Posted on 09/20/2009 12:14:50 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache
ALBANY Gov. David Paterson isn't scrapping his plans to run for the office he inherited 18 months ago, despite growing pressure from Washington and intervention by the Rev. Al Sharpton, who has contacted the governor and the White House over his concern.
"My plans for 2010 are to run for governor of the state of New York," Paterson said Sunday after serving as grand marshal to the African-American Day Parade in Manhattan. "I am running for office."
But the signals from Washington Democrats may be what Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, riding high in the polls, needs to increase fundraising for a possible run for governor. Cuomo has refused to challenge Paterson so far and has declined to say if he will seek the job held by New York's first black and legally blind governor.
"The White House is giving Cuomo all the political cover he needs to get in this," Miringoff said.
The White House has not ordered Paterson to leave the race and would not do so, the official continued, saying only that the governor can make the decision about what's right for him, the party and the state. But Paterson and his advisers have been made aware of Obama's concern about losing the governor's office in such a key state, the White Office official said.
Another senior Democratic adviser in New York said those seeking Paterson's withdrawal are suggesting he could land a Washington job in the Obama administration. The adviser spoke on the condition of anonymity because the official wasn't authorized to speak for Paterson or the New York congressional delegation.
"I found that to be stunning, that the White House would send word to one of only two black governors in the country not to run for re-election," said Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
They just do not want to be called Racist for running against a blind black guy.
let’s see what the blacks have to say about the half-white President telling to a blind black man to step aside.
Since Cuomo is a white boy, wouldn’t these “calls to step aside” be considered “racist”?
Sounds like the voters of New York are prepared to have him step aside.
People can be blind in many ways. Politicians are blind in that they so seldom see the inevitable signs that it is time to step aside.
Most believe once in it is a lifetime appointment. Until the overwhelming deluge, from whatever source, delivers the final blow to their career.
WHAT IS THE DATE OF THE White American Day parade?
GO AHEAD AND CALL ME RACIST...I COULD CARE LESS...
(I WOULD take this opportunity to say “Run Rudy, Run!” or even invite Sarah to move to NY, but I don’t want any flaming Viking Kitties thrown at me, so I won’t.)
I think Paterson is just talking out his butt. Am I correct in saying that if the dems don’t want him to run, he doesn’t have a chance of being on the ballot, unless he wants to use his own money?
Hillary is not amused.
Why can’t we just create a party election and let all the Democrats who want to be governor run in that? We could call it a primary.
Just asking and thinking critically...
I guess I can see things his way, after all, even a blind pig will find an A.C.O.R.N. from time to time. Paterson should look Obama in the eye, and stare him down.
We could call it a primary.
Exactly. Obama needs to keep his nose out of NY politics. As a citizen of NY I am angry that he has meddled where he has no standing. Let each party winnow their field in a primary where we citizens with standing get to make the choice.
Well that is up to the voters isn't it? It is not in the purview of the POTUS to call a candidate and tell him to bow out. The voters will decide who is relevant and who isn't. I don't like this guy and if I lived in NY I wouldn't vote for him, but I would be raising he** if the Pres tried to tell the state of NY who can run for what.
I just read the excerpt but I would be interested to know WHY Obama is sticking his nose in this race.
I didn’t realize that it was the job of the President to choose who runs NY state.
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