NY and WH discriminate against blind people?

kokonut · 09-23-2009, 09:03 PM

Hmmmm.... People against Gov Patternson because he's blind in one eye?

Quote:

Mrs. Paterson says she believes David's blindness is contributing to his low poll numbers.

BradB08 · 09-23-2009, 09:41 PM

Or perhaps he's just a lame-duck governor?

souggy · 09-23-2009, 10:02 PM

I don't think most people are even AWARE that he is blind in one eye.

Bottesini · 09-23-2009, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by souggy

I don't think most people are even AWARE that he is blind in one eye.

I actually thought he was blind in both eyes.

souggy · 09-23-2009, 10:52 PM

My mistake.

I was thinking of the wrong person.

jillio · 09-23-2009, 11:26 PM

Things just keep getting more and more absurd around here.

kokonut · 09-23-2009, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradB08

Or perhaps he's just a lame-duck governor?

Hmmm... could be.

netrox · 09-24-2009, 01:37 AM

He was NEVER popular and was elected JUST because of the scandal.

You're just a political troll.

deafskeptic · 09-24-2009, 02:07 AM

Never heard of him till now.

deafskeptic · 09-24-2009, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by netrox

He was NEVER popular and was elected JUST because of the scandal.

You're just a political troll.

I think he only came here to troll us because he percieves this site as a "liberal" site and because of our "incorrect" pov on deafness as well.

CJB · 09-24-2009, 02:20 AM

Gov. Patterson is legally blind in both eyes.

Quote:

When David Paterson was three months old, he got an ear infection that spread to his optic nerve, leaving him legally blind. Fifty-three years later, Eliot Spitzer’s resignation, effective Monday, will make him the first blind governor of New York.

Lt. Gov. Paterson taking his oath of office as lieutenant governor in 2007 as his wife, Michelle, watches.

“People are fond of saying of people with disabilities that they are just like everybody else,” Paterson told the Associated Press in 2002, when he was elected Democratic leader of the state senate. “But that’s just something to say to make them feel better. When you have a disability you are not like everyone else. You are uniquely defined by a lack of vision.”

He can’t see at all out of his left eye, and his vision is 20/400 in his right eye, the Poughkeepsie Journal reports. That means Paterson needs to be within 20 feet to see what a person with normal vision sees from 400 feet away. The threshold for legal blindness in New York is 20/200 in the better eye with the best possible correction.

Source

deafskeptic · 09-24-2009, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJB

Gov. Patterson is legally blind in both eyes.

Source

Ah. So Botts is right then.

CJB · 09-24-2009, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafskeptic

Ah. So Botts is right then.

Yep. Legally blind in one eye, totally blind in the other.

kokonut · 09-24-2009, 02:32 AM

Wow, a bonafide (legally) blind governor!

kokonut · 09-24-2009, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by netrox

He was NEVER popular and was elected JUST because of the scandal.

You're just a political troll.

Then Patterson should be allowed to run and let the people decide....not Obama. It's nobody's business but Patterson's.

CJB · 09-24-2009, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kokonut

Wow, a bonafide (legally) blind governor!

There was a bunch of hype about him being the first legally blind governor. There was also a bunch of hype when SNL decided to do a skit of Gov. Paterson.

Quote:

National Federation of the Blind of New York
Comments on Governor Paterson

Brooklyn, New York (March 17, 2008): Carl Jacobsen, president of the National Federation of the Blind of New York State, the state’s oldest and largest organization of blind people, said: “We congratulate David Paterson as he becomes our state’s next governor. Mr. Paterson’s accomplishments are a testimony to our philosophy, which says that with proper training and opportunity, blindness need not be a barrier to achievement. His career is an example to all blind children today. With dedication, training, and opportunity they too can achieve anything that their talents will allow. Our new governor’s long service in public life has demonstrated time and again the capabilities of blind people. His recognition and approval by his peers and the support of the voters of our state confirm his capability as a leader. He has proven, as we believe, that blindness is irrelevant when it comes to high achievement. We look forward to working with Governor Paterson and his administration to improve not only the lives of blind New Yorkers, but also those of every citizen of the Empire State.”

Source

Quote:

'SNL' David Paterson skit: Offensive or hilarious?
by Mike Bruno
Categories: Saturday Night Live
The National Federation of the Blind and N.Y. Governor David Paterson say that Saturday Night Live crossed the line this weekend with its sketch featuring Fred Armisen playing the blind governor in a segment for Weekend Update with Seth Meyers (clip below). "The governor is sure that Saturday Night Live, with all of its talent, can find a way to be funny without being offensive," Paterson spokesman Errol Cockfield said in a statement Sunday. The National Federation of the Blind spokesman Chris Danielsen said the skit portrayed the governor as befuddled and disoriented and is "absolutely wrong." At this point, I think we actually count on SNL to ruffle feathers — but it has GOT to be funny as well. The Armisen bit relied on dumb blind-joke cliches, like Armisen’s Paterson unknowingly holding up a chart upside down. What’s more, do people outside of New York’s tristate area know enough about Paterson as a public servant to take away anything beyond the show’s attempt to find comedy in the befuddled, disoriented portrayal the Federation of the Blind mentions? I don’t mind an offensive joke, but without the actual joke part, it’s just plain offensive.

