Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Carl Paladino Calls Manhattan the Home of 'Smug Elitists'

By Ben Fractenberg | September 16, 2010 11:18am
Carl Paladino called Manhattan his least favorite part of New York State.
Carl Paladino called Manhattan his least favorite part of New York State.
View Full Caption
AP Photo/Don Heupel

By Ben Fractenberg

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MANHATTAN —Republican gubernatorial candidate and Tea Party darling Carl Paladino said Manhattan was his least favorite part of New York State, the Daily News reported Thursday.

The man who promised to bring a "baseball bat" to clean out Albany also  called our borough "home to smug, self-important, pampered liberal elitists."

Paladino also reportedly threatened to send state police into the city and "every other sanctuary city in the state to pick up illegals [sic] and turn them over to the feds."

Paladino's incendiary rhetoric has rankled veteran politicians and irked some even within his own party, who reportedly have been warned by party bigwigs to keep the candidate "at arm's length," the New York Post reported.

Gov. David Paterson also weighed in on Paladino's controversial comments Thursday, reportedly saying Paladino wasn't fit for public office and needed to tone down his language.

Paladino has big plans for the Empire State and promised that, if elected, he would cut state spending by 20 percent and personal income tax by 10 percent, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Staten Island state Sen. Diane Savino told The Journal Paladino’s fiscal policy is unrealistic.

"He can make these blanket promises, but at some point he's going to be confronted with actual policy and the actual cost of running these programs," Savino told The Journal.

On social issues, Paladino opposes gay marriage, though he does support civil unions for same-sex couples.

Paladino has a steep climb as he trails Democratic nominee Andrew Cuomo by a 60-23 percent margin, according to a recent Quinnipiac University poll.