(Thumbnail image: The Albany Times Union)
New York Governor David Paterson is waging a public relations offensive against claims that The New York Times is poised to publish a bombshell--widely expected to expose the governor's alleged marital infidelity.
We’re looking at perspectives on the rumors and Paterson's response from Time Warner’s News 10, WNYW, Russia Today, and WIVB.
In recent weeks, the New York Post published gossipy items about the governor being seen with women other than his wife. But the frenzy began after a writer posted an item on the Post's politics blog that a major publication was working on a bombshell story about Paterson's conduct. The nugget was swiftly picked up by the blogosphere and then moved into New York media outlets.
On New York's FOX affiliate, the Post's state editor, Fred Dicker, says Paterson has much bigger problems than these rumors.
“He doesn’t have any support. There’s not a single prominent Democrat now backing him up. He’s going backwards in the polls. He’s alienated the leaders of the Democratic party to a point I’ve never seen before so it’s tough to figure how he can survive.”
In recent days Governor Paterson has called a press conference to refute the rumors and insist--no matter what--he's not resigning. He's also hit the high-profile talk show circuit.
Speaking with Imus on FOX Business, longtime Democratic political strategist Paul Begala marveled at this story of a possible story.
"Paterson's story is playing out before the supposed story has even run. In other words, he's responding before the story has even run. And I guess that's what you gotta do nowadays. We're so, ah, the news cycle is so accelerated that the response comes before the story hits. "
The New York Times is declining to say whether it is pursuing a story about Paterson. Either way, one marketing expert tells WIVB in Buffalo that the media is out of control.
"This has set off a feeding frenzy, a circus. Just talking about rumors."
A Russia Today correspondent amplifies the point.
"Even if the rumors turned out to be true why do we care so much about Paterson's sexcapades?"
"Well Dina maybe if the economy was wonderful in New York State and everybody was living this tranquil life it wouldn't be a big deal but you know the budget deficit for New York state is expected to grow to 8.2 billion, unemployment is at 9 percent...
"It's obviously not something that constituents want to look to when they're relying on leadership, they're relying on those that are in office to get them out of a horrible recession."
What do you think? Should the rumors be taken seriously or did the media go overboard?
Writer: Veronica Wells
Producer: Newsy Staff
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