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08/24/2009 07:21 PM

Paterson Demands Apology In Latest Media Rant

By: Rita Nissan

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Governor David Paterson struck another round of controversial chords Monday over what he says is the media's ongoing bias towards him. NY1's Rita Nissan filed the following report.

Governor Paterson is at it again, fanning the flames and making more racially charged comments.

In an interview published Monday, Paterson told blogger and NY1 commentator Gerson Borrero that some people are uncomfortable with too many powerful African-Americans.

"Part of what I feel is that one very successful minority is permissible, but when you see too many success stories then some people get nervous," Paterson said.

Paterson also claims the media is biased saying, "I don't think the media has acted in a racist way, but I have felt stereotyped at times."

Paterson took issue with being singled out as the "accidental governor."

Saying it bothers him, Paterson claimed Dick Codey of New Jersey and Jodi Rell of Connecticut were not given the label when they became governors by default, but a review of press accounts show they were often called accidental as well.

Paterson first brought up issues of race on a radio show on Friday. He then pointed to President Barack Obama and said criticism of him was race based, but on Monday the White House did not back up that claim.

"Whether or not race plays into that, I don't think it is the case. The president doesn't think it is the case," said White House Spokesman Bill Burton.

In Paterson's latest rant, he also unloaded again on NY1 political anchor Dominic Carter. The governor claims Carter exaggerated the details of a party Paterson attended with his daughter and demanded an apology.

"Quite frankly, anybody that does that, I just see them as a son of a bitch," Paterson said.

Paterson ally, the Reverend Al Sharpton, says the governor's wrangling with the media is not productive.

"I think right now we need to have an intelligent discussion. We don't need to have the back and forth. If we do that it could lead to something better," Sharpton said.

All of this comes as poll after poll show Paterson with dismal approval ratings. Perhaps Paterson is playing the race card to garner some sympathy and turn thing around, or maybe it's one more misstep from a governor who can't seem to get anything right.