New York Republican Paladino Goes On Anti-Gay Rant

For a guy who has no chance of winning, Carl Paladino certainly knows how to get himself press coverage.

Carl Paladino, the Republican nominee for Governor in New York, has already distinguished himself this election season by claiming he had evidence that his opponent was having an affair, revealing that he had a ten year-old child with a woman not his wife, and threatening a reporter.

Now, he’s decided to speak out on matters of policy:

The Republican candidate for governor, Carl P. Paladino, told a gathering in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on Sunday that children should not be “brainwashed” into thinking that homosexuality was acceptable, and criticized his opponent, Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, for marching in a gay pride parade earlier this year.

Addressing Orthodox Jewish leaders, Mr. Paladino described his opposition to same-sex marriage.

“I just think my children and your children would be much better off and much more successful getting married and raising a family, and I don’t want them brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option — it isn’t,” he said, reading from a prepared address, according to a video of the event.

And then, to applause at Congregation Shaarei Chaim, he said: “I didn’t march in the gay parade this year — the gay pride parade this year. My opponent did, and that’s not the example we should be showing our children.” Newsday.com reported that Mr. Paladino’s prepared text had included the sentence: “There is nothing to be proud of in being a dysfunctional homosexual.” But Mr. Paladino omitted the sentence in his speech.

About an hour after Mr. Paladino’s remarks, Mr. Cuomo’s campaign released a statement condemning them.

“Mr. Paladino’s statement displays a stunning homophobia and a glaring disregard for basic equality,” it said. “These comments along with other views he has espoused make it clear that he is way out of the mainstream and is unfit to represent New York.”Mr. Paladino declined a request to be interviewed after his appearance. His campaign manager, Michael R. Caputo, denied assertions that Mr. Paladino was antigay, and noted that he employed a gay man on his campaign staff.

Here’s the video:

In the incredibly conservative Hasidic community that Paladino was speaking in on Sunday, those remarks probably went over very well. Outside of Williamburg, though, they’re unlikely to go over very well and unlikely to be of any help to Republicans running in down ballot races in moderate and Democratic districts. No matter how many more crazy things he says, Carl Paladino is not going to be the next Governor of New York. He’s going to lose, and he’s going to lose big. However, there are plenty of Republicans in the state who do have a chance this year despite Paladino’s idiocy. The guy at the top of the ticket, however, seems intent on taking a bunch more people down with him.

FILED UNDER: 2010 Election, US Politics, ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. Brummagem Joe says:

    Even more hilariously he’s blamed the Jews for even more incendiary statements that were in his published text although he didn’t actually say them. What you never seem to get Doug is that Paladino IS the Republican nominated candidate for governor just as Angle, O’Donnell, Paul et al ARE the Republican nominated candidates for Senator. These people are basically nuts but are all official nominees. Your problem with them is just that they aren’t likely to get elected. You’d be quite happy to see them in governor’s mansions and Washington despite the obvious craziness.

  2. When have you heard me say I support O’Donnell, Angle or Paladino ?

    I may not be pleased with the GOP right now, but I’m simply not stupid enough to be a Democrat

  3. DMan says:

    “I may not be pleased with the GOP right now, but I’m simply not stupid enough to be a Democrat”

    Are you implying that you are stupid enough to be a Republican? Have you considered the smartest option for an individual who follows politics as closely as you do is to be Independent?

    If you’re going to limit your options to only Republicans, why bother spending all the time to analyze the politics or the merits of individuals and their ideas? As a former Republican, I’ve found that simply considering yourself Independent of any party, or philosophy for that matter, can really open up your mind on a range of issues.

  4. Patrick T. McGuire says:

    “I may not be pleased with the GOP right now, but I’m simply not stupid enough to be a Democrat”

    We may have more in common than I originally suspected.

  5. Have you considered the smartest option for an individual who follows politics as closely as you do is to be Independent?

