That characters like Paladino Iott, O’donnell, Angle, & Rand Paul feel a kinship for the Republican party is something the party has no control over. That the party actively support them and acquiesces to their radical policies and prejudices speak volumes of what the GOP is not becoming but has become.
If because of the lack of enthusiasm of many these characters are swept into power no previously un-enthused person will have the right to complain when policies that are necessary to put our country back on track economically & socially are aborted. Elections have consequences. Political involvement and voting should be a requirement for citizenship.
New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino spoke on gay rights to a group of orthodox Jewish leaders in Brooklyn today, promising to veto marriage equality legislation and touting the fact that he didn’t march in this year’s gay pride parade.
In his remarks, Paldadino said:
We must stop pandering to the pornographers and the perverts, who seek to target our children and destroy their lives. I didn’t march in the gay parade parade this year — the gay pride parade this year. My opponent did. And that’s not the example that we should be showing our children, certainly not in our schools. (APPLAUSE) And don’t misquote me as wanting to hurt homosexual people in any way; that would be a dastardly lie. My approach is live and let live. I just think my children, and your children, will be much better off, and much more successful getting married and raising a family. And I don’t want them to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option. It isn’t. (APPLAUSE)
According to Newsday’s Reid Epstein, the line, "There is nothing to be proud of in being a dysfunctional homosexual. that is not how G-d created us" was in Paladino’s prepared text but left out of his actual speech.
In response to Paladino’s remarks, Cuomo spokesman Josh Vlasto put out a statement reading, "Mr. Paladino’s statement displays a stunning homophobia and a glaring disregard for basic equality. These comments along with other views he has espoused make it clear that he is way out of the mainstream and is unfit to represent New York."
Paladino’s campaign manager Michael Caputo also responded, drawing a contrast between the two candidates: "There’s a very clear difference between Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino. One of them is that Andrew Cuomo promises gay marriage will be legal in the first year of his administration. Carl Paladino has promised he would veto any such legislation. We believe that when the people of New York understand exactly where both candidates stand on this particular issue they will make their choices accordingly."
Carl Paladino: Don’t Be ‘Brainwashed’ Into Thinking Homosexuality Is ‘Equally Valid’ (VIDEO)