Paterson Admits He Ordered Staff To Deny Kennedy Was Top Choice

New York Times:

For the first time, Gov. David A. Paterson acknowledged Friday that he personally ordered his staff to contest Caroline Kennedy's version of events in the hours after she withdrew from consideration to be United States senator.

However, Mr. Paterson said that he was bewildered when his staffers subsequently unleashed harsh personal attacks against Ms. Kennedy, saying he merely wanted them to challenge the assertion from Ms. Kennedy's camp that she had been his first choice to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[Ergon]

A Kennedy or a Cuomo for New York. A no brainer. The Democratic version of Sarah Palin.
Fire his seeing eye dog (excuse my political incorrectness)

[AgathaX]

Patterson's problem is not that he can't see, its that he can't hear--he's got a political tin ear. Apparently to this point there were people along the way that helped him compensate--perhaps by just keeping him out of the limelight. At any rate, no one could save him this time--most especially he himself.

[Slapmewhenitsover]

Join us next time on:

When Morons Become Governors

with special cameo appearances by George W. Bush as the Decider and Rod Blagojxxxx (however you spell it) as the F#CK UP!

[NYC07]

Patterson has, to paraphrase Shirley Chisholm, is the biggest disappointment since Teflon.

[BigCheese]

That's some nice paraphrasing there.

[RobHunt]

I can't believe these comments. Why should the Governor sit by while a private citizen declares herself to be the "front-runner" for a position he alone has the mandate to fill? And why is he being criticized for telling her not to campaign? What's amazing is that she would even need to be TOLD such a thing. If she wants to "campaign" so badly, let her - DURING AN ELECTION!

It's a riot that Caroline Kennedy could annoint herself somehow and then claim that her reputation has been tarnished by someone ELSE.

She wants to be a Senator? Let her choose a route that has more in common with JFK than with Roland Burris.

[petphotos]

Not saying that this guy is not a boob, but he was between a rock and a hard place. Wether to appoint a Kennedy, but one with questionable credentials. To me, a no win situation.

[kevinw]

That is crap. He could have picked Kennedy or Cuomo. Both have solid name recognition, they have strong fundraising expertise. Cuomo has already won statewide office. Instead he picked a not so well known representative from a conservative district in NY state. Not known internationally. Not well known within the US. Hardly known in NY state. Has never run for statewide office. Has never had to handle fundraising for a statewide election. Has portrayed herself as Repub lite to win in her district. Will not be able to rally the base. The Governor has alienated a major source of support for the senate campaign by the shabby treatment of a strong Democratic family (Kennedy) in New York.

He could have handled the picking of Gilibrand without any of the hard feelings by just telling her they decided to go in another direction, rather than leaking a bunch of "maybe" reasons like taxes or something. He wanted to make it look like it was her and not him deciding to go another way. He picked Gilibrand to help him upstate. He will be lucky to get past the primaries.

[nibblybits]

NYT reports that indeed Paterson has rehired his old chief of staff Charles O'Byrne to run in 2010 election campaign.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/22/nyregion/22obyrne.html?hp

Remember that this is the same Charles O'Byrne who was forced to resign after not filing taxes for several years.

Fred Dicker of the NYPost predicted it:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/02182009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/why_the_gov_is_in_free_fall_155666.htm

[ruthinking]

Pointing the blame at others; what else should one expect from the Gov who outed his wife's past affair to justify his multiple adultery. He is over, in 2010.

[Lucille]

Caroline was asked by Gov. Patterson NOT to "run" for the office as it was an appointment. When Ms. Kennedy went to Albany to get some feed back from politicians about her candidacy, she was rebuked for it by Gov. Patterson's cronies.

It's Gov. Patterson who showed he's not fit for his office as he wouldn't have it , if it weren't for Gov. Spitizer's resignation, which I always thought was a bad idea.

Ms. Kennedy has always maintained a sterling reputation and has been a champion of the needy. She’s ivy league educated and wrote two books on the U.S. Constitution, so she's no Sarah Palin and should not have been treated like an idiot.

[reno1190]

DAVID SHAME ON YOU ,PEASE DO NOT RUN FOR A SECOND TERM AND PLEASE NOT AGAINST THAT SLEASZE BALL RUDY HE WOULD WIN ANDREW CUOMO I HOPE IS THE NOM DAVID IT IS SO HARD TO RESPECT YOUR JUDGEMENT WITH SO MANY MIS STEPS GIVE IT UP

[repugnicansfearme]

Is this Paterson a goof, or what? What will he "admit" to next? Didn't he "admit" after the Spitzer debacle that he and his wife have some free-marriage, be all you can be, get all you can get, relationship? Seriously, what a goofball joke of a governor this clown is. Show him the exit.

[Bulbul]

What Patterson said or did not , is not the factor at this time. He has run for that seat himself !
But it is safe to say that ,Caroline Kennedy failed to prove to the public also, why She would be best choice for that Senete seat ,except her blood line. Caroline, if that good should run for the coming up election, why not !

[Diplomacy]

And, who is Judith Smith? Communications Consultant, President & CEO, Impact Strategies?

Judith Smith is the first, African-American, Deputy White House Press Secretary, for none other ...
drumroll please ... President George H. W. BUSH, otherwise known as President BUSH I.

Are you surprised?

It's time for Governor Paterson to announce he will not run as Governor in 2010. He is FINISHED.

For more info on Judith Smith, GOOGLE: Judith Smith + David Paterson.

[smrf]

Caroline is as awful as Paterson. They both have no connection with the people

[roblabrousse]

Where did you do your research? At the local bar? Or gossiping with the girls?

[Coinyer101]

what a piece of work he's turning out to be.

[WaitingforJanuary]

As a New Yorker I am rather disappointed by our governor.

[truthglow]

And his punishment will be to lose the election. Such will also be the fate of his pathetic choice for senator.