    There are times when I’ve considered that the smartest option for an individual who follows politics is to just laugh at the idiots and enjoy the show.

  6. Brummagem Joe says:

    Doug Mataconis says:
    Monday, October 11, 2010 at 09:30
    When have you heard me say I support O’Donnell, Angle or Paladino ?

    Doug you’re complaining about the soup but are quite prepared to eat the meal. The only reason you’re not supporting them is because they aren’t going to win, if they had a chance you’d be quite happy to. And I notice you didn’t mention Paul whose quite as nutty as these three.

  7. Joe

    If all you’re going to do is sit there and tell me that the things I believe in are inane or crazy, then there really isn’t any point in our having this conversation for the second time in two days is there ?

  8. Franklin says:

    “I just think my children and your children would be much better off and much more successful getting married and raising a family, and I don’t want them brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option — it isn’t,”

    Depends on the definition of successful. If being forced to marry and have sex with someone you’re not remotely attracted to counts as successful, I guess he’s perfectly correct. At least you’ll get that invitation to the country club that you’ve always wanted.

    So this is what passes for a serious Republican candidate these days?

  9. So this is what passes for a serious Republican candidate these days?

    No, not really.

    The New York GOP is barely a functioning organization on the statewide level. Their A-list candidates — Patakai and Giuliani — who could’ve actually given the Democrats a run for their money this year, decided not to run for some reason. So, they were left with a Governor’s primary between the B-LIster Rick Lazio and the C-Lister Paladino. Paladino “won” but nobody seriously thinks either of them has a chance of winning in November.

  10. Elizabeth says:

    Carl Palandino is saying what the majority of people are too weak to stand up and say: The American people are tired of having homosexuality SHOVED down our throats. For many, the belief that homosexuality is not an acceptable ACTION – especially in the form of flagrantly immoral behavior in gay pride parades, is not only a deeply spiritual belief, but common decency. For that matter, heterosexuals shouldn’t be grinding in parades either. Carl Palandino is a Catholic. The Catholic Church’s teaching on homosexuality is that the person who feels homosexual tendencies should remain celebate, and that God can still bring that person to joy and fulfillment as a celebate individual. It is the ACTING on homosexuality that is the sin. As Americans we are expected to be tolerant of other’s beliefs, but the liberal media refuses to be tolerant of OUR Christian beliefs.
    My only criticism of Mr. Palandino will be if he backs down regarding his deep rooted beliefs because of the pressure of the media. America is waiting and watching for a candidate with a backbone and will stand on his core beliefs NO MATTER WHAT! I am beginning to wonder if a person such as this exists.

  11. DMan says:

    “As Americans we are expected to be tolerant of other’s beliefs, but the liberal media refuses to be tolerant of OUR Christian beliefs.”

    If your beliefs are intolerant, should others still be expected to be tolerant of them?

  12. Brummagem Joe says:

    Doug Mataconis says:
    Monday, October 11, 2010 at 09:56

    “then there really isn’t any point in our having this conversation for the second time in two days is there ?”

    Actually it’s a completely different topic. But exposing the flaws in your logic (since you’re obviously a bright guy) provides some intellectual stimulation. What’s a mystery to me is why you can’t spot them yourself and I’m interested whether this is deliberate or feigned. I often have similar debates with one of my sons whose a ultra bright fairly conservative lawyer but my advantage is he’s burdened with an overwhelming attachment to logic. And I certainly never said you were crazy btw, merely that you were advancing an inane proposition which is rather different. However, the above four people standing for office are definitely borderline and should never be allowed within a million miles of power UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

  13. Joe,

    should never be allowed within a million miles of power UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

    I would say the same thing about Alan Grayson, Barney Frank, Maxine Waters, Al Franken, and Hank Johnson but if the voters elect them I really don’t have any choice but to accept that they are part of the United States Congress.

