David Paterson: New York's Next Governor

I believe the first bullet point you, and evidently wikipedia, have written --

"David Paterson was born legally blind in Brooklyn in 1954 (Wikipedia)'

-- is factually incorrect. I've read elsewhere that went legally blind at 3 months of age as a result of a medical virus. He was born with normal eyesight.

Why are some bloggers so rude? Paterson is legally blind. Are there not limits to the rude insults allowed on this site? He looks like a fine gentleman, and, until proven otherwise, I will address him with respect. I don't hear him trying to incite a race war. I don't see him trying to stir things up. So far, he has shown himself to be a class act and I respect anyone who can overcome a disability such as blindness and get to the professional level that he has achieved.

I wonder, how many people on this blog site have achieved post graduate degrees and gone on to become the next Governor of one of the largest populated states in this country? And to top it off, he did all this as a blind man.

What you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me. Do any of you have any idea who said those words? Whether you support Clinton or Obama, show some respect.

Mr. Paterson's father is a machine democrat, so he is a product of the same system. However, he has not fully embraced all of his fathers cronies. Many of the old-school Black democrats didn't think that he had paid his dues and would have prefered a 'seasoned' (read: beholden to the elite) running partner for Spitzer. I met Spitzer a few times, he's not one to suffer idiots. Paterson's dad is a legend in NY politics. There is a lot of favors owed to the man. He must be estatic. He personally groomed many of the Black and Hispanic politicians that have come of age in NYC. So Paterson Jr. has his own loyal base. Besides, Paterson has the bona fides, without most the baggage that comes with being a professional politician in New York.

Good luck David, You're gonna need it!

A crippled Spitzer administration run by a lieutenant governor with no money increases the chances we'll see a Bloomberg-Giuliani showdown in the next election. I think both these guys had their eyes on the office before this scandal; now they're licking their chops. If it happens, it'll be a great show.

Assuming Client 9 resigns, Patterson will back Clinton all the way. He'll need the help of as many powerful friends in the state as he can get, and Hillary's a good place to start. There will be a honeymoon period, but before long Patterson will be a lamb among the Albany wolves. He'll need the clout of people like Clinton, Schumer, Rangel, Nadler to keep from being overwhelmed by one of the most crooked and dysfunctional state governments in the union.

The last NY Lt. Governor to assume the governorship was Malcom Wilson, who took over when Nelson Rockefeller died "in the saddle" at the swanky love nest of his discreet mistress. Ah, for the days when governors really knew how to make an exit.

The next Governor will be Tom Suozzi or Andrew Cuomo.

As usual, like with their Obama biased reporting of the primary, Huff Po is confused.

This is a sign if there ever was one.....LOL I am hoping he supports Obama! WOW!

Hey, why not? We have a blind President of the United States, after all.

anyone for a re vote for Governor of New York

I really don't know what they will do in NY but if they deside that Mr. Spitzer must resign from everything I've read Mr. David Paterson sounds like the right candidate for the job. His resume is really good and who is to say what handicaps a person? You can go as far as you want if you work hard and have confidence in yourself. He must have had great parents who let him know the world was his and to make the most of it, which is just what he did. Hooray for Mr. Paterson. What a great example to young people with disabilities he is.

He has been and will most likely continue to be a Clinton supporter. Very few people in New York"s political scene even considered any of the other nominees.

That being said I have meet Governor Paterson (both the Governor and Lt. Governor share the title), I think he is a good man, with a great sense of humor and I think the State of New York will be in good hands with him in charge.

(That"s right an Obama supporter just complimented a Clinton supporter, and the world didn"t end).

I hope Patterson folllows Spitzer's commitment to Clinton, I don't want anyone associated with Spitzer endorsing Barack.

Maybe Clinton will shut up about Renzo now.

Let's hope he does a better job as Governor than Spitzer.

The man's resume looks good.

I am glad the state's citizens have him ready to become their next Governor.

What a day!

Paterson was a Clinton superdelegate before the Spitzer debacle. Nothing will change with respect to that.

Yet Hillary has to deal with that her superdelegates are experiencing this type of news whereas Obama's are gaining office( Foster in Illinois) and endorsing him as their first act . Spitzer will most likely resign causing Clinton a lost superdelegate

Score Clinton -1 Obama + 1

Should be Suozzi.

I love and respect David Patterson he will do a great job!

He's backed Hillary for a while, but also speaks well of Obama. He was onstage with her after her Iowa thrashing. haven't heard much about him and her lately.

JP

He'll be compelled to back Clinton because she is their Senator and because she won the state.

And for the rest of yous,

please stop assuming a black will support a black. Relationships between people aren't like color coding your clothes for laundry day. I know it makes you feel savvy and smart for trying to predict what blacks will do, but just like you, black people actually look at other things too.

Here's something of an answer to your question, from The New York Observer:

"As he greeted voters outside P.S. 175 in Harlem on Tuesday morning, Lt. Governor David was explaining how he thought Mr. Obama would win the district when an elderly woman app;roached him and asked who she should vote for.

"Mr. Paterson, a prominent Clinton surrogate - he was the guy directly behind her as she gave her concession speech in Iowa - hesitated."

'Uh, Hillary,' he offerd sheepishly.

"'Uh, O.K. All right,' the woman said, somewhat dismissively, as Mr. Paterson chuckled at his predicament.

"Asked afterward why he had hesitated, Mr. Paterson said he had been reluctant to try and sell Mrs. Clinton 'Because I knew that woman was going to laugh in my face as soon as I did it.'"

Will the new NY governor endorse Hillary?

Is Lieutenant Governor David Paterson going to support Obama ???

Bless his heart. I am disgusted with my governor, Eliot Spitzer at this moment. I salute Mr. Patterson and look forward to his leadership for the state of New York.

Has there ever been a legally blind governor? Or deaf?

Assuming Spitzer resigns (hooray!), Paterson could be a groundbreaking governor.

Will he also be a backer of the Clintons for president?