Reader Posts
« previous | TPM CAFÉ READER POSTS HOME | next »
Paterson Is Lucky He's Black and Blind
But Paterson, a fellow Democrat who becomes New York's first black governor and the nation's first legally blind chief executive, plans to be well prepared for the job. He asked for a handover on Monday, five days after Spitzer's resignation. - AP
David Paterson would not be Governor of New York today if he was not a black, blind man.
If he was a black man, he would not be in this position today. And if he was a blind man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman, of any color, he would not be in this position today.
If he was a black woman, who'd lost sight in only one eye, he wouldn't. If he was a half-black, half-white woman, who had sight in both eyes, but had lost an arm, he would not be governor. If he was anorexic, or bulimic, he would not have that job.
Muslim? Nope. Blind Jew? Certainly not.
Let me be perfectly clear -- David Paterson is lucky to be a black, blind man. The people of New York are looking for a black, blind man, and they are simply caught up in the moment.
Now, I now many of the commenters here on the blog are going to accuse me of being racist for saying this. The reality is, anytime you try and talk about how lucky black, blind men are, you're accused of racism.
Well, I think it's YOU who are being racist. Reverse racism. I really think you're attacking me because I am white.
How's that?
Advertisement
Comments (139)
You're white? Who knew?
I'm half white. Unfortunately. Maybe if I spend more time in the sun, no one will notice.
March 13, 2008 10:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the post, Gerry. But why the pseudonym?
March 13, 2008 10:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Because Obama's campaign is attacking me to get to Hillary.
March 13, 2008 10:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Man oh man, being blind is a real break today.
Must be why Patterson supports Hillary. :-)
Best, Terry
March 13, 2008 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, he is lucky because he was chosen to run with Spitzer. It has nothing to do with his skin color or handicap. Of course, why he was chosen? YOu have to ask Elliot.
I am a New Yorker. I am proud to have Patterson as my governor. No question about that!
March 13, 2008 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Aimey May,
You blind people must all stick together. :-)
Patterson is not our governor. Not yet.
I knew absolutely nothing about Patterson. Now all I know is that he is unsighted (kind of) and pigmentally blessed.
I am frankly delighted at the news. I had a blind friend, a mathematician, who was embarrassed to talk of being considered for a job as a programmer only after making a complaint to the EEOC. That was back when the EEOC actually worked at the job.
Spitzer might have once again done real good.
Best, Terry
March 13, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think we all know why he was chosen to run...
March 13, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Funny because Bill Clinton was once viewed as a lucky Black man too. And as luck would have it, he became the very first, lucky, Black president. So I guess, by osmosis (like 'experience') that means Hillary is half-Black too. So as a half Black, mentally-challenged white woman, she must be the winner of the mega-lucky sweepstakes? Wow, I am simply amazed!
March 13, 2008 10:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
BionicSoy,
You left out color blind.
Lots of color blindness these days, especially by social constructionists.
Hillary must be the luckiest person ever.
Best, Terry
March 13, 2008 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
You're on a roll, cscs!!!
♪♪♪
March 13, 2008 10:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Made the front page again, you did! See how wishing you were black improves your credentials?
For those who missed it:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/03/i-wish-i-was-black.php
March 13, 2008 11:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
That was another hilarious post. I responded to the ice skating thing, but the post got lost in the ether that is TPM. I reposted my reply again today, better late than never. Funny stuff.
March 13, 2008 12:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Went back and read your ice skating reply at the other post! Gave you high marks!
March 13, 2008 6:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
DK is too kind to me...
March 13, 2008 12:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know he only got where he is because us "bleeding heart liberals" want to feel good about ourselves by transcending race and handicap. We don't care at all about legislative achievements or anything. What better than a blind black man in public office to make us liberals feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
March 13, 2008 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
I come from the warm and fuzzy wing of the Democratic Party!
March 13, 2008 11:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Me Too! Got my "Warm and Fuzzy Liberals for Obama" coffee mug right here and my bunny slippers on.
We are a diverse pary, we can't just have left and centrists.
