Michelle Paterson, Wife of NY Governor David Paterson, Says His Unpopularity is Due to Race

New York Governor David Paterson's wife, Michelle Paterson, has pulled the race card. According to the Drudge Report, she has claimed that the reason her husband is unpopular and most likely will not secure the Democratic nomination for governor in 2010 is because he's black. Really Mrs. Paterson? Could it be because your husband is ineffective as governor now? Could it possibly be because he is a laughingstock to the political world? Your ability to pull that race card expired on January 20, 2009, at noon, when President Barack Obama was sworn in as the first African American president of the United States. Call it what it is, your husband is ineffective and not being railroaded because he's black. Never mind the fact that New Yorkers had to live through the sordid affairs of your sex life. You know the numerous instances on infidelity.

Psst, in case you haven't noticed, even the black folks in New York have thrown up their hands in exasperation with your husband. When he met recently with a group of black legislators he got more than an earful. They wanted to know his strategy for recovering from his disastrous first year. They complained that their constituents were furious over Mr. Paterson’s cuts to hospitals and schools, and that his administration had failed to consult with them on important issues. His fortunes have imploded around him. He faces some serious doubts from his staunchest supporters. Yes, black elected officials, clergy members and the black voter. So, lady, if your husband's support is eroding in the black community, why would any other ethnic group embrace him with open arms? He shot himself in the foot. He is ineffective and lacks focus. Michelle Paterson, you ought to pull the stupidity card.

According to a Quinnipiac University poll released last week, fewer than half of black voters in the state approve of how the governor is handling his job, down from two-thirds last summer, reflecting a broader decline among his core constituencies, including Democrats and New York City voters.

“To be below 50 percent among any group is bad,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the university’s polling institute. “But there’s no way a black governor can get re-elected when he’s below 50 percent among black voters. That’s desperation time.” Source: NY Times

I must admit, Paterson did inherit some serious problems and he got caught in the current economic maelstrom -- lost jobs, grim economy and budget cuts -- which were unavoidable to some extent. But we have seen how Governor Paterson handles pressure, as evidenced from the circus he created around Caroline Kennedy's Senate bid. He strung her along and then humiliated her. It seems that he never intended to appoint her to replace then Senator Hillary Clinton. He allowed her to make a complete fool of herself for weeks, essentially ruining any chance she would ever have of running for elected office, as evidenced from the latest buzz that even the Vatican has blocked her appointment as US ambassador to the Holy See. So, Michelle Paterson, your husband is getting a dose of his own medicine. He has disappointed New Yorkers on so many levels and failed to live up to the person he seemed to be. So, please, Mrs. Paterson, don't even try to pull the race card. He should step aside and yield to Attorney General Andrew Cuomo the top spot on next gubernatorial Democratic ticket.