New York – Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino ignited a firestorm Sunday, telling Orthodox Jewish leaders that he doesn’t want children “brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality” is acceptable. But the would-be governor thinks he’s the one who is owed an apology after the media reported on comments he never actually uttered.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
Paladino, who has received strong support from conservative-libertarian “tea party” activists, spoke at a synagogue in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg section while trying to strike a contrast between himself and his Democratic rival, state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, (as was first reported by Vos Iz Neias).
In his remarks, he criticized Cuomo for marching in this summer’s gay pride parade, saying “that’s not how God created us and that’s not the example that we should be showing our children.” He added that children who later in life choose to marry people of the opposite sex and raise families would be “much better off and much more successful.”
“I don’t want them to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option,” he said. But he skipped one line in his prepared text “There is nothing to be proud of in being a dysfunctional homosexual.” That remark, which Paladino said was suggested by his “hosts at the synagogue,” made its way into media reports about the event after a draft of the speech was circulated by the congregation, without first clearing it with the campaign, according to campaign manager Michael Caputo.
Watch below Gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino (R-NY) spoke with Harry Smith of CBS News on his homophobic remarks he made telling Orthodox Jewish leaders that he doesn’t want children “brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality” is acceptable.
Appearing on CBS’ “The Early Show” Monday, Paladino said local media owes him an apology for the erroneous reporting. “I think I made a very, very clear statement. The people at the Daily News and the [New York] Post that continue this pariah attitude that they’ve got to come and chase me for every darn thing, I think they owe me an apology at some point.”
Adding to the uproar, eight alleged gang members were charged Sunday in the vicious beating last week of two teen boys and a 30-year-old man. Authorities say anti-gay bias was the motive for the alleged attack. Paladino said it wasn’t his intention to add fuel to the fire of gay hatred. “This thing was highlighted only because of the words that were on a written statement that I did not speak. I crossed them out. They were unacceptable to me and that’s the only reason we are talking about it today because those words were given by someone to the press and the press, in their own pariah way, needed to write something so that’s why this thing gets like this.” But Paladino stood by the rest of his comments.
“I want to clearly define myself. I have of no reservations about gay people at all, none, except for one thing, their desire to get married. I feel that marriage is only between a man and a woman. Very clearly, I wanted to state that. “Now, in addition, I have a nephew and I have people working for me who are gay. Never had a problem with any of them, never had a problem in any sense with their lifestyle and we’ve talked about it often. I talk to them about the discrimination that they suffer and I’m sensitive to it.
He went on to say that homosexuality was “not an easy life.” “It’s a very, very difficult life. Most of them don’t choose it. The discrimination that they suffer is very, very difficult and I’m totally sensitive to it.
A Cuomo campaign spokesman, Josh Vlasto, said Paladino’s comments demonstrate “a stunning homophobia and a glaring disregard for basic equality.”
It’s hardly the first time Paladino has been at the center of controversy. The multimillionaire developer from Buffalo previously apologized for forwarding racist and sexist e-mails early on in his campaign to replace Democratic Gov. David Paterson.
Recent polls have showed Cuomo with a big lead over Paladino in the governor’s race. Several minor-party candidates also are seeking to replace Paterson, who took office after former Gov. Eliot Spitzer stepped down in a prostitution scandal but isn’t seeking election to a full term.
This is pretty silly. I don’t think that the proportion of same sex predilictions has changed in the past decades. There is no reason to become paranoid and homophobic and tout that discussing same sex topics is going to cause a resurgence in this persuasion. To think that in this day and age, ignorant politicians are still trying to sway their votes based on fear and uncertainty in communities is simply abhorrent. I don’t think that the orthodox community needs to focus on this topic as we are never going to offer same sexual marriages in our communities. That said, what people do in their own legal manner is their own choice. Israel is not threatened by same sexual persuasions and need really only regard them as friendships. Perhaps there will be a few people who will not pursue marriage in the synagogue. There is no place for paranoia in the Jewish community for those who have other ideas for their choices in roommate/housemates or friends. This is a non issue. This politician really needs to examine his commitment to orthodox Jewish communities and not try to insinuate fear and hatred among a people who stand for humanity. (cont below)
Palidino is truly amazing. He could not have chosen two more insignificant shuls in the jewish community. Both Kashau in Williamsburg and Carlsburg in Boro Park have a membership of under 35 people of which 75% are the Rabbi’s family members, children and grandchildren. Is this supposed to show his support in the community.