WARM AND FUZZY LIBERALS FOR OBAMA!
(where can we get t-shirts?)
March 13, 2008 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
I want one too!!! ♪♪♪
March 13, 2008 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Down the street from me there's a poster in a house window, with the Grateful Dead skull and sixties lettering that reads: "Deadheads for Obama ... Fired-up and ... um, wow!"
March 13, 2008 6:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe Obama should pretend to be blind. That would most certainly give him that added advantage to really seal the deal. That lucky SOB.
Cheers.
March 13, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
cscs: Thanks for giving me a reason to stary my day with a smile!
March 13, 2008 11:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
You're welcome!
Best medicine, and all...
March 13, 2008 11:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Clearly, David Paterson was born on third base, but thinks he hit a triple. We're all sick of lucky duckies like this taking advantage of democracy. It really frosts my cookies.
March 13, 2008 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh c'mon. You totally know that Paterson wouldn't be where is he is if it weren't for the "blind vote" who only vote for Paterson because he is blind like them.
March 13, 2008 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
I tell you, the drummer from Def Leppard should thank the Lord every day for the loss of his arm. That's job security, folks. Nobody fires the one-armed drummer. Think about it.
March 13, 2008 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
heh heh.
March 13, 2008 12:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
This post and a lot of the comments on the thread have me laughing aloud.
Yours is one of my favorites so far.
Say! If we had the Def Leppard drummer and Stevie Wonder, we could put them together on a "dream ticket."
March 13, 2008 5:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
I denounce and reject the proposition that David Paterson's race and visual status are political advantages. They are not (as far as I know).
March 13, 2008 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, not funny. It just isn't.
March 13, 2008 12:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
The (as far as I know) part certainly was.
March 13, 2008 12:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Right. I'm sure Paterson would think it's hilarious.
March 13, 2008 12:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
And, to be clear, I was saying the OP by cscs is not funny.
March 13, 2008 12:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, it wasn't clear.
In that case, I denounce and reject you and your comments.
March 13, 2008 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks. I happily accept your rejection.
Again, I'm positive that David Paterson would find your post rolling-on-the-floor hilarious.
March 13, 2008 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Again, I'm positive that David Paterson would find your post rolling-on-the-floor hilarious.
Well, I think it just depends on if he doesn't have a sense of humor.
Like, um...ahem...ahem...some people.
March 13, 2008 12:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
As long as you think you are funny. Of course, David Paterson wouldn't be reading your post, whether he has a sense of humor or not.
March 13, 2008 1:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's not necessarily true. Plenty of blind people can read.
The other thing you wrote wasn't true either. This post is plenty funny, provided you are intelligent enough to know what is being made fun of here.
Are you a part of the new luck-impaired class by any chance?
March 13, 2008 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
<sarcasm>
Now That's funny!
Because he wouldn't know how to read, because he's blind, I get it!
Of course, he might have a braille monitor.
</sarcasm>
March 13, 2008 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
God, how have I gotten along all this time without knowing about the sarcasm tags???
Knowing about 'em will help me punch up my comments from now on. And they'll really be helpful to poor readytoblow.
Thanks Moose.
March 13, 2008 5:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, didn't notice that it was not a direct reply to the previous post.
As far as it not being funny, it is called sarcasm. You know, when something happens that is so disgusting that you either scream (which we have on many posts) or laugh, which we are doing here. More often it is the analogous posts, done with humor, that really brings a situation into focus.
March 13, 2008 12:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, it fails in the funny department. Sometimes comedians bomb. Using David Paterson's blindness for a much-needed laugh is not funny.
March 13, 2008 12:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Using David Paterson's blindness for a much-needed laugh is not funny.
Now this is something worth exploring a bit.
I think there aren't too many topics that are completely "not funny." I'm pretty much an everything's on the table kind of guy when it comes to humor. But we obviously have our own lines to draw about these things, so it's subjective.
That's the thing about humor...it's about crossing boundaries, and wherever that line is drawn may or may not offend. I think, in fact, pushing that boundary is a good thing, as the alternative leaves us with something like a repressed discourse. That's why someone like Bill Maher, or even Howard Stern, is an important voice (whether or not you think they're funny or even obscene).
