Photo: Don Hogan Charles/The New York Times
David Paterson just gave his first public address since Eliot Spitzer's resignation yesterday. He made noises about "getting back to work" and the budget, talked about being black and blind, indicated he wasn't planning any major changes to his predecessors more controversial policies, and became the first human being in government to express sympathy for Spitzer himself. "My heart goes out to Eliot Spitzer, his wife Silda, his daughters," he said. "I know what he's gone through this week. In my heart, I think he's suffered enough."
Paterson also displayed a rather awesome sense of humor.
“Just so we don't have to go through this whole resignation thing again,” one ballsy reporter asked, “Have you ever patronized a prostitute?” Patterson thought for a minute.
“Only the lobbyists,” he said.
And he broke up the whole damn room. He's known for having quite a sense of humor as well as a keen intellect and deep knowledge of how to work the levers of government. He's going to need all of those abilities, including that wit to do this job.
All in all, a nice way to break the ice on an otherwise funereal political day.
Welcome aboard, Gov.
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