from an escort service. It was a dramatic fall for Spitzer, who was elected with an overwhelming share of the vote and who had vowed to root out corruption at the Capitol.
"This transition today is a historic message to the world: That we live by the same values that we profess, and we are a government of laws, not individuals," Paterson said during his swearing-in.
Paterson took the oath of office from Chief Judge Judith Kaye, who ascended to the pinnacle of the state's highest court in 1993 after former Chief Judge Sol Wachtler was caught threatening and harassing an ex-lover.
Paterson, who becomes New York's 55th governor, has said he will get right to work. The Legislature faces an April 1 deadline to pass an estimated $124 billion budget, and Paterson also said that health care, education, jobs and problems facing "the single mother with two jobs" need immediate attention.
Paterson spoke for 26 minutes - about half of it engaged in the banter and humor that helped define him as a lawmaker and lieutenant governor - without notes or teleprompter.
He joked about his limited vision; he can see things close to him out of one eye.
At Spitzer's last State of the State address, he said, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver stopped him from accidentally breaking a glass with his gavel, then told him, "I will not allow you to turn the State of the State into a Jewish wedding."
There are an estimated 10 million visually impaired people in the U.S., and 1.3 million are legally blind, reports CBS News correspondent Byron Pitts. Despite high levels of training and education, their unemployment rate is a staggering 70 percent.
Before reluctantly accepting Spitzer's offer to run with him as lieutenant governor, Paterson was a Democratic state senator for more than two decades, representing parts of Harlem and Manhattan's Upper West Side.
His wife had tears in her eyes for most of Monday's ceremony.
"Every time I hear David speak, I want to cry," she said afterward. "I'm just very happy I was able to live to see this day."
©MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Add a Comment See all 206 Comments
- He is legally blind and the sighted can''t relate to it. I am a legally blind person and it is hard to live in a sighted world. I am the same age the Gov. is. I have a sighted friend and we share a place.
- Reply to this comment
- Personally, I don''t understand why it''s anyone''s business if a politician has had an affair. Is it anyone''s business if a neighbor has an affair? Essentially, it''s the same thing. If something in the man''s personal life is happening or has happened - but has NOT affected his job - then it''s no one''s business!
- Reply to this comment
- Contrary to what some others may think, most of the populace is NOT dashing from bed to bed. Posted by Boston1954 at 10:08 PM : Mar 18, 2008
To Boston1954 and all those other sanctimonious types itching to cast the first stone... this guy''s experience sounds nothing if not NORMAL. I wish him all the best in the job. - Reply to this comment
- It''s all about the political record for me. I could care less who someone sleeps with or for that matter what thier sexual orientation is. It''s just sensationalism and that''s all that it is. Spitzer slept with a hooker and broke the law and did the right thing by resigning. Good for him. Paterson slept with a co-worker - not good - however, he''s having to come clean on a private matter in order to diffuse any future exposure. Not really fair to him in my opinion.
- Reply to this comment
- If a man can not show love, compassion, and dedication to his wife, how can he show the same to the people of a town, a city, or a state?
Posted by warr1or1
Contrary to what some others may think, most of the populace is NOT dashing from bed to bed.
Posted by Boston1954
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WHAT does "Sexual Fidelity" have to do with any of that....? - Reply to this comment
- Boston1954, give them a break. They both made mistakes and worked it out as a family. Sounds very sane and rational. If you want an angel for a leader, go to a planet where there might be one. Posted by godseyesore
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Here it is godseyesore...
This was posted by someone else but states how I feel as well.
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If a man can not show love, compassion, and dedication to his wife, how can he show the same to the people of a town, a city, or a state?
Posted by warr1or1
Contrary to what some others may think, most of the populace is NOT dashing from bed to bed. - Reply to this comment
- When we look at these two and pronounce that they eanc have a "character flaw" - - -
Isn''t that playing god...??
Isn''t "Who made you god?" a valid question with respect to so many of these posts?? - Reply to this comment
- Should the personal life of a candidate before election to public office matter? Doesn''t everyone have something in the past that would embarrass or potentially call thier character into question? Some of the smartest and most pragmatic people I know have some kind of flaw. That doesn''t mean they can''t function in an important job and make quality decisions. It''s time for the American public to demand accountability from our public servants in the context of their political objectives to their constituancies. If we did that no one would have time to care what someone has done in the bedroom.
- Reply to this comment
- I would suggest that what you are looking at is not hate or hatefulness. That you would see or hear that tells us more about you than anything else. Ever hear of projection and denial.....?
What it is is disgust and revulsion...!!
So where does the disgust and revulsion come from...?
Your smug superiority
Your sanctimony
The insistence that you and you alone have a monopoly on morality.
Your insistence that your definition of the union between a man and woman is the only valid definition, and your insistence on imposing that view on the rest of us.
