N.Y. Gov ‘Debate’ Turns Into Comedy Central

Circus-Like Atmosphere, As Cuomo, Paladino Overshadowed

October 18, 2010 11:55 PM

HEMPSTEAD, NY – OCTOBER 18: (L-R) Republican gubernatorial nominee Carl Paladino, Jimmy McMillan of the Rent is 2 Damn High Party, Democratic candidate Andrew Cuomo, Charles Barron of the Freedom Party, Howie Hawkins of the Green Party, Kristen Davis of the Anti-Prohibition Party and Warren Redlich of the Libertarian Party, during the debate at Hofstra University October 18, 2010 in Hempstead, New York. (Photo by Howard Schnapp-Pool/Getty Images)

Reporting Steve Scott

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Updated 10/19/2010 7:41 a.m.

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (CBS 2/WCBS 880/ 1010 WINS) – It’s tough to pick a winner from Monday night’s first — and likely only– debate in the race for New York governor.

The front-runners found themselves upstaged at Hofstra University by five fring candidates — some spouting a series of bizarre one-liners.

LISTEN: 4 reports from WCBS 880′s Steve Scott
LISTEN: 1010 WINS’ Terry Sheridan reports from Hofstra

As CBS 2’s Marcia Kramer reports, the race for governor looked more like the race for a circus ring leader.

In a new poll released Monday, 70 percent of New Yorkers said they are unhappy with the dysfunction in Albany. And this debate probably did nothing to change their minds.

Call it a seven-ring circus.

Jimmy McMillan, of the “Rent Is 2 Damn High” Party, had the same answer to everything from rotten bus and subway service to no jobs and high taxes.

And then there was Manhattan madam Kristin Davis, who said she provided hookers for Eliot Spitzer, who answered a question about the about the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

N.Y. Gov Debate Turns Into Comedy Central

Paladino (L), Cuomo (R) (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

“The key difference between the MTA and my former escort agency is that I operated one set of books and my former agency delivered on-time, reliable service,” Davis said.

The answer might have been tongue in cheek, so to speak, but Davis also called for the legalization of marijuana to raise $2.5 billion to cut the deficit and rejected business taxes.

“Businesses will leave the state quicker than Carl Paladino in a gay bar,” Davis said.

No, it wasn’t comedy night at the improv. It was the one and only time New Yorkers got to see Democrat Andrew Cuomo and Republican Carl Paladino, plus five third party candidates, debate the pressing issues facing our state.

Libertarian Warren Redlich, who reportedly wants heroin made available to addicts by prescription, offered this solution for creating jobs.

“The money that we waste there comes out of your pockets. Give us 300 bucks and we can do it with a pizza and a six-pack once a month,” Redlich said.

Freedom Party candidate Charles Barron said the way to solve the budget crisis was simply to tax the rich.

“It’s easy to be a political bully and take it out on the poor,” Barron said.

And as for Cuomo and Paladino, they never bothered to answer some of the troubling charges made against them, charges that Cuomo takes special interest money and that Paladino lacks the temperament to be governor.

Instead, they offered platitudes.

“I think the question in this race is who can actually do it? Who can get it done?” Cuomo said.

“My critics, they want to say I’m angry. No, I’m passionate about saving New York,” Paladino said.

Larry Levy is a professor of political science at Hofstra.

“I actually think the minor party candidates did serve a purpose. I mean some of it had a circus air to it. Some were clearly trying to make very, very particular point, but if you didn’t have some of these guys nobody would talk about housing. Nobody would be talking about progressive tax systems,” Levy said.

After the debate some called for another one, to which some would say only if they agree to run it on Comedy Central.

U.S. Common Sense

“The front-runners found themselves upstaged at Hofstra University by five fring candidates — some spouting a series of bizarre one-liners.”

I think you meant to say “fringe candidates.” Editors … do your thing.
Steve

Sounds like a great idea. That way we can only elect Democrats or Republicans because they do such a good job.
DWL

And they refer to California as the nuthouse of the nation.
Mike Smith

CBS, eh? Someone needs to copy edit your work… “about the about the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.” C’mon now…
Vee

Vince.

It was Pal who wanted this inclusive debate. Cuomo probably accepted because he knew the lame-stream media wouldn’t air it through out the state, plus the yankees game was on.

Just like Bloomberg tweeted last night: “go Yankees” lol…

http://www.meetup.com/Natural-Born-Citizen-Coalition-for-Legal-Action/ ladysforest

Palladino wanted to debate, Cuomo refused repeatedly. Cuomo only agreed to this particular debate. Why? I suppose that he has his own reasons.

unger389

Fring? Is that like Bling?
Vince

This was a complete sham to provide cover for Cuomo so that he would not have to debate Palladino one on one.

http://www.meetup.com/Natural-Born-Citizen-Coalition-for-Legal-Action/ ladysforest

I agree.

Darrel

The real joke is career politicians. TERM LIMITS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jones21

Love the Libertarian, but he’ll never win so that leaves Paladino. At least he won’t be the status quo like family career politican Cuomo. Status quo has lead to this so, try something new, and fiscally responsible. Paladino cannot do really much socially, especially in 4 years, so who cares. It not like we’ll wake up in 1960s Mississippi cause we got a Repub as Gov. He’s NY, and he has a shot so no vote throw aways to 3rd party this year because it is too important!
Erik

The front-runners found themselves upstaged at Hofstra University by five fring candidates — some spouting a series of bizarre one-liners.