  14. Brummagem Joe says:

    “Patakai and Giuliani — who could’ve actually given the Democrats a run for their money this year, decided not to run for some reason.”

    That reason being they weren’t likely to win and didn’t want to waste a lot time, money and effort on a fruitless quest when they could be making a personal pile. I don’t blame them.

  15. floyd says:

    That’s a rant? c’mon !

    Of course you believe that the coersion and domination are appropriate to force not only social change but mind control as well. You call out the lynch mob of hyperbole whenever someone dares to disagree. This sort of reaction may well be dispicable and anti-American , but it works , doesn’t it?

    That first paragraph is masterfully confounded [lol] but what strikes me is ” that he had a ten year-old child with a woman not his wife, and threatening a reporter.”

    WOW! Nine months of gestation , followed by a normal newborn would have been traumatic enough, imagine the terror [and relief] of a delivery after 10 years. [lol]
    No wonder he threatened a reporter!

    One more point…
    After all the diatribe, why would you think Paladino would be going down, let alone encouraging others to do so?

  16. Brummagem Joe says:

    “Alan Grayson, Barney Frank, Maxine Waters, Al Franken, and Hank Johnson”

    I don’t think Franken or Frank are remotely crazy. They’re two of the smartest guys in congress and both with a wicked sense of humor which I enjoy. That you could bracket these two with Paladino and O’Donnell and Waters for that matter( who does seem slightly nutty) suggests a somewhat skewed set of value judgements. I don’t know Grayson and Johnson and will take your word for it they are crazy in which case they should never have been elected either.

  17. Brummagem Joe says:

    floyd says:
    Monday, October 11, 2010 at 10:27

    Floyd thinks Paladino is completely normal. Q.E.D.

  18. mantis says:

    The American people are tired of having homosexuality SHOVED down our throats.

    Move to Saudi Arabia.

  19. Brummagem Joe says:

    “having homosexuality SHOVED down our throats.”

    Unfortunate choice of words?

  20. floyd says:

    Joe;
    If you can articulate your own opinion , do so.
    If not, don’t presume to speak for me.

    You have no standing as a mind reader and no such thing was “to be demonstrated” here.

    What you have “demonstrated” here, however, is the subject of my post and….
    I will not be easily cowed by a small minded conformist bully.

  21. Brummagem Joe says:

    floyd says:
    Monday, October 11, 2010 at 12:12
    Joe;
    “If you can articulate your own opinion , do so.
    If not, don’t presume to speak for me.”

    So that was a critique of Paladino and his opinions?

  22. Franklin says:

    The American people are tired of having homosexuality SHOVED down our throats.

    For the last time, nobody’s forcing YOU to get gay-married.

    Of course you believe that the coersion and domination are appropriate to force not only social change but mind control as well.

    For the last time, nobody’s coercing YOU to get gay-married.

  23. Restless says:

    Wasn’t Paladino the guy who emailed horse porn to people? Consensual sex acts between two consenting adults of the same gender is nasty and immoral, but bestiality is okay, provided you’re only emailing your stroke material for big laffs.
    I guess it’s because I’m dumb enough to be a Democrat that I’m incapable of understanding the GOP. I suspect I’m better off.

  24. Brummagem Joe says:

    floyd says:
    Monday, October 11, 2010 at 12:12

    ‘I will not be easily cowed by a small minded conformist bully”

    Let’s hope have no plans to take me out.

  25. floyd says:

    No Joe,
    but would that be a “mandate”?
    Look, I know you have much to contribute on your own… Q.E.D. [lol]
    All I’m asking is that you refrain from jumping to conclusions and presuming to present my opinions, especially when you are so inept at the task.
    Present your own, comment on mine, but please don’t insult me with such shallow projections.

  26. Brummagem Joe says:

    floyd says:
    Monday, October 11, 2010 at 13:43

    “All I’m asking is that you refrain from jumping to conclusions and presuming to present my opinions, especially when you are so inept at the task.”

