NY Governor: If Obama loses, it’ll be because of racism

**Midnight Mike** · 07-18-2008, 12:16 AM

Paterson Implies 'Accidental' Racism

Gov Paterson, who became New York's first black governor following the resignation of Eliot Spitzer, is lashing out at the press for describing him as an "accidental governor," implying in a speech that the term's frequent usage was motivated by racial bias.

Governor Paterson speaks at the annual NAACP national convention, today at Cincinnati.
In a speech at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's annual convention in Cincinnati, Mr. Paterson also suggested that the defeat of Senator Obama by Senator McCain in the presidential contest would be a victory for racism.

Mr. Paterson's stark view of the presidential contest and his criticism of reporters was a sharp departure for a governor who was one of Senator Clinton's most enthusiastic backers until she conceded the Democratic primary in June, and whose relationship with the press has been marked by humor and ease.

The governor, who in Albany has made a point of not criticizing legislators or other officials, took a swing at the presumptive Republican nominee, saying Mr. McCain favors Bush administration policies that have left children hungry and "entire regions struggling for survival."

Thrust into office by a prostitution scandal that brought down Mr. Spitzer, Mr. Paterson, a former state legislator and lieutenant governor who was largely unknown in the state four months ago, has been eager to establish himself as a powerful leader in his own right as he prepares to run for office in 2010.

Yesterday, he let it be known that he no longer wants to be called accidental, saying the term has not been applied to white governors and presidents who took office under emergency circumstances.

http://www.nysun.com/new-york/paterson- ... 0076236121

**Matt Molnar** · 07-18-2008, 01:14 AM

Originally Posted by Midnight Mike

Yesterday, he let it be known that he no longer wants to be called accidental, saying the term has not been applied to white governors and presidents who took office under emergency circumstances.

Err, maybe that's just because most deputy govs and vp's have had strong aspirations for the top job, while Paterson, to my knowledge, never showed any interest or made any effort to run, nor did anyone ever mention his name as a possible candidate.

**NIKV69** · 07-18-2008, 06:49 AM

Also the DNC won't be able to use the excuse of rigged voting this time so they have to come up with some other witch hunt propaganda. What a stupid statement.