I believe you’re looking for the word “FRINGE”?
Vee

NY1 is the best! The Lame stream propaganda organs won’t cover the debate because the third party candidates aren’t talking about austerity, privatization, and tax abolition for Wall st.. Plus, the third party candidates might “steal” the thunder (and votes) from the corporate medias two pro Wall st. candidates.

More unemployment and FRAUDclosures… Bring on the robo signers..
Chris

Having the other candidates present reminded us why we have a 2-party system. I welcome more choices, but not when the inclusion of these fringe groups undermines the opportunity for people to hear a reasoned, productive dialog.
Frank

Andrew Cuomo was by far the most articulate. Ironically, he made a strong case for why he should remain as Attorney General. The Republican Party needs to step up and start putting serious contenders in play. Give the people of NY real, substantive choices!
Phil

This just makes me want to move to Texas.
geff

This is a reply to Eddie’s comment: “No offense but this was a complete joke. Have only the top candidates only.”
Time for Democracy in NYS. Open up the process to all parties.
Sam Bolivar

Interesting how CBS is trying to be the decider of what political discourse is acceptable (to The Powers That Be), and what is not. Go ahead and deride ‘non-mainstream’ points of view, CBS. Someday you’ll be bankrupt, and what will you have to show for your years of writing what you’ve told to?

Let’s all give a big round of cheers for the gatekeeper presstitutes in the corrupted U.S. MSM!
The Good Samaritan

Kristin Davis should be elected
marty

Again, Mr Baron brings out the race card when he asks where are the black or latino reporters asking the questions during this debate. The whole debate was a bore!
corruption

The player of American politics is EMOC-RATS&REPOBLI-CON-ARTISTS.
Vote for the third party,you think they do wors than these guys??come to Hawaii and see it yourself how these corrupt politicians are doing.funny is you get profiled by an Asians.

What the Eff?!

First day with the new language?

BARAMBA

Well it’s a comedy all over American politics!!
hittt man

thats because the new york government or lack there of is a joke
Bob

To have only the entrenched two parties is offensive. Thats why the country and state are a complete disaster. Time to bury this anachronistic dual party monopoly which is an offense to democracy

jason

“dual party monopoly”? dont you mean duopoly?
Frank Watson

The problem, Bob, is look at these “third parties”–all jokesters, pranksters… undermines any need for even having third parties. “Rent is too damn high”? Really? You’re a clown for thinking otherwise… these 5 imbeciles proved that 2 parties is better than 7

Joe

The “melting pot” debate, all flash no dash.
BlueWaterGuy

Yes the performers on stage were a joke to say the least. Who would take them seriously? I certainly didn’t and this was a complete waste of time taken away from what should have been a serious debate between the two contenders – Paladino and Cuomo. Let’s get real here folks; Cuomo came off as the polished politician, talking much from both sides of the mouth and in the end giving us no real answers to how to solve the problems facing Albany and the people of New York State. Listen to what he said and you will recognize that his program is basically a repackaging of the same old rhetoric and policies now in existence. He should be selling medicine bottles outside the circus big top – a real charlatan, in deed. On the other hand Paladino, somewhat blunt and a true businessman stuck to his guns and proposed radical solutions that would best serve the interest of ALL the people of New York state and turn this dysfunctional state government away from bankruptcy. After all, Paladino does has 20 major successful corporations all doing well, employing over 1,000’s of people and paying their fair share of the taxes to Albany. Paladino’s medicine may be too hard to swallow at first but the cure is eminent. Bottom line, it will take a businessman to turn this State around and not another polished politician. As for the rest of the 5 jokers on stage, I guess they were meant to serve as comedy relief for the audience and TV land.

chip

Paladino????
The Taliban brought some order to Afganistan too.

JoeM

I’m going with the “Rent is too High” candidate. Far better than Cuomo, man.
Omeca

They raped women to prove points. How dare you compare him to them.

That is so horrible.

geff

Let’s get rid of the two major parties who have been running roughshod over the people for decades and have diminished any semblance of Democracy, while at the same time sending our young men overseas to die for Democracy. We need it here in NYS. The Libertarian made sense: smaller government means more freedom for us and fewer crooks in government. If we support Democrats or Republicans, we support their organized crime.

Melted Ice

I may be a registered Republican, but my vote changed to Redlich last night. An Economics degree and a small business owner, these are the kind of people we need running government. Beyond that the rest of the debate seemed more like an SNL skit.
Dannyboy

Democracy? Why is this word constantly thrown around like it means something, get it right people this is not a democracy we live in. The United States is a constitutional republic, we have an electoral college and our leaders are not decided by mob rule. So for all of you people spouting off at the mouth about democracy like you have a clue about what you’re speaking, just stfu and go learn something because you come off as ignorant and uninformed.
eric

YEA! lets cut the wings off the eagle! ARE YOU THAT STUPID? No wonder NY is such a friggin mess. you idiots are running this circus. good luck east and west coasts. you both are doomed.

KMar

The whole line of people running for NY governor are a joke.

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N.Y. Gov ‘Debate’ Turns Into Comedy Central

Circus-Like Atmosphere, As Cuomo, Paladino Overshadowed

October 18, 2010 11:55 PM

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