    I’m not sure one needed the deductive reasoning skills of Holmes to understand you were a supporter of Paladino since you devoted roughly five column inches to attacking those who had commented unfavorably on his idiocy. If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck then it usually is a duck.

  27. matt says:

    “I would say the same thing about Alan Grayson, Barney Frank, Maxine Waters, Al Franken, and Hank Johnson but if the voters elect them I really don’t have any choice but to accept that they are part of the United States Congress.”

    Alan Grayson? Really you’re going to attack the one person with the balls to stand up to the federal reserve and other shady actions? You’re going to attack the one guy that is willing to team up with Ron Paul to get some accountability in government? You’re going to attack a democrat that made it big on his own dime by pulling up on his boot straps as a poor boy?

    Why? Because he dared used some mildly Republican style attack ads? Quite frankly while the video of his opponent was taken out of context the actual beliefs of the candidate applied by the ad was correct.

    Al Franken? Really what has he done that is so outlandish that you put him in the same range as O’Donnell? He’s been a very respectable senator and has actually pushed for some good laws..

    It’s like you’re just reading Fox news talking points at this moment and I find it incredibly disappointing for someone with your intellectual heft.

  28. Matt,

    Grayson and Franken are as idiotic as Angle and O’Donnell.

    As I said to Joe, I’m simply not stupid enough to be an apologist for the idiots on either side of the aisle.

  29. floyd says:

    Joe;
    So now you seem to get it, That was your own opinion for a change,Thanks.
    Now…. Go duck yourself , and say I gave you the bird !

  30. matt says:

    I love how the best you can do is just call them names. It’s terribly obvious you’re just marching along with your right wing talking points in-spite of reality..

  31. I love how I can get called a right wing nut job and a leftist on the same day.

    All because I don’t fit in with your definition of what the proper opinion is.

  32. floyd says:

    For those who have no more reasoning skills than Joe….
    What I objected to was a lynch mob mentality, driven by a desire for social conformity.
    The herd mentality belies any premise of objective judgement, whatever the conclusion, and is a shamefull aspect of human nature worthy only of resistance.
    In other words, opinions are honorable only if they are honestly formed.

  33. matt says:

    I’m not calling you anything. I’m merely calling into question your “opinion” which just happens to coincide with the current right wing talking points (reality be damned)..

  34. matt says:

    Tell me Doug..

    What was so idiotic about trying to pass a law that holds American companies accountable for when they allow their employees to gang rape/kidnap other employees and then refuse to investigate the matter?

    Tell me what is so idiotic about trying to audit the fed and the billions of dollars it shuffles around with no accountability?

  35. Alan Grayson is a laying sack of trash, Matt. He lied about Republican opposition to the health care bill, he lied about his opponents military service during the Vietnam War, and he lied in that despicable Talban Dan ad.

    He is a man who likes to pretend he is a champion of the people as he drives around the district in the luxury automobiles he bought being the kind of lawyer I despise.

  36. Brummagem Joe says:

    Doug Mataconis says:
    Monday, October 11, 2010 at 14:22
    “I love how I can get called a right wing nut job and a leftist on the same day.”

    Not by me you didn’t. However when someone starts saying that Franken and Frank are in the same category as Paladino, Angle and O’Donnell then it gives one pause.

  37. And when someone considers Franken and Frank to be examples of model statesmen, it gives me pause

    Barney is a corrupt old fool. Al Franken is a clown.

  38. Brummagem Joe says:

    floyd says:
    Monday, October 11, 2010 at 14:15
    “Now…. Go duck yourself , and say I gave you the bird !”

    This is where you guys always end up isn’t it? Vulgar abuse accompanied by assurances to yourself of your own brilliance. Q.E.D.

  39. Rick Almeida says:

    Doug,

    Out of curiosity, what kind of lawyer do you despise?

