Blind Man Defends Criticism of Paterson

Health care concerns have been getting some flak for blitzing the airwaves with TV ads protesting Governor Paterson's proposed health care cuts. Most notably, the ads feature a blind man, Juan Petri, asking Paterson, "Why are you doing this to me?" which some felt was a low blow to the blind governor. Yesterday, the Post put Pietri on its front page (headline: DIM WITS) and, today, has an interview with the Bronx resident. Pietri, who voted for the Spitzer-Paterson ticket, said, "I didn't do anything wrong. I did the ads because I'm blind and they're cutting my services...I got nothing against him - just the cuts he's going to make." The Post followed up by speaking to some blind New Yorkers to ask them what they thought of the ads—one said, "Blind people shouldn't talk smack about our blind governor."