Source

kokonut · 09-24-2009, 02:45 AM

I remember that SNL skit. I thought it was done in poor, poor taste. Those actors are going to realize that they're only temporarily abled in life.

Jiro · 09-24-2009, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kokonut

Then Patterson should be allowed to run and let the people decide....not Obama. It's nobody's business but Patterson's.

people's already decided long time ago. they're saying GTFO!

Jiro · 09-24-2009, 02:54 AM

kokonut... FYI - Paterson has 1 T in his name, not 2.

Buffalo · 09-24-2009, 02:57 AM

Yikes! I didn't know that an ear infection can spread to the optic nerve.

Jiro · 09-24-2009, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kokonut

Wow, a bonafide (legally) blind governor!

calm down. His blindness is obviously NON-ISSUE in this big picture. remember - this is only Paterson's wife's word and opinion. You want the voter's opinion? Paterson is a lousy Governor. He is a failure. DNC is not happy with him. Nobody is happy with him except his own wife.

N.Y. governor ignores pressure to step aside

Quote:

ALBANY, N.Y. - Gov. David Paterson isn't scrapping his plans to run for the office he inherited 18 months ago despite growing pressure from Washington and intervention by the Rev. Al Sharpton, who has contacted the governor and the White House over his concern.

A senior Democratic adviser close to Paterson said Sunday that the state's first black governor is still planning to run and is focusing on the state's fiscal crisis. The adviser spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak for Paterson.

The governor's office has refused to comment since reports Saturday night revealed the Washington-based effort to persuade the governor to drop out of the 2010 race. That would pave the way for the far more popular Andrew Cuomo, the state's first-term attorney general.
Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here

The Rev. Al Sharpton said Sunday on his radio show that he has spoken to the White House and Paterson about his concern that Democrats do what is best for the people of New York. He wouldn't say whether he was advising Paterson to drop out.

Obama has not spoken to Paterson about the race, said a senior White House official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive political matter. But it's no secret that Democrats — in New York, in Washington and at the White House — are very concerned about Paterson's re-election bid.

The White House has not ordered Paterson to leave the race and would not do so, the official continued, saying only the governor can make the decision about what's right for him, the party and the state. But Obama's concern of losing the governor's office in such a key state has been communicated to Paterson and his advisers, the White Office official said.

Another senior Democratic adviser in New York said those seeking Paterson's withdrawal are suggesting he could land a Washington job in the administration. The adviser spoke on the condition of anonymity because the official wasn't authorized to speak for Paterson or the New York congressional delegation.

Deficit of more than $2 billion
Paterson is scheduled to present a plan later this month to the Legislature to deal with a deficit of more than $2 billion, which likely will require politically unpopular cuts in funding for some of Albany's most powerful special interests.

Last week, the Marist College poll found 20 percent of New York voters approved of Paterson's performance as governor, a mark slightly lower than his 21 percent approval rating in June. Only 24 percent of Democrats felt he was doing well. Seventy percent of voters said Paterson isn't a viable candidate for 2010, including 65 percent of Democrats.

In comparison, Cuomo's job approval rating is 69 percent. Sixty-seven percent of New Yorkers felt he should run for governor, including 77 percent of Democrats.

As lieutenant governor, Paterson moved to the governor's office in March 2008 with Eliot Spitzer's resignation amid a prostitution scandal. Since then, his popularity has plummeted and the state's economic situation has deteriorated, with job losses mounting and the unemployment rate rising to its highest level in 26 years.

Jiro · 09-24-2009, 03:02 AM

*GASP* a source from RIGHTPUNDITS (but an interesting read!)

New York Governor Paterson Says He Will Run in 2010

Quote:

It really isn’t unusual for Presidents of either political party to insert themselves into state politics especially in crucial races. What’s interesting about Barack Obama butting into the Governor’s race in New York is that we have one high-ranking Democrat, Governor David Paterson, who is actually saying NO to The One - at least so far.

New York’s Governor, David Paterson, has apparently been thrown under Barack Obama’s very large but very packed bus. Paterson was asked to withdraw from the 2010 Governor’s race because the Obama administration is worried Paterson’s incredible unpopularity could hurt New York’s Democratic members of Congress and the Democratic-controlled state legislature during the mid-term elections next year. At least for now, New York Governor Paterson says he will run in 2010.

You’ll remember that David Patterson, the state’s former Lieutenant Governor became Governor just last year after Governor Eliot “Client #9″ Spitzer stepped down in a sex scandal. From his own sex scandal to his state’s legislative paralysis, his time as governor has been pretty unremarkable. The global financial crisis has hit New York hard, and the state has struggled with incredible budget shortfalls. Governor David Paterson’s approval rating has been horrible almost since the beginning of his term so is it any wonder that Obama would ask him to step aside?

Yet, at the African-American Day Parade in New York City this past weekend, the state’s first black governor said NO to the country’s first black president. He says he plans to run for a full term and bring New York out of its fiscal crisis.

