Gov. Paterson: Firings Should Have Followed Kennedy Leak

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- New York Governor David Paterson said he should have fired his campaign staffers who spread unfounded rumors about Caroline Kennedy after she dropped out of contention to be appointed U.S. senator.

Paterson's view Monday in a WWRL radio interview was much harder than after the episode played out in January of 2009. Then, he was still widely thought to have directed or been involved in the attack.

An ethics probe found no wrongdoing.

Paterson also said the media during his tenure became a dysfunctional political club that wants to run government. He cited the time soon after the Kennedy incident when he became the subject of unfounded rumors that ultimately drove him to abandon his campaign for a full term.

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