Box Turtle Bulletin
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyOctober 13th, 2010
Tea Party-backed Republican candidate Carl P. Paladino, whose anti-gay remarks to Orthodox Jewish leaders sparked outcry in New York and embarrassment among fellow state Republicans, has finally issued a letter of apology for his outburst.
In remarks delivered to Orthodox Jewish rabbis, Paladino called gay people “perverts who seek to target our children and destroy their lives,” and said that gays were trying to “brainwash [them] into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option.”
The following morning, Paladino appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America, where, incredibly, he tried to paint his remarks as being empathetic to LGBT people who experience discrimination. He also insisted that he was not anti-gay and would hire gay people in his administration.
Later, in Paladino’s letter of apology, he wrote, “I sincerely apologize for any comment that may have offended the Gay and Lesbian Community or their family members.” He also said that he was a “live and let live person,” and that “I am 100% against discrimination of any group. I oppose discrimination of any kind in housing, credit, insurance benefits or visitation.”
Elsewhere, Paladino has said that he would veto a marriage equality bill if it should reach his desk as governor and has called for a statewide referendum on the subject.
The most incredible admission in his letter is this:
Yesterday I was handed a script. I redacted some contents that were unacceptable. I did also say some things for which I should have chosen better words.
We know that one redacted content was the line, “There is nothing to be proud of in being a dysfunctional homosexual.” The Jewish Week reports that it was Rabbi Yehoda Levin who prepared the remarks. Which, if true, means that Paladino will mostly read whatever words anyone thrusts in front of him.
Meanwhile, the laws of unintended consequences continue to hold sway. In reaction to the backlash against Paladino’s comments, New York state Senate GOP leader Dean Skelos said that if the Republicans win control of the chamber, he would bring the marriage equality bill to the floor again for an up-or-down vote, although he remains opposed to the bill.
Also, the New York Daily News reports that Paladino has made quite a lot of money off of gay people as the landlord of a couple of Buffalo gay clubs.
Here is the full text of Paladino’s letter of apology:
I am Carl Paladino, a father, a husband, a builder and a business owner. I am neither perfect, nor a career politician. I have made mistakes in this campaign – I have made mistakes all my life- as we all have. I am what I am – a simple man who works hard, trusts others, and loves his family and fears for the future of our State.
Yesterday I was handed a script. I redacted some contents that were unacceptable. I did also say some things for which I should have chosen better words. I said other things that the press misinterpreted and misstated. I sincerely apologize for any comment that may have offended the Gay and Lesbian Community or their family members. Any reference to branding an entire community based on a small representation of them is wrong. My personal beliefs are:
1) I am a live and let live person.
2) I am 100% against discrimination of any group. I oppose discrimination of any kind in housing, credit, insurance benefits or visitation.
3) I am 100% against hate crimes in any form.
4) I am in support of civil agreements and equal rights for all citizens.
5) My position on marriage is based on my personal views. I have the same position on this issue as President Barrack Obama. I have previously stated I would support a referendum by New York voters. I have proposed Initiative and Referendum so New Yorkers can decide important issues like this.
6) The portrayal of me as anti-gay is inconsistent with my lifelong beliefs and actions and my prior history as an father, employer and friend to many in the gay and lesbian community.
I am concerned with the future for all our citizens, gay, straight, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim and Agnostic. Although I am not perfect I do admit my mistakes. I will reach out to leaders of the gay community to educate me on how to better represent my support for the rights of all citizens. If elected as your governor I will stand and fight for all gay New Yorkers rights. I ask you for forgiveness on my poorly chosen words and the publication by others not involved with our campaign of unredacted script that did not reflect my oral statement or match my personal feelings. Please go to my website www.paladinoforthepeople.com to learn more detail about the issues including my staunch support for civil rights for all New Yorkers.
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Amicus
October 13th, 2010
—-
Including an apology…
Amicus
October 13th, 2010
Not to put too fine a point on his foolery and excuse that he’s not a “career politician”, but quick question:
You walk into a place where the date on the wall is 5771, and everyone around you clearly “means it” in terms of ‘no reform!’, someone hands you a speech to read.
Do you read it to the camera, as if it were your own?