Next, I think it's pretty clear this post is about Ferraro, and not Paterson. Clearly I was not making fun of or ridiculing Paterson or his blindness.
But, as you said, I was "using" his blindness to, what I would say is, make a point.
Would he understand and think it's funny? I would hope so. But you'd have to ask him.
I don't think there was anything malicious or hurtful that I said, but, of course, I would never be as presumptuous as to think I couldn't be wrong or make a mistake.
March 13, 2008 1:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think it's probably safe to say that the man has a healthy sense of humor:
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2008/03/david_paterson_we_cannot_waste.html
March 13, 2008 11:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I completely agree with readytoblow. Blind people aren't funny. Black people aren't funny. Hypocritical sex-addicted (former) governors aren't funny. Racist VP candidates from the 80s aren't funny. Self-righteous news anchors on speed aren't funny. Indicted slumlords aren't funny. Spectacularly imploding 9/11 obsessed campaigns aren't funny. Rock-tossing lefty kooks aren't funny. Popcorn-popped squirrels aren't funny. Denouncing isn't funny. Rejecting isn't funny. Denouncing and rejecting isn't funny squared. THIS IS EXCELLENT NEWS FOR HILLARY!!!! isn't funny!!!! Canadians aren't funny. Fake Sinbads aren't funny. Delegate math isn't funny. Sarcastic bloggers aren't funny. And blind, black, sarcastic bloggers are perhaps the least funny thing in the universe.
March 13, 2008 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Canadians aren't funny."
I was with you right up until this. But c'mon? Canadians?
March 13, 2008 1:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're a sick anticanadite, and you probably exploit blind prostitutes. On behalf of readytoblow and all peoples who yearn to be free from oppressive humors, I denounce you and everything you stand for. I'm sick of vicious negativity from you people. I'm leaving this site for good.
March 13, 2008 2:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is reverse anticanadism.
You're an antianticanadite, and you're only attacking me because I'm...
Oh, forget it.
March 13, 2008 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh cmon, Ghengis.
If *anything* is funny, it's Fake Sinbad.
March 13, 2008 2:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fake Sinbad is a black avatar. Black avatars aren't funny. Ergo Fake Sinbad isn't funny. I'm leaving this site for real now. I mean it this time.
March 13, 2008 2:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Premise 1: If *anything* is funny, it's Fake Sinbad.
Premise 2: Fake Sinbad isn't funny. (see previous comment)
Conclusion: Nothing is funny.
I rest my case. Bye bye again.
March 13, 2008 2:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Genghis, you're funny.
March 13, 2008 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, no. Nothing is funny. See Ghengis' ironclad logic earlier...
March 13, 2008 4:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
You just have to continue antagonizing him. Cruel. No wonder he's running away for good.
March 13, 2008 7:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's funny.
;-)
March 13, 2008 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who the fuck died and made you the arbiter of funny?
I thought it was funny, as did others.
March 13, 2008 4:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
If somebody, very seriously, tells you that something is not funny, you can nearly always be assured of two things:
1) It is, in fact, funny. It may be, in fact, very funny.
2) It just got funnier.
March 13, 2008 11:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Plus, Paterson can credibly claim that he had never seen any evidence that Spitzer was consorting with prostitutes.
March 13, 2008 12:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
OK ready to blow, you can go to town on this one. This one has nothing to do with the hypocrisy. But I think the rest of us have kept our humor in focus.
March 13, 2008 1:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh good lord. As a member of the generation that was raised on Heller Keller (incidentally: the perfect presidential candidate) and Space Shuttle Challenger jokes, I categorically reject and denounce your criticism.
March 13, 2008 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have to say that your Def Leppard drummer analogy had me in stiches. Now that is funny sarcasm!
March 13, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Heller Keller? What are you, blind?
March 13, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thermal expansion is always funny.