In addition, why do our orthodox jews have to be in the middle of this messy firestorm. If he wants to preach his gay agenda, do it in church. Why do we let him in. Why do we have to be in middle of everything. The hasids this, the hasids that. Have we already solved all our problems.
(He also does not have any genious advisors who told him to openly criticize the Novminsker Rebbe and Rav Wolfson for supporting a candidate in the previous election)
(Continued)
What goes on in the private lives of citizens is a matter between themselves and our Creator.
Now he sounds very sympathetic to the homosexuals. Different words to dirrefnt audiences – a real polititian.
If he didn’t want to have the remark publicized, he should not have distributed it!
I originally was thinking of voting for Paladino. However, this man is acting like he came out of a flying saucer. If he were in my sons class, he would be labled ADHD (Attention Deficit “Hyperactive” Disorder).
Comments 1-3 is a classic example of “logorrhoea” – a kind of verbosity which uses superfluous (or fancy) words to disguise an otherwise useless message as useful or intellectual- aka as verbal diarrhea.
He just lost my vote. When he loses, NYers will remember the faces surrounding him when he gave this hate speech. There is a reason we are told to stay out of politics.
Seems yehuda levin always brings trouble to our community
Is he a typical tea party radical?
this guy gets my vote! if being anti gay marriage makes you homophobic, then call me homophobic! i, too, am no “anti-gay” however i also strongly believe in the sanctity of marriage, as a union between a man and a women. and, hello? isn’t this a jewish news site? since when are jews pro gay? is there a new torah i’m not aware of? (actually the new torah is also anti gay…)
If it makes you feel any better, it’s far more likely that when Carl Paladino loses this election (probably in a landslide), he’ll have alienated so many people, and made so many stupid gaffes in so many different venues that this nonsense in Williamsburg will (like, hopefully, Paladino himself) be completely forgotten…..
comment 7= a form of ignorance using fancy psychological terms inappropriately to try to dispell the notion that human beings can interrelate with eachother as human beings.
Gay Marriage is not and never will be a staple in the Torah True Jewish Community. The idea that 2 same sexual partners can “tie the knot” in the secular community is not a Jewish religiously sanctified marriage and will not be considered a Torah relationship of sanctified nature. No matter what they put on their finger and no matter what the secular courts decide. Torah is and always will be safe from unlawful attributes of desire and political leanings. That said, there is no reason why a man cant have a same sex “friend” or woman the same. This is really a non issue.
Am I the only one to notice the irony in the choice of necktie color (Lavender) that Mr. Carl Paladino chose when making the “Kanouses”/dig speech in the Jewish Communities??!!
So he doesn’t like homosexuals which we like him for.
But he doesn’t like us.
And he’s going to accuse his opponent of not liking us.
And everyone owes him an apology because he said he didn’t like the homosexuals, which he really doesn’t but somehow it’s our fault for him saying so.
And people want this clown who can’t even keep his stories straight with a paid staff to be in charge of a large budget, thousands of employees, millions of citizens and a National Guard with guns? I wouldn’t trust his judgment to operate a fish tank let alone a State.
He is our man. He may not win, but there is still a value in not being afraid to speak up against unions arranged along the worst perversion known to human race. Even in a losing effort.
#16 – If that’s “the worst perversion known to human race” you have lived a very sheltered life. Paladino has approvingly disseminated even more abominable ones in his emails. You may have read about it in the news. They were nauseating and just as deserving of death according to halacha.
No, I didn’t read any of that in the news. And if I amend my post to say “ONE OF the worst perversionS known to human race”, are you satisfied?