Paterson Says Criticism Is Racially Motivated

In the midst of swirling rumors of a soon-to-be published bombshell story, New York Gov. David Paterson (D) said Wednesday that criticism of him has been motivated by his race.

Paterson, who is black and blind, said on Imus in the Morning that he has been the subject of “outrageous rumors” the past two weeks centering around a supposedly damaging report to be published in the New York Times this week.

“They’re not really calling for different types of conduct and what I think is that I have been depicted in a way that has been racialized, sexualized, hyper-sexualized and dissolute,” Paterson, referring to his critics, told host Don Imus on Fox Business Network.

{snip}

“I’m black, I’m blind, and I’m still alive,” Paterson said. “Now how much better do they want me to be?”

This is not the first time Paterson has said his critics are racially tinged.

When it was reported last year that Democratic officials were trying to push him out of this year’s election, Paterson said “We’re not in the post-racial period.

{snip}