  40. Brummagem Joe says:

    Doug Mataconis says:
    Monday, October 11, 2010 at 14:48
    “And when someone considers Franken and Frank to be examples of model statesmen, it gives me pause…Barney is a corrupt old fool. Al Franken is a clown.”

    I don’t quite remember saying they were Gladstone but they certainly aren’t in the category of Paladino et al by the remotest stretch of the imagination. And if you think Frank is a fool then it’s fairly clear your emotions are more controlled by factionalism than reason. Something that has become all too obvious over the last week or so.

  41. Rick,

    Ambulance chasers like Grayson and John Edwards would sort of top the list.

  42. c.red says:

    “I may not be pleased with the GOP right now, but I’m simply not stupid enough to be a Democrat”

    I read a statement like that and it just makes me sad. It says so much about why and where we are. Even putting this down to hyperbole and a desire to be flip, I can’t quite understand how you can be so caught up in labels, and such vague and shallow ones as “GOP” and “Democrat”.

    You state that you don’t feel that these candidates are qualified and you don’t support them, but then express contempt for those that oppose them. No rational offered, just a label.

    I can’t even limit it to one side, or just you: Accept the person who offers the right platitudes, don’t look at the messenger or the history… the narrative is all…

    No wonder we can’t compromise or actually deal with the problems in front of us. I know that this is nothing new or unusual, but it is still depressing.

  43. floyd says:

    Joe;
    Nope, not so, and BTW … there is only one of me!
    I only referred to the duck simile which you used, and you responded just as predicted.

  44. matt says:

    “He lied about Republican opposition to the health care bill, ”

    Last I checked they are opposed to it and fully interested in repealing it. I don’t see an issue here..

    “he lied about his opponents military service during the Vietnam War”

    I cannot find that information could you please provide a link so I can see for myself.

    “and he lied in that despicable Talban Dan ad.”

    He lied about what part? Those are quotes from his opponent and his opponent has stated his beliefs as such several times over the last decade…

    “He is a man who likes to pretend he is a champion of the people as he drives around the district in the luxury automobiles he bought being the kind of lawyer I despise.”

    I didn’t realize you despised contract lawyers. He also made a lot of his money as the president of IDT corporation but you conveniently forget that part. You probably don’t even know he helped found the AAR either..

    Well at least I’ve gotten you to indirectly admit that Franken isn’t a nutcase/idiot..

  45. matt says:

    Hint Contract lawyer =/= Medical malpractice lawyer… But everyone knows all lawyers are just ambulance chasers right?

  46. matt says:

    OR do you just hate the fact that he represented people who were blowing the whistle on contractor fraud in Iraq?

  47. Matt,

    First, he said that Republicans want people to die. That’s either a lie or the worse type of political demagoguery.

    Second, Factcheck,org called his ad about his opponents military service one of the nastiest and most blatantly false they’ve seen this election cycle:

    http://factcheck.org/2010/09/patriotism-falsely-impugned/

    Third, the “Taliban Dan” ad was a blatant misrepresentation of what his opponent had said:

    http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/os-grayson-webster-attack-ad-20100927,0,199030.story

    Strike One, Strike Two, Strike Three.

    As for the rest, you do know I’m a lawyer right ? People like Grayson are the reason the public hates us.

  48. See ? it is possible for someone to oppose demagogic fools like Grayson AND idiots like Sharron Angle and Christine O’Donnell.

    Now, perhaps you’ve forgotten, but this was a post about Carl Palidino.

  49. matt says:

    “First, he said that Republicans want people to die. That’s either a lie or the worse type of political demagoguery. ”

    Oh so the problem is he’s dared to engage in the kind of demagoguery only reserved for Republicans. What’s the difference between what he said and all the talk of death panels and socialist medicine killing your family that conservatives and elected republicans spewed all over the news cycle?

    “Second, Factcheck,org called his ad about his opponents military service one of the nastiest and most blatantly false they’ve seen this election cycle:”

    Holy shit it’s like Rove is running his campaign. I’ll give you that one..

