Thursday October 14, 2010
Paladino Apologizes for ‘Poorly Chosen’ Words Condemning Homosexuality
Loses Orthodox Rabbi’s support
By Kathleen Gilbert
NEW YORK, October 14, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – New York Republican gubernatorial Carl Paladino has fallen out of favor with a local pro-family leader after he backed down on statements condemning homosexual indoctrination in schools, calling his words “poorly chosen” and casting himself a defender of “gay rights.”
Paladino had been deluged with criticism for remarks addressed to Jewish leaders in Brooklyn Sunday, in which he said that “my children and your children would 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.” The candidate also criticized his opponent, state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, for participating in the gay pride parade.
But on Tuesday Paladino backed down on the remarks, which he called “poorly chosen,” although he did not specify which parts of his speech he repudiated. “If elected as your governor I will stand and fight for all gay New Yorkers rights,” stated the written apology. “I ask you for forgiveness on my poorly chosen words.”
Paladino also expressed concern that his words would spark anti-homosexual violence. “My entire life, I have never equivocated at all on defending gay rights … Ugly. Horrible. My God. I didn’t want any questions on this topic, because I don’t want this feeding frenzy of nonsense going on in the press to hurt anybody,” he said while campaigning.
Rabbi Yehuda Levin, who has acknowledged having a role in writing parts of Paladino’s remarks, immediately held the candidate’s feet to the fire. Levin is a spokesperson for the Rabbinical Alliance of America and a top pro-family and pro-life leader in New York.
“Carl, what’s happened to you? You’re losing it all in 48 hours? Where’s the backbone?” Levin exclaimed in a press conference in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral Wednesday. “How can we religious people, decent, family people, how can we depend on you if you folded like a cheap camera because for two days they were telling you bad things in the media?”
Levin also challenged Archbishop Timothy Dolan to weigh in on the issue. “I’m asking the archbishop, out here, in public, to weigh in – yes or no. Who are religious people supposed to vote for? Is it kosher to vote for a person who believes in partial-birth abortion? Yes or no?” asked Levin.
The archdiocese has refused to comment, saying it does not endorse or oppose candidates.
The rabbi described his shock upon learning of Paladino’s reversal, of which he was given no notice.
“I was in the middle of eating a kosher pastrami sandwich. While I was eating it, they come running and they say, ‘Paladino became gay!’ I said, ‘What?’ And then they showed me the statement,” said Levin, according to the New York Times. “I almost choked on the kosher salami.”
Paladino declined to speak to local media about Levin’s reaction, saying that “we’re off that topic.”