Aeval
October 13th, 2010
What it really means is that this guy doesn’t think before saying something and only thinks what he has said when confronted about the content of what he has said.
Interesting concept for a Tea Party-backed candidate, but not that suprising thought.
justsearching
October 13th, 2010
His apology won’t appease those who think he’s homophobic, and it will be unacceptable to those on the right who were pleased with his former way of presenting his “family-value” views. He’s a gonner in this race.
johnathan
October 13th, 2010
And, of course, the apology is not genuine, as it includes the words “may have been offended.” He would not have offered an apology if he had not offended anyone. The “may,” “might,” “could,” “could have” etc. included in so many business-speak or politico-speak apologies is pathetic and trite. Why bother apologizing if it is really not meant from the heart?
Timothy Kincaid
October 13th, 2010
He is a father to many in the gay community?
marcus
October 13th, 2010
But Amicus — who DOES that??? Who in their right mind invites a candidate and expects to hand him his speech to read when he gets there? What candidate goes to an event like that without prepared remarks? What kind of a candidate would even think of reading, as his own work, words that were thrust at him on a piece of paper by those who were not authorized to write for him?
I just can’t buy this.
Lindoro Almaviva
October 13th, 2010
I wonder who whore his apology then.
Amicus
October 13th, 2010
marcus, what can I say? Life is stranger than fiction.
Matt
October 13th, 2010
“Apology” not accepted.
Greg
October 13th, 2010
What script was handed to him on the Monday morning shows that he was apparently still reading from?
The worst part is that I’d really like to point and laugh at the LCRs in New York who will defend voting for this clown, but the LCRs have just shown themselves to be the most effective “professional” LGBT group we have.
Steve
October 13th, 2010
And he is somehow different from the politicians he so frequently rales against?
I don’t think so.
There is no difference. His message is based on which way the wind is blowing and who is in the audience. Same old story. Ho hum. So what else is new today?
Tone
October 13th, 2010
No, he cannot take it back. It’s out there, it’s what he thinks, manufactured repentance notwithstanding. I do not forgive him. He can go to H-E double hockey sticks.
Ben in Atlanta
October 13th, 2010
King Canute ordered the tide to turn back but it didn’t and he drowned.
It is what it is.
TampaZeke
October 13th, 2010
The Orthodox Rabbis just announced that they are withdrawing their support from Paladino for apologizing to the dirty homos.
Talk about a lose, lose, lose situation.
Cuomo couldn’t have scripted a better train wreck for his opponent.
customartist
October 14th, 2010
Zeke,
Did that really happen? Where did you read it? Sincerely, not being snippy.
________
Also, I heard Paladino say in this video with Matt Lauer “it is un-natural” referring to men dancing in speedos at a pride parade…
But let Miss America tip around spryly onstage in a skimpy swimsuit and pumps, and THAT’s okay! (so long as she’s properly waxed the chinchilla and taped the boobs up so’s I can have all kinds of imaginary sex aith her!) THAT’s all Perfectly Fine (cuz it’s HETRO-sexyul)
Timothy Kincaid
October 14th, 2010
Hey, it is unnatural. You don’t see animals in nature dancing in Speedos on a pride float.
Except for meerkats, of course, but they don’t count. They have their own reality series and you know that those are unnatural.
customartist
October 14th, 2010
I found it:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/14/nyregion/14paladino.html
werdna
October 14th, 2010
@customartist
Thanks for the link. Loved this paragraph in particular:
customartist
October 14th, 2010
Yeah, you couldn’t make this stuff up. It’s just too funny!
“OMG – I almost choked on a
my salami!”
Timothy Kincaid
October 14th, 2010
I’m sure Levin is not the first to almost choke on a kosher salami.
Richard Rush
October 14th, 2010
Oh, I did that – over 29 years ago – and it was absolutely fabulous.
Emily K
October 14th, 2010
good riddance to the black-hatted hierarchy.
Priya Lynn
October 14th, 2010
Timothy, Richard – that’s hilarious!
Robert
October 14th, 2010
Poor Paladino. He rolled in the mud to please the rabbis, then they turned on him because he tried to wash his hands afterwards.
Now, he’s too muddy for some, and not muddy enough for others.
customartist
October 14th, 2010
It’s all been said. He can’t suck the words back in.
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