    “Third, the “Taliban Dan” ad was a blatant misrepresentation of what his opponent had said:”

    I’ve already stated that the video used was out of context but Dan has been saying that shit for years now. So if you’re going to invalidate the truth just because the video was out of context well I dunno what to say to you..

    “As for the rest, you do know I’m a lawyer right ? People like Grayson are the reason the public hates us.”

    Even more reason for you to feel shame at completely getting Grayson’s practice wrong while ignoring that a substantial amount of his wealth came through running a very successful corporation.

  50. matt says:

    As for Paladino I can only hope this is just another nail in the coffin full of nails known as his campaign…

  51. Brummagem Joe says:

    “As for the rest, you do know I’m a lawyer right ? People like Grayson are the reason the public hates us.”

    I can’t say I’m a great fan of ambulance chasing since I’ve had a few run ins with them myself but believe me the public casts the net far wider than ambulance chasers when it comes to lawyers. There’s also the fact that companies are so protected by walls of lawyers and laws their employers have paid to get passed that Joe Sixpack hasn’t got a lot of recourse in our system. This is a fact as you must know or you must be walking around wearing blinders or how else to explain the endless procession of class action settlements which are not all the consequence of imaginary torts.

  52. Brummagem Joe says:

    Doug Mataconis says:
    Monday, October 11, 2010 at 16:12

    “Now, perhaps you’ve forgotten, but this was a post about Carl Palidino.”

    And who was it I wonder who started equating Paladino with Franken etc?

  53. matt says:

    Just to clarify I’m not referring to the actual video part as being true but the quotes after the video of Mr. Webster speaking. Daniel has a terrible record on women’s rights and he’s been spewing that bullshit for years..

  54. mantis says:

    Let’s see Paladino draw a map of the United States freehand from memory.

  55. Brummagem Joe says:

    floyd says:
    Monday, October 11, 2010 at 15:37
    “I only referred to the duck simile which you used, and you responded just as predicted.”

    I’m pleased to see you anticipated I’m the sort of guy who has a distaste for obscenities. A pity you haven’t but it’s what I expected becasue this is where you folks always end up.

  56. An Interested Party says:

    “The American people are tired of having homosexuality SHOVED down our throats.”

    How, exactly, is homosexuality being “SHOVED” down your throat?

    “For many, the belief that homosexuality is not an acceptable ACTION – especially in the form of flagrantly immoral behavior in gay pride parades, is not only a deeply spiritual belief, but common decency.”

    Thankfully, we do not live in a theocracy, so your views on common decency have nothing to do with laws to protect others from bigotry and discrimination…and if we are going to judge all gay people by what goes on at gay pride parades, perhaps we should judge all straight people by what you would consider the indecent things that a section of that population does…

    “As Americans we are expected to be tolerant of other’s beliefs, but the liberal media refuses to be tolerant of OUR Christian beliefs.”

    Intolerance deserves no tolerance at all…

  57. floyd says:

    Intolerance deserves no tolerance at all…

    WOW, How profound! Were you a philosophy major?

  58. An Interested Party says:

    I would imagine the irony of your statement is lost on you, considering the gibberish you have tried to pass off as pearls of wisdom…

  59. wr says:

    Doug — Do Republicans want poor people to die? I don’t know. I do know that that wasn’t what Grayson said. He said the Republican plan for poor people with health insurance was that they should die quickly.

    How exactly is this wrong?

  60. floyd says:

    Aip;
    Certainly wisdom would seem gibberish to you, but there can be no doubt those pearls were cast before at least one swine.

  61. An Interested Party says:

    Oh my, so clever, floyd! I expected a swine reference, thank you for being so predictable with your cliches…

  62. floyd says:

    Aip;
    No awe with all the shock???

    So…. I guess accolades and hero-worship are out of the question then??