March 13, 2008 11:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sage and comical observation predicting what Ferraro would say about Paterson's ascension. Wow, did that lady irretrievably tarnish her legacy. Of course, Clinton was well on her way to tarnishing her legacy and that of her husbands before Ferraro opened her mouth.
March 13, 2008 12:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Excellent point. If Spitzer had only been black and blind, he would have been praised for his wiliness and virility. I look forward to the day when our society is truly race, sightedness, and sex-addictiveness blind.
PS By "blind", I don't mean to insult the sight-challenged.
March 13, 2008 12:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Right! They are really watching your post carefully! Me? I like spotting the irony!
March 13, 2008 11:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Um, adleed, I think that you missed one those ironies that you're so keen to spot. Legally blind?
March 14, 2008 12:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
cscs,
It's time you made the talk show circuit (twice) and denounce Paterson supporters and all blind people for using your stupid comments for political gain.
You can remind the public and the press that Paterson will need people blogging about him during the next election...ahem...and you are a blogger. You're just stating the facts.
Also, they are clearly attacking you because you have sight.
March 13, 2008 12:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's time you made the talk show circuit
All requests should be directed to my agent. Or my stylist.
Either is fine.
March 13, 2008 12:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe Edwards should have used his stylist as his campaign manager.
March 13, 2008 2:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
If John Edwards were Latina, we'd love his healthy head of hair.
-Patricia J. Williams in The Nation.
Earlier in her essay, she also says There is no profit in styling a competition of oppression I would argue that it's possible, that cscs is profiting from it mightily. :-)
March 13, 2008 2:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, but I'm pretty sure this is the last I'll be able to milk out of it...
Although, you never know!
March 13, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hillary's luck just got upped a notch. Now she'll get all the Bipolar votes.
March 13, 2008 12:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actual fact: In 2002, Clinton did not support H. Carl McCall, the first black candidate for governor. Clinton, McAuliffe, Schumer, all the big Dems, wanted Spitzer to run in 2008.
During the campaign, Clinton was photgraphed gazing up adoringly into Pataki's blue eyes when they shared a stage in western NY so Clinton could share credit for creating eight fucking jobs.
As an aside, I don't think Spitzer thought Clinton would win in 2008 because I read that he had plans to run as the first Jewish candidate in 2012.
Best laid plans and all that...
March 13, 2008 12:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
First Jewish candidate? Damn. How soon the world forgets Jomentum.
March 13, 2008 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Correction: Spitzer wanted to be the first Jewish president. I guess the silver lining in the Spitzer scandal is that we found about the hookers now rather than later.
March 13, 2008 1:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Geraldine Ferraro may be a racist, but there are two thing she isn't -- Hillary Clinton's spiritual adviser and the provider of her last book title.
March 13, 2008 12:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are absolutely right. I mean how can you possibly compare that????
I mean one is a pastor of a church in Chicago and the other is a previous Vice Presidential candidate and an important member of the all inclusive DEMOCRATIC party (who just happens to be a racist).
I mean come ON? Where's the vetting? Obviously this pastor's persona is a much more relevant issue to democrats than a racist democratic elected official (wolf in sheeps clothing).
GET WITH IT PEOPLE.
March 13, 2008 1:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Looks like your remarks really hit a nerve, cscs. I think it's because you're speaking the truth and refusing to give in to the forces of political correctness. Every time someone criticizes Paterson he plays the black blind card, and I'm appalled, appalled that those people would attack you just because you're white and sighted.
March 13, 2008 12:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ain't it the truth...
March 13, 2008 1:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
You can see?
I didn't know.
March 13, 2008 6:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stevie Wonder is black and blind (although in both eyes) and he endorsed Barack Obama, so that means Obama ... is ... wait ... just a moment ... I've almost constructed the perfectly absurd syllogism. Give me just one more segment on Fox and I promise to close the loop!
March 13, 2008 12:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
At some point the candidate is going to have to defend herself against this argument that her campaign has become unhinged. I suggest something along the lines of:
“But the strawberries, that's where I had them. I proved with geometric logic that a duplicate key to the icebox existed. I could have produced that key. They were protecting some officer ...”
