Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Governor David A. Paterson, Amnesiac

From today's New York Daily News:

"Republicans disguised their digs at Barack Obama with 'racial coding' to subtly make an issue of his color, Gov. Paterson said Tuesday morning.

"'There are overtones of potential racial coding in the campaign,' Paterson told the Crain's Business Forum, when asked whether racism would hurt Obama's chances to become president.

"'The Republican party is too smart to call Barack Obama 'black,' Paterson said.

"'But you can take something about his life, which I noticed they did at the Republican convention. A 'community organizer.' They kept saying it, they kept laughing, like what does this mean?' "

Dear David,

Get a life. There was nothing remotely close to racism at the Republican National Convention, or in Senator McCain's campaign operation.

I hate to break the news to you, but Senator Obama himself refers to his past as a "community organizer." So do his supporters. Are you even paying attention to the presidential campaign?

The reason why "community organizer" is mocked by Republicans is because Obama has yet to explain what exactly this position entailed beyond feel-good nonsense. "Community organizer" is yet another part of his paltry experience.

What about your strong association with Al Sharpton? Anyone who claims Sharpton as a close friend and political ally, like you do, should be very careful about tarring public officials as racists.

Sharpton was - and still is - New York's premiere demagogue on race. He never apologized for his despicable role in perpetuating the Tawana Brawley rape hoax, and a civil jury ordered him to pay $345,000 in libel damages to the prosecutor Steven Pagones.

And, David, let's not forget Sharpton's role in inciting the armed attack on Freddie's Fashion Mart that led to the death of eight people.

"We will not stand by and allow them to move this brother so that some white interloper can expand his business," said Sharpton at the time. Of course, your buddy Al didn't stand by. One of his thug's entered the "white interloper's" store with a gun and flammable liquid. Does that horrible crime ring a bell, David?

How about the Crown Heights riots, and your pal Sharpton's destructive role?

"If the Jews want to get it on, tell them to pin their yarmulkes back and come over to my house."

That's what Sharpton said at the time. He also referred to Jewish New Yorkers as "diamond merchants."

You're obviously trying to score points with the Obama campaign. Fine. But at least attempt to achieve that goal without Al Sharpton exposing your hypocrisy.

"Racial coding." Right. You're the only one who seems to be the codebreaker.

- Chris