New York gubernatorial candidate apologizes over gay remark
(CNN) - New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino apologized for comments "that may have offended the gay and lesbian community" after his remarks to an Orthodox Jewish group drew fire earlier this week.
The Republican candidate said he doesn't want children "to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option [compared with heterosexuality]. ... it isn't."
Andrew Cuomo, the New York attorney general and Paladino's Democratic opponent, criticized the remarks Sunday, as did advocate groups for gays and lesbians.
In a letter Tuesday, Paladino acknowledged that he made "mistakes" when he told Jewish leaders that children should not be "brainwashed" into thinking that homosexuality is an acceptable option.
"I sincerely apologize for any comment that may have offended the gay and lesbian community or their family members," he said in the letter. "Any reference to branding an entire community based on a small representation of them is wrong."
Paladino said if he is elected governor, he will fight for the rights of all New Yorkers.
Paladino also criticized Cuomo for marching in New York's gay pride parade in June.
Cuomo called Paladino's comments cynical and divisive.
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You can't apologize and make everything OK after saying something like that. He obviously believes what he said.
Apology NOT accepted!
Probably this is the only thing I agree with Rep. candidate. 100% agree.
He is a politician through and through, full of crap.
This guy is a punk.
Loud mouth morons like him are usually the biggest puss in the world – when you get down to it they crumble in fear.
He is disgusting – even for a teabagger he lowers the bar down to pond scum.
He just said what he really believes. Is really apologizing or is he being a politician?
He was reading a script he very obviously had never seen before, and barely managed to do that. this is leadership material? Are you kidding? this is a guy who wants to lead NY State? Whose script is reading from everyday -sarah palin? More likely FOX news provides most of the stupid remarks this guy makes. This is a joke, he is a joke, and if New york elects this moron, they are a joke.
Translation: "I threw it out there to rile my core conservative base, and they are 100% pleased that I did so and thereby revealed the long-standing deeply-held bigotted beliefs I share with them, that make me one of them. However, it did anger the rest of the community that I opened my raincoat and exposed my disgusting amoral underbelly, so I will now jibba jabba an insecere apology to placate them while smiling and winking at my base....they know what's up. Talking point grenades are the shizzle."
This is as sincere as a BP saying that it was a small leak - just trying to cover his everything given the problem he has caused himself.
Mr.Paladino, If you are elected to gov,( or any high office for that matter) if the media stops you for a question,or a gay media cameramen is there for a photo op, or just a person asking a question, will you have a group of " BUBBA,S their to take these people out ? I was just wondering,you seem to have a shoort wick??????
Of course he apologized. It hurt his campaign. The very fact that he feels the need to apologize just lends strength to the theory that he's trying to have his cake and eat it too. New Yorkers need to show the rest of the US that they don't support bigotry and hate.
I've always taught my daughter to be careful what you say because once it's out there you can't take it back. Words do mattter and words hurt. You have to be "brain dead" to say what Paladino said when our children are killing themselves because of this kind of hate.
I want to know how characters like this get elected in the first place? This man is a disgrace to the human race. Sending videos of beastiality? Are we really not paying attention to the point where this kind of person can get past us? This is our fault. If we don't actively participate in our democracy, it won't be a democracy.