A scandal-ridden governor drops out

The New York Times nailed Gov. David Paterson last week in an alleged abuse-of-power case, so much so that he was forced to drop out of the 2010 gubernatorial race. Yet there was Paterson, in typical fashion, denying culpability.

“I have never abused my office — not now, not ever,” he said. “I believe that when the facts are reviewed, the truth will prevail.”

According to The Times, Paterson may have intervened in a domestic-abuse case involving one of his closest aides, David Johnson, 37. Johnson was accused of assaulting his longtime companion on Halloween. The woman twice received orders of protection against him.

Enter the governor.

Paterson, The Times reported, spoke with the woman personally. After that she went silent, failing to show up for a third court appearance to seek a final order of protection against Johnson.

The case didn’t surprise me. Last September I wrote a column suggesting that Paterson drop out of the race after a series of political missteps (“Getting out while the getting is good,” Sept. 24-30).

First, there was last April’s budget debacle. The governor had promised greater transparency in the state budget process. All we got was the same old smoke-and-mirrors magic act. Lots of closed-door, backroom dealing with little to show for it, just tax hikes and reduced services. If not for the $2.5 billion in federal stimulus money New York was offered, we would have seen our state school aid slashed dramatically and students would have suffered horribly.

The governor blamed the bad economy for New York’s economic woes, and he wasn’t entirely wrong to do so. But there was no explaining his allowing the state Legislature to implode late last spring, while he stood by haplessly as two members of his own party sided with Republicans in an attempted power grab that held up state business for a month and a half, cost taxpayers an estimated $5 million and made New York a national laughingstock.

Then, in August, Paterson had the audacity to blame his foundering approval ratings — which hovered in the 20 to 30 percent range — on a media more concerned with his race than his policy-making.

In recent months, we’ve heard Paterson carry on about how the state needs to tighten its belt and cut, cut, cut. School aid is once again in jeopardy. Forget the fact that Long Island school districts, on average, receive only 25 cents on every income tax dollar back in aid, while a number of upstate districts get 50 cents or more.

No, here on the Island we have to continue to give while getting little to nothing in return. Paterson, a New York City Democrat, never appeared to empathize with the plight of Long Island taxpayers. At least governors of yore had tried.

Democrats were reportedly plotting to overthrow Paterson at the state convention in May when he suddenly quit the governor’s race. They understood what a liability he was. Even President Obama weighed in on the matter last September, requesting, behind closed doors, that Paterson step aside, according to The Times.

Still, Paterson carried on as if nothing were amiss, dismissing the president’s overture.

After Obama’s — and Democrats’ — big win in 2008, many in the party may have thought the Democratic brand was invincible. Democrats had become what they had long accused Republicans of being: a machine.

Then along came 2009. Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, a once popular Democrat who was thought to be unbeatable, lost his bid for a third term. The defeat surprised New York Democrats. But in the political circles I monitor, Dems weren’t all that worried — yet. Many believed Suozzi exuded too much arrogance in what is still largely a Republican county. The loss wasn’t entirely unexpected after he had served eight years.

Republican Scott Brown’s recent victory in the U.S. senate race in Massachusetts finally spooked Democrats. Brown trounced Democrat Martha Coakley, who many believed would win no matter how royally she screwed up her campaign. Massachusetts was just that blue a state.

The lesson learned was that to win an election, the quality of your candidate really does matter, and in Paterson, Democrats had, well, concerns. And so, after The Times report on the governor’s aide came out, they pressured him hard to give in and give up. At last, he did.

Now it appears that Democrats are banking on state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, son of the popular former Democratic governor Mario Cuomo.
Andrew Cuomo, whom I’ve met only once, appears to be much like his father — intelligent, affable and sincere. My advice to him: Listen — really listen — to the people. Don’t forget about Long Island. Affluent though it may appear to be, it’s hurting just like the rest of the state. Have fun. And no matter what, stay scandal-free.

People are sick of scandals.

Scott Brinton is senior editor of the Bellmore and Merrick Heralds and an adjunct professor at the Hofstra University Graduate Journalism Program. Comments? SBrinton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 203.