Paterson Tells Church He's On Mission from God, Won't Resign

AP/Mary Altaffer

Governor Paterson prayed to God and damned the media during a rare visit to Cornerstone Baptist Church in Bedford-Stuyvesant yesterday. Paterson has declined to speak publicly about two high-profile investigations into his administration, but yesterday he opened up to the congregation, which received him warmly and even put their hands on his back as he prayed before the altar, the Times reports. Referring to Paterson's interference in a domestic violence dispute between a Bronx woman and his top aide, one parishoner told the Daily News, "He is guilty of helping." Another, Bed-Stuy resident Valda Moore, 41, opined, "It is his personal life. It has nothing to do with his job as governor." Paterson told the congregation:

I will keep governing to the end of the year, in the spirit of making the tough decisions and trying as hard as I can to fulfill the mission in which God placed me. In the last couple of months, I’ve been the victim of rumor and innuendo, gossip and absolute lies. The term ‘unsubstantiated reports’ used to mean you couldn’t print it. Now it means they put it on the front page.
I shouldn’t be listening to the god of the media. I shouldn’t be listening to the god of polls. I shouldn’t be listening to the god of popularity. I shouldn’t be listening to people who are going in a path, rather than leading a path. I should be listening to my own heart. If you know the truth, and you want to serve God, then stand before him no matter what happens.

Paterson has repeatedly declined to discuss the investigations with the press because he's under investigation(s), but legal experts say there's nothing precluding him from speaking publicly. "The governor is free to say whatever he wants," a source in the Attorney General's Office tells the Post. "Notwithstanding all of Paterson's public comments—he can't say this, he can't say that—nothing prohibits him from speaking publicly and saying whatever he wants." Paterson's criminal-defense lawyer, however, may be advising him to seal his lips because anything he says could be used in a prosecution against him.

Paterson's aide David Johnson, who was accused of assaulting his then-girlfriend last Halloween, will speak with investigators this week, possibly as early as Monday, CBS2 reports. We look forward to leaks from the Attorney General's office on that one, assuming Andrew Cuomo continues heading the investigation. Councilman Charles Barron has called on Cuomo to recuse himself because his rumored plans to run for governor could create a "serious conflict of interest." Asked whether he thinks Cuomo should step aside, Mayor Bloomberg told the reporters, "Well, the governor asked them to do it, and I think that says it all."

A new Siena College poll [pdf] suggests that most voters view Paterson unfavorably, but 55 percent still want him to finish his term. "More voters have an unfavorable view of David Paterson now than at any time, and more voters view the job he’s doing as governor as poor than at any time in the two years he’s been governor," said Steve Greenberg, a Siena Poll spokesman. "Yet, a clear majority want to see him serve out the remaining nine months of his term rather than resign by a more than three-to-one margin." 54 percent also say the Paterson imbroglio makes them embarrassed to call themselves New Yorkers.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on March 8, 2010 10:35 AM

Comments [rss]

cleanupnynow

David your mission in life is to mismanage NY State government. “The Democratic Conference: Organizational and Operational Structure Report” is an eyewitness account of Paterson’s dysfunctional governing nature.

http://www.politico.com/static/PPM110_demreportfinal.html

This report criticized Paterson’s leadership as Senator Minority leader. The office, headed by former Paterson chief of staff and childhood friend Michael Jones-Bey, was criticized for patronage, lack of leadership, indecisiveness and infighting, set against a backdrop of general chaos – in other words the office was a zoo. Those interviewed in the report indicated that Mr. Jones-Bey, had no management skills, should be fired, and would get drunk with staff, often coming in the office with a hangover.

For running such a dysfunctional chaotic office, Mr. Jones-Bey was hand picked by David Paterson to head the Division of Minority & Women Owned Business Development (DMWBD) at Empire State Development Corporation.

Spirit of 76

How the hell is using the authority of the office to interfere in a criminal complaint "personal"? With idiots like this woman voting, it's no wonder we consistently get creeps and criminals in office.

melpol

No politician can survive a dirt finding spotlight. Paterson was fortunate that it uncovered only minor infractions of the law. The powers that turned on that spotlight were kind. They could have disclosed things much more serious. But they feared opening up a can of worms that would reflect on all politicians. Paterson has no choice but to resign after a deal is made with owners of that spotlight.

Spook

I use to fixate on how Black America is critically retarded by its continued over absorption with religion as a crutch, excuse,con, etc. But after reading Sunday's NYT article about Scientology, I am reminded that religion is just another growing hole in our shared boat we call America.

Funny, how Adam Smith and Karl Marx both agreed on the dangers and stupidity in the over reliance of religion with the masses. Their split was that Marx believed that it must be examined and scrutinized for the good of society, while Adam Smith thought it best to ignore it because it was too much of an intellectual bottomless tar pit. And that people just were not intellectually mature enough to deal with it. Clearly Marx was right, again.

ANGRYGOD11

Paterson and his people don't seem to understand he's the governor of ALL New Yorkers, not just the African-American ones. Most of us do not care if his community backs him up or not and some of us are annoyed it's being presented to us as if it should matter.

I don't recall Elliot Spitzer asking top NY Jewish political leaders to meet in a deli to debate his resignation.

LaLuneEstMorte

That man is running blind!

Sorry, someone had to say it.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

New Joke Post HeadLine : Lord wants Gov Paterson to resign

Gray Lady HeadLine: Gov Paterson has weapons of mass destruction.

New York Daily Rag Editorial: Gov Paterson should resign but Bloomberg should run a 4th term.

JenChungsBaby

He's done the race card and now the religion card. My guess is that patriotism is next.

hotstepper

i don't think god is listening, pal.

hunter.blatherer

Palin/Paterson 2012!

Phil

Just when you thought he couldn't dig any deeper into that hole.

Think2wice

"...fulfill the mission in which God placed me."

Okay, that's it. Time to go. I'm sorry but when politicians start getting all churchy, pulpity, and holier-than-thou like Marion Barry, Sharpe James, or Robert Mugabe...'Tis time to part.

Think2wice

Oh, and I forgot to give a shout out to Dubya, Jesus's divinely appointed Commander of the Faithful...er Commander in Chief.

Splicer

Whether it's Bed-Stuy, the UES, UWS or Wall Street, you'll find people who think that the law doesn't apply to them or their own.

WesleySnipesAlot

"Paterson Tells Church He's On Mission from God"

So can we expect the remainder of his term to have a solid rhythm and blues soundtrack and epic car chases/crashes like in the Blues Brothers?