New York – Carl Paladino is apologizing for things he said about homosexuality and offering a “clarifying” statement on his own views, in which he calls himself a “simple man” who has “made mistakes all his life.”
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Here it is in full:
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.
Carl Paladino
If paldino wasn’t an antisemite till this sunday I am sure he doesn’t love us to much after the trouble yehuda levin put him into
That what happens when you hang out with nuts
piece of crap… if you’re against gay rights just say so…
anyway think this man is a loser… was hoping the republicans would come up with something better
the guy sounds sincere. i like him
Saying “Yesterday I was handed a script” shows that he’s an honest man, but a foolosh one. Who in their right mind would read from a script that he has neither authorized nor reviewed? Rabbi Levin’s prepared script could have said anything and Paladino would have just read the script. Doesn’t this man realize that he’s running for Governor of New York and the people want to know where he stands on issues and may also want to judge him on his character.
I’m confused – he’s against big government but made of fortune of Empire zone subsidies and rents to the State. He’s for morality, but had an affair and fathered an illegitimate child. One day he’s against the homosexuals and today he favors them. It’s one thing to try to be all things to all people, but this is absurd.
Which Carl Paladino am I do vote for? He has so many stands on many issues. Undoubtedly he’s the most flawed candidate to run for statewide office here since developer Abe Hirshfeld ran.
I expect that we’ll have 3 more weeks of this comedy.
So the guy is pro-gay after all.
Big mouth!