NY Gov. Paterson Blasts "Sleazy" Assault

(AP)  New York Gov. David Paterson on Monday lashed back at what he called a "callous and sleazy" assault on his character in statehouse rumors and media reports that include accusations about womanizing and drug use, allegations he flatly denied.

The Democratic governor told The Associated Press that the media and New York politics have hit new lows, but that the situation won't stop him from serving in office or seeking election to a full term in the fall.

He cited as fabricated a Jan. 30 New York Post report that he was caught by state police in the mansion with a woman other than his wife. He said the room in which he was reportedly caught doesn't even exist.

"We stand by our reporting," Post spokeswoman Suzi Halpin said.

The rumors about Paterson's personal conduct have been circulating in Albany - and sometimes appearing online and in newspaper reports - at a crucial moment in the governor's career. His popularity has fallen precipitously, but he has vowed to run for re-election, even though many Democrats would prefer the state attorney general, Andrew Cuomo, to run in his place.

Washington Democrats have sent a clear message that Paterson should step aside for Cuomo. They are concerned that a weak top of the ticket could hurt other Democrats, including Kirsten Gillibrand, whom Paterson appointed to fill the seat vacated when Hillary Rodham Clinton became secretary of state.

In his interview with the AP, Paterson would address most allegations only broadly but denied all sexual relationships and drug use that are among the accusations.

He said he hasn't been involved sexually with another woman since he and his wife separated more than a decade ago, an admission he made upon taking office 23 months ago. He also said he hasn't used drugs since his early 20s.

Paterson said the rumors have portrayed him as a fan of frequent partying, but he said that aside from fundraisers and official functions, he doesn't go out much - and noted that he has eaten away from home or outside the executive mansion in Albany only five times in his tenure.

"For the last couple of weeks I have been the subject of what, even by Albany standards, has been a spate of outrageous rumors about me," Paterson told the AP.

He said the rumors had been stirred up by an as-yet unpublished New York Times investigation "that spawned a bunch of speculations that are so way out that it's shocking," he said. He said he now fears that all reporters are "stretching the bounds of journalism" in a race to get anyone to confirm a vicious rumor about him.

New York Times spokeswoman Diane McNulty declined to comment on the governor's remarks.

"There is an accountability that should exist in the media," Paterson said. "How do I get my reputation back? Because I don't believe I have done anything to deserve this kind of bashing."

He said it has distracted him from the state's fiscal crisis and tense budget negotiations with legislators, and from defending his veto of what he considers the Legislature's weak ethics reforms.

He said he is unsure who pushed the rumors and wouldn't speculate, saying "that would be just as unfair ... but it is certainly serving others' interest and not mine, and I think it's a callous and sleazy way to treat a governor who is just trying to do his job and, in a democracy, is trying to keep his job."

Paterson ascended to the job in 2008 when Eliot Spitzer resigned amid a prostitution scandal. When he became governor, Paterson admitted he had been unfaithful to his wife in an attempt to head off questions about his personal life.

He said he doesn't think he was targeted because he is New York's first black governor, but acknowledged that the allegations played to stereotypes about black men.

State Police Superintendent Harry Corbitt said Monday that he's unaware of any troopers, including Paterson's security detail, who have seen the governor do anything illegal.

After testifying before lawmakers Monday, Corbett described rumors of a looming scandal as "a move afoot" to pressure the Democrat into not running for election this fall.

Corbitt, who was nominated for his post by Paterson in 2008, says the transfers last week of about 10 troopers from the executive services detail, which protects the governor and guards the executive mansion and some state offices has nothing to do with press reports suggesting women and drug use at the mansion.

[bradkt1]

Nobody ever elected him Governor. He only would up being governor due to Elliot Spitzer's stupidity. Now he arrogantly acts like he has a right to be the chosen candidate of the Democratic Party for Governor of New York when he never was their choice in the first place.

This unpopular and arrogant Governor is going to drag the entire New York Democratic Party down with him in the next statewide election.

[NowBeWithThat]

When the official edict was handed down from the POTUS, Gov. Paterson should have taken that as his chance to bow out gracefully and ride off into the sunset. But no. He stayed too long at the dance. Now things are getting ugly, Chicago style.

David Axelrod and Rahm Emanuel play dirty. No offense to the vision impaired, but Paterson should have seen this coming.

[Brokennews]

So! John Edwards vehemently denied his little fling for almost a year.
And his denial quotes are too numerous to post.

[wjksea]

Left versus right, conservative versus liberal the corporate plutocracy gives something for the little people to bicker over while the plutocracy owns all. The peoples government is steadily being bought right out from under the american people.

[cidaia]

it would appear it has already been sold.

[wjksea]

The american revolutionaries fought against enormous concentrations of wealth backed by the British empire. A few Palins and Becks of the day profited from the conflict defending through propagandist distortion the status of the plutocracy.

Eventually enough colonists understood what was at hand and the British empire and the corporate leveraged capital of the British East India Company were defeated.

[wjksea]

Yep, for all the smoke the plutocrats spew and the games that are played, they benefit from a system they don't want to pay for. There ain't no free lunch they say, but so far, these folks don't proportionately pay the taxes and they don't sacrifice their children to wars they benefit most from.

The reality is no matter what the ideology of the day or era is, there is no absolute guarantee of well being and security. It is the ability of a society or an individual to insure their own ongoing well being and security. Severe imbalance in the midst of social contracts is identified by the majority who are sacrificing the quality of their lives to enrich and defend the excess and extravagance of a shrinking minority. Such imbalance sparks social unrest and revolution. In the end, it all comes tumbling down. Dysfunctional socioeconomic ponzi schemes never last.

[wjksea]

by BrianWX328m February 9, 2010 8:08 AM EST
Hosheen , you just showed in a nutshell the key difference between libs and conservatives. To conservatives, character matters. To libs, it doesn't. Case closed.

Sadly, such an intellectually dishonest morally bankrupt comment. Americans from the left and right are well aware of the hypocrisy when a few from the right claim to have some moral high ground. The alleged liberal media barely covers the stories unless they are way to big to be ignored. Sanford of SC..still in office. The right wing is backed by the corporate plutocracy. This corruption provides constant hush hush.

[SummarexStrikesBack]

When this guy first assumed office, I wrote him a letter complaining about harassment and retaliation where i worked at Hostos Community College (C.U.N.Y.) and called for an ethics probe of faculty and staff at Hostos and of the faculty union PSC-CUNY. I didn't get a response of any kind. I guess the corrupt Piece of garbage was too busy with his girlfriend. Where do you go when the people who are supposed to stop corruption are corrupt?

[erb0087]

"He cited as fabricated a Jan. 30 New York Post report that he was caught by state police in the mansion with a woman other than his wife."
===========================================

What B.S.

The man is legally blind.

How was he supposed to know that wasn't his wife ?

[erb0087]

"...caught by state police in the mansion with a woman other than his wife."

I'm certainly glad the state police are now enforcing the rules of personal decorum.

Just the other day they arrested George W. Bush and held him for several hours after they caught him picking his nose during the SuperBowl.

[pragmatist1]

One's moral fiber is relevant and impacts all facets of their life.