Your insistence on imposing your morals into the laws that affect us all.
And all of that is just for starters, and it''s not the worst of it, not even close. - Reply to this comment
- How do you turn making love to the same woman for the rest of your life into something exciting & worth looking forward to?
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Posted by Keithle1 at 08:19 PM : Mar 18, 2008
It won''t be and you shouldn''t expect it. despite what you may think the companionship of someone you love is more important than hot relationships. - Reply to this comment
- I really can''t believe this. He has virtually admitted to sexual harassment. His affairs were his business but the affair with the employee could fall into the sexual harassment arena.
preoccupation with honesty is a good thing and having an affair is a sign of significant dishonesty. - Reply to this comment
- Why does the American public have such an obsession with the *** life of our elected officials? There are more important issues to focus on, such as the deteriorating economy and health care. The puritanical witch hunts of our public officials discourages many of the best and the brightest from running for public office. People in other countries laugh at our obsession with the bedrooms instead of the meeting rooms.
- Reply to this comment
- The photo is hilarious. This story is hilarious. They are admitting more and more .... "I had s3x with a cow. I had s3x with Larry Craig. I was a male prostitute and my wife acted in bestiality movies. I masturbate 7 times a day. And I''m your new governor! Did I mention I was the other woman in the McGreevy love triangle?"
They look so ashamed in the photo. It''s really funny.
New York - what a bunch of losers. - Reply to this comment
- Why does it make you so hateful that I am faithful to my wife? The venom is dripping from your frothing mouth. Self-righteous? Just because I kept my word about being loyal to the person I married?
I suppose you prefer people who lie, cheat and steal? Do you like the knives in your back twisted? What is it about people who are loyal and faithful that bothers you so much?
Posted by random_radar at 07:49 PM : Mar 18, 2008
random_radar,
what you say is true. I hope you and your spouse have children....the world needs more people with a
desire to do the next right thing and have strong conviction in what they have promised.
My wife and I have been married for 21 years and we dated before and after college for 8 yrs. Yes, we have had our ups and downs but that is to be expected.
Our hard work has payed off with two beautiful children that also have a desire to do the next right thing. Are the four of us perfect...h-e-l-l no. - Reply to this comment
- 23% of teen girls have a STD, and among black teen girls 48% have STD. The new Gov and his wife are great role models!
- Reply to this comment
- "You are probably the biggest lying cheating dirtbag here.
Posted by GetaCluIdiot at 07:02 PM : Mar 18, 2008"
Strong comments from someone who has no basis to make such an accusation. Like I said, you and hadenough43 seem to think everyone is an adulterer, and I think most people are not adulterers.
My conclusion is merely that my world view is based upon experience with a large percentage of faithful spouses, and that your world view is based upon experience with some other kind of behavior.
Isn''''t that the case? Or have I misunderstood your position?
Posted by random_radar
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Well, it''s just a trifle little thing - I don''t think either of us EVERYONE is an adulterer (by your sanctimoniest definition). And I have no doubt that your experiance is based on your life encased in your own little reality surrounded by people just like you... - Reply to this comment
- Simple question: Why is this guy still Governor? Why is the Mayor of Detroit still the Mayor? Governor Spitzer did the honorable thing and left office. I suggest these two do the honorable and leave office. They lack character, good judgment, morality, and ethical behavior.
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Posted by CBS4me3 at 08:29 PM : Mar 18, 2008
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There is nothing honorable about Spitzer. He is a crook and a hypocrite. He used the same illegal avenue for his own pleasure that he made a show of prosecuting when he was AG. He also used illegal means of getting the money to the service.
I never expect a saint when I vote, but I do expect someone who doesn''t try to arrest people for doing the same thing that they are doing. Instead of busting prostitutes, maybe he should have been trying to get it legalized as it should be.
Governor Paterson sounds fine to me, but that will be up to the people of NY when the time comes for him to be elected. - Reply to this comment
- Simple question: Why is this guy still Governor? Why is the Mayor of Detroit still the Mayor? Governor Spitzer did the honorable thing and left office. I suggest these two do the honorable and leave office. They lack character, good judgment, morality, and ethical behavior.
- Reply to this comment
- How do you turn making love to the same woman for the rest of your life into something exciting & worth looking forward to?
- Reply to this comment
- "You are probably the biggest lying cheating dirtbag here.
Posted by GetaCluIdiot at 07:02 PM : Mar 18, 2008"
Strong comments from someone who has no basis to make such an accusation. Like I said, you and hadenough43 seem to think everyone is an adulterer, and I think most people are not adulterers.
My conclusion is merely that my world view is based upon experience with a large percentage of faithful spouses, and that your world view is based upon experience with some other kind of behavior.
Isn''t that the case? Or have I misunderstood your position? - Reply to this comment
