Paladino: I don't want children "brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option"

Speaking in Brooklyn Sunday Carl Paladino said: "... I don't want [children] brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option -- it isn't."

The speech was recorded by WNYC's Azi Payabarah. The clip is embedded above -- and here's a longer version. Here's the comment in context, which he appeared to be reading from a prepared speech:

I didn't march in a gay pride parade this year. My opponent did. And that's not the example we should be showing our children -- and certainly not in their schools.
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 -- 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.

Andrew Cuomo's campaign released a statement in response to Paladino's comments: "Mr. Paladino's statement displays a stunning homophobia and a glaring disregard for basic equality." [NYT]

Paladino was on the Today Show this morning to respond to outrage generated by his Sunday comments. He told Matt Lauer during an interview that he didn't regret his remarks. Here's a clip:

My feelings on homosexuality are unequivocal. I have no problem with it whatsoever. My only reservation is marriage. That's the only reservation I have. I have a lot of homosexuals working in my organization. ...
Young children shouldn't be exposed to this at a young age. They don't understand this. It's a very difficult thing. And exposing them to homosexuality -- especially at a gay pride parade, and I don't know if you've ever been to one, but they wear these little Speedos and they grind against each other, it's just a terrible thing.

Paladino has said he's not a politician. And unlike a politician, he does seem willing to say whatever's on his mind. The problem is... that's what's on his mind.

In a chat with Capital New York today, Azi Paybarah noted that Paladino's propensity to say something stuff like this has actually led to more reporters covering him than Andrew Cuomo recently.

The FiveThirtyEight poling model is currently predicting Cuomo has a 98.9 percent chance of winning the governor's race.

Comments

"I have a lot of homosexuals working in my organization." Not for much longer.

"...I don't know if you've ever been to one, but they wear these little Speedos and they grind against each other, it's just a terrible thing."

Yeah, not a homophobic statement at all.

That's great. At a time when kids are throwing themselves off of bridges for being gay, make statements like that. That's lovely.

Paladino can offer a lesson to us all.
This is what your face ends up looking like when all you do is spread hate.

"Paladino can offer a lesson to us all. This is what your face ends up looking like when all you do is spread hate."

This is Paladino in five years: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0a/Palpatine_ROTJ.jpg

Dude needs to get back in his time machine, return to the year 1950 or whenever the hell he came from, and never visit the future again.

Jon Stewart last night on Paladino's statement:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-october-11-2010/indecision-2010---unforced-errors-edition
skip to 6:00


("Forest of dongs...")

I am impressed that Paladino lacks the most basic political skill -- lying.

oh please people, we all know those homosexual couples in our social group who are *so* unsuccessful: you know, the ones with fantastic lucrative careers, magazine worthy homes, and those pesky double incomes they have to contribute to the economy. a "successful option" indeed! tsk!

Wow. Well I heard the quote on Jon Stewerts show today and was shocked. I laughed at what seemed to be an extremly intolerant and vulgar remark. I went online to check it out, and after veiwing the remark from within the context of Paladino's speech I'm not so certain. He says word for word, "My feelings on homosexuality are unequivocal. I have no problem with it whatsoever." A lie? Maybe. But I can see where he is coming from. "It's a very difficult thing." And I agree, it is a complex subject matter to grapple with, especially for children who are not as experienced as older people. While I can't quite directly relate myself to it, I'd imagine that growing up in a household with two mothers/fathers has the potencial to be more difficult. If I was that child I might be discouraged by such difference. I'd ask, "why are my parents different that everyone else? Is there something wrong with me?" Even still, I do hold discrepancy over his comment that "homosexuality is not an equally valid or successful option", for as Rebecca pointed out, there are many homosexuals who go on to do very well in life! Homosexuality is obviously not a problem. Paladino is sending mixed messages, but he does make it clear that, again, "I have no problem with it whatsoever". As for the gay pride march and his "homophobia", I've never been to one so I can't say, but I would be offended if I saw two people grinding on eachother in a public display, whether it was same sex or different.

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