Captain Queeg
March 13, 2008 1:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I apologize for my reverse racism. I shall go flog myself now.
March 13, 2008 1:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nice. But I'm waiting for the black lesbian quadriplegic blind deaf and mute candidate. Until then, I'm staying home on election day.
March 13, 2008 2:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Helen Keller walks into a bar.
The guy behind her ducks under, turns around, and says, "what, are you blind? I said, are you blind? Are you deaf? Answer me! Oh, go fuck yourself!"
Did I mention that it was Helen Keller the Hermaphrodite, not the original Helen Keller?
Helen Keller the Hermaphrodite is just about the luckiest person, ever.
March 13, 2008 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
She would be even luckier if Helen Keller the Hermaphrodite lost her bid for US Rep, but won her Senate bid because her opponent was Alan Keyes.
March 13, 2008 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
If Ferraro had said Obama was lucky because his first Senate opponent went all freaky-sex with his smokin' wife, and his second opponent was a total batshit wingnut, then there wouldn't be a problem. Because freaky-sex batshitness is definitely color-blind.
Maybe he's just lucky to be so damn lucky.
March 13, 2008 11:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Right, you know he is just so damn lucky. He just sat back and watch the Illinois sentae votes roll in for him. He didn't have to campaign in downstate Illinois and convince white farmers or anything. I mean he could have just run on name recognition. I am sure voters in the booth said, yeah I am going to vote for the guy who's name is Barack Obama. Don't know anything about him, but I like that name. Sounds like a good sturdy American name to represent us.
March 14, 2008 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
On point once again. This was so running through my head yesterday.
March 13, 2008 2:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks...
March 13, 2008 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
cscs, thanks for the best headline of the week!
Ferraro is lucky she's an idiot -- ignorance is bliss.
March 13, 2008 2:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
My pleasure.
Perhaps I've a future as headline writer one day?
The Times, Post, or Daily News can all contact me through my agent, by the way.
Or my stylist.
Either one.
March 13, 2008 5:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
you're not racist. you're just stupid.
and from now on - irrelevant, as far as i'm concerned
March 13, 2008 2:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love it. I'll go one further. You are racist and stupid and irrelevant and not funny and you drink kool aid. OK that was three further. And your screen name discriminates against vowels. Four further.
Lalo35adm has convinced me not to leave TPM after all. cscs for antichrist!!!!!!
March 13, 2008 3:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, I've been discriminating against vowels for a LONG time.
Don't get me started on the fucking vowels.
March 13, 2008 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Must you people always bring up sex?
March 13, 2008 6:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
The cool thing about a blog is that you can use your mouse and just scroll past the posts you don't like.
Or, you can click the button, and write a comment, and tell someone they're stupid. That, though, is incredibly childish and petty.
And makes you look bad.
I would much prefer you explain to me why you didn't like my post, and we can debate it, and allow others to weigh in. That's called "dialogue," or "an exchange of ideas."
Believe me, that's SO much better than making yourself look bad.
But what do I know?
I'm stupid!!!
March 13, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've read this comment six times and I have no idea what you're talking about, stupid.
March 14, 2008 1:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Hillary's luck just got upped a notch. Now she'll get all the Bipolar votes".
LMFAO!!
March 13, 2008 2:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
maybe they can both get 100% of the schizophrenic vote?
March 13, 2008 3:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
HEheehehehehe!
March 13, 2008 9:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
You, Mr/Ms CS, are a genius.
March 13, 2008 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
CS is lucky he-she's transsexual. He-she would not be the number one recommended post without his-her gender ambivalence.
March 13, 2008 3:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why thank you.
I'm more a wise-ass, though. Not so much a genius.
OK, maybe a little bit genius. :-)
March 13, 2008 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
David Paterson spent twenty years in the New York State Senate rising to Minority Leader before being elected Lt. Governor. Get your facts straight.
He's more qualified than Obama for an executive position.
March 13, 2008 3:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
By that logic he is also more qualified than Hillary.
March 13, 2008 3:30 PM | Reply | Permalink