Incoming Governor David Paterson Asked: Have You Slept With Prostitutes?

From the New York Daily News:

The Capitol Red Room is jam-packed with reporters, lobbyists, and state staffers for LG David Paterson's first press conference as governor-in-waiting.

It's more crowded than I have ever seen it in the almost 10 years I've been covering Albany.

Paterson started off, in his usual way, with a joke. He was met with applause when he walked into the room, and when it died down, he said: "If most of you weren't being paid, I'd be flattered by this..."

...The Sun's Jacob Gershman asked Paterson, so "New Yorkers don't have to go through this again," whether the LG had ever patronized a prostitute. Paterson seemed ready for that question, and quipped.

"Only the lobbyists."

Keep reading here.

Read more about David Paterson here.

Read more here about the prostitution scandal that forced Spitzer to resign and catapulted Paterson into the governor's seat.

Read more here about the Emperors Club, the high-end prostitution ring that Spitzer is alleged to have used.

Comments

[zbig]

As Tracy Morgan said on SNL in response to Tina Fey's pro-Clinton diatrbite: "Bitch may be the new Black, but Black the new President, Bitch."

[FogBelter]

I wonder if this reporter would have had the balls to ask this question of Theodore Roosevelt when he came into office as New York Governor?

My guess is, if he had such a lack of sense with Teddy, he would have come away from the Press Conference with fewer teeth.

[loki]

He should have responded.­.

' only once, but your wife gave me the money back"

[SlithyTove]

There are some questions that should get the questioner kicked in the gonads. This is one. I would have been glad to do the honors on Jacob Gershman. The exemplar of this question has to be the one CNN's Bernard Shaw asked Dukakis while moderating a presidential debate: "Governor, if Kitty Dukakis were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable death penalty for the killer?"

[peskyliberal]

Don't think for one moment that Team Clinton is not eyeballing this guy (bad pun, I know).

[HatingTheGame]

"Only the lobbyists.­"

Good one. I guess he ...er...sa­w that one coming.

LOL

[nellie]

A smart guy with a sense of humor. Congratulations, NY!

[PennP]

He's Basil Patterson's son. I have a friend who's been following him for the past ten years, and is extremely happy that he's succeeded Spitzer. He says that David Patterson is the real thing, a man of integrity, a leader. Out of these awful events, something very good emerges. Onward and upward, NY!

[hjo4]

Gov Paterson is a Rock Star.You heard it here first.

[Blazhay]

Don't praise him too much.... somebody might say it's only happening to him because he's black....l­ol

[nacilbuper]

what a luck guy!

lol

[seenitall]

don't forget he is legally blind...he should be able to skyrocket straight to presidency­...

[nacilbuper]

he knocked that one right out of the park.

i think he's a keeper.

you go d.p!

[longislandlol]

A gem of a man-- the sweetest temperment--

[Denni]

I think I already love him, LOL!

[rollingdivision]

Under the circumstances David Paterson should be given an extended grace period. Some of the questions the media asked Paterson seem to indicate some in the media aren't giving him the full respect due the office of the governor. This should stop immediately. The sins of Spitzer should not in any way effect Governor Patterson.

[Pjsandiego]

A star is born!

This guy might just be what the doctor ordered for New York.
Someone who is not out to be President of the United States!
It's hard to find a New York politician that is not gunning for the White House.

[engineer68]

Please give us some names.