New York – Gov. Paterson’s wife — emotionally stunned at President Obama’s request that her husband not run for another term — ripped into him today, saying that it’s “very unfair” the president asked New York’s “first African-American governor” not to seek office.
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“You never heard of that before,” Michelle Paterson, in her first comments on the situation, said following a luncheon in Midtown.
“David’s the first African-American governor in the state of New York and he’s being asked to get out of the race. It’s very unusual and it seems very unfair.”
Paterson added, “I never heard of a president asking a governor not to run … so I thought it was very unusual that this would be asked of David and I don’t think it’s right.”
Obama aides have asked the embattled Democratic governor, not to run for governor in 2010.
Of course, it might not be that unusual if you’ve seen Paterson’s poll numbers lately.
But the governor’s wife also had an explanation for that. In an interview with WNBC’s Melissa Russo, she said that Paterson’s low numbers were due, in part, to his blindness.
Paterson said her husband was shocked at the request.
“I think he was stunned. Like I said this is very unusual,” she said.
Paterson has said he will run for governor despite the possibility that former Mayor Rudy Giuliani might challenge him.
In the meantime, Paterson’s wife stumped for the governor.
“I don’t think that David’s message is getting out,” she said.
“I want people to know that David’s extremely smart, one of the smartest people you’ll ever meet,” she added. “I want people to know that he’s a real caring person and has a lot of integrity and wants to do the right thing for this state.”
Ms. Paterson also said that Obama told the governor during a trip to upstate New York on Monday that he was “a little chagrined about how the White House handled the message.”
She is right, that it’s very unfair for a president to ask a governor not to seek office, just because they are both black.
Who ever heard of a president ask a governor not to run for office. Like all good liberals, Obama is overstepping his bounds. Surprise!
It seems to me that Obama wants Elliot Spitzer to run again..
Paterson’s wife sounds as out of touch as he is. I guess they ignore the polls and all the stupid comments her hubby has made, including the one today about not having signed up for this–meaning becoming governor.
Why cant the president keep his nose out of local and state politics? It is not his place or under his authority to comment and request Paterson to back down from the race. Leave it up to the DNC and the party leaders to decide. He has stuck his nose in way too many times in places he doesnt belong. There was that story with the police officer arresting a friend of his who resisted police questioning (beer conference). There’s his trying to control all of world politics. GM and controlling so many private businesses. Now this….
Oh, grow up, Mrs. Paterson! Unfair? You sound like a kid complaining to Teacher in the school yard.
Your husband is a useless, divisive loser. What surprises me is that Obama doesn’t want him to run so he (Obama) can shore up his lousy policies by having another Black politician support those policies. Fighting amongst the troops? I love it!
Paterson is at least a mensch, although he is incompetent. Obama is not. He would do almost anything to advance politically, except maybe publicly humiliate his grandmother. Wait a minute, he did just that last year! Oh well.
Could his low poll numbers be the results of the utterly miserable job he is doing. His wife is totally clueless.
they are not bla*k…they are afro-americaners….and it doesnt matter to me if he is blind….
it seems he is deaf
At least someone appreciates his qualities. It wouldn’t be bad if my wife speaks of me like that.
More power to Patterson. Let him show the unworthy big shots in Washington what New Yorkers are made of. It is toally and exclusively up to Patterson to decide if he will run. Obama can go fly a kite and some watermelons.
Can please someone explain me what in the hale Patterso did Bad as a governer he was a realy emes guy and he is not stupid i must say i am very surprise