It’s good to have goals but let’s see how long this defiance to Obama lasts especially in looking at recent Governor’s race match-up polls:

Rudy Giuliani beats David Paterson 52%-35% in a general election. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo beats Giuliani 52%-39%. Cuomo beats Paterson in the Democratic primary, 66%-20%. But wait! There is a bright spot for Governor Paterson’s chances - if the election were held today, he does beat Rick Lazio 39%-35%.

Of course, none of these men - other then New York Governor Paterson, says he will run in 2010. They are all just flirting with it. Personally, I think Paterson can only be bluffing at this point and will simply not be able to withstand the Obama machine. Besides, in this instance, the proof really is in the polls.

Jiro · 09-24-2009, 03:05 AM

Paterson needs to put his ego aside and step down. He needs to look at big picture. If he keeps on running for 2010 with horrendous popularity, Guiliani will UNDOUBTEDLY win the seat.

DO NOT LET GUILIANI WIN!

KarissaMann05 · 09-24-2009, 03:21 AM

Wow. Interesting . . . I don't have any opinion about that link Jiro posted. Mmm...

kokonut · 09-24-2009, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiro

calm down. His blindness is obviously NON-ISSUE in this big picture. remember - this is only Paterson's wife's word and opinion. You want the voter's opinion? Paterson is a lousy Governor. He is a failure. DNC is not happy with him. Nobody is happy with him except his own wife.

N.Y. governor ignores pressure to step aside

??Calm down? I'm expressing surprise that he is legally blind in both eyes.

Regardless, it's Paterson's decision to run or not. If he feels he has a shot, then go for it.

Jiro · 09-24-2009, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kokonut

??Calm down? I'm expressing surprise that he is legally blind in both eyes.

Regardless, it's Paterson's decision to run or not. If he feels he has a shot, then go for it.

surprise? why are you surprised now? I thought you saw the SNL skit... it was broadcasted months ago. It was widely discussed months ago and in AD as well.

I believe we all know what your ulterior motive is in this thread

kokonut · 09-24-2009, 03:33 AM

Paterson:

Quote:

I don’t think anyone who is clearly hurting their party would take an action like running when it’s going to make the party lose. At the same time, if anyone tried to convince me of party loyalty, I would hope that they would follow the precepts in what is the rule of equity: that you come to the table with clean hands. Because I’m not sure that those who are always calling for loyalty in the Democratic Party have been loyal themselves.

‘I Did Not Sign Up for This,’ Paterson Says - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com

Ouch!!

LOL.

Quote:

“My mission is to serve out my term and then have another term,” he said Wednesday. “And the reason I think that that can happen is when people see what has been avoided and that leadership has been shown, that we’ve managed to avoid a lot of the financial crises that other states are having, I think they’ll take a second glance at their governor.”

‘I Did Not Sign Up for This,’ Paterson Says - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com

kokonut · 09-24-2009, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiro

surprise? why are you surprised now? I thought you saw the SNL skit... it was broadcasted months ago. It was widely discussed months ago and in AD as well.

I only saw a short clip of it. An actor with one eye crossed. I wasn't in AD when it was discussed. Or that I missed it.

jillio · 09-24-2009, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kokonut

??Calm down? I'm expressing surprise that he is legally blind in both eyes.

Regardless, it's Paterson's decision to run or not. If he feels he has a shot, then go for it.

Why would you be surprised that a blind man can do anything a sighted man can do...including running for governor?

deafskeptic · 09-24-2009, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buffalo

Yikes! I didn't know that an ear infection can spread to the optic nerve.

I hadn't known that one either.

09-23-2009, 10:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
souggy Waiting at the Bus Stop Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 4,111	I don't think most people are even AWARE that he is blind in one eye. __________________ Souggy's Blog Warning! Contains skewed comments & inane ramblings. May cause spontaneous human combustion

09-23-2009, 10:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
souggy Waiting at the Bus Stop Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 4,111	My mistake. I was thinking of the wrong person. __________________ Souggy's Blog Warning! Contains skewed comments & inane ramblings. May cause spontaneous human combustion

09-24-2009, 02:07 AM	#9 (permalink)
deafskeptic AACK! I look OLD! Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 4,901	Never heard of him till now. __________________ Left ear implanted with Med-El on April 24 2007. Activated on May 9th.

09-24-2009, 02:54 AM	#19 (permalink)
Jiro YOU DOMESTIC DISSENT! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: The Sopranos State Posts: 27,602	kokonut... FYI - Paterson has 1 T in his name, not 2. __________________ - Don't forget to buy Jiro's Special Edition Sunglasses for $19.95

09-24-2009, 02:57 AM	#20 (permalink)
Buffalo Anobium Pertinax Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,618	Yikes! I didn't know that an ear infection can spread to the optic nerve. __________________ It isn't that they can't see the solution. It is that they can't see the problem. - Gilbert Chesterton

Today
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09-23-2009, 09:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
BradB08 You can do anything Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,553 Blog Entries: 1	Or perhaps he's just a lame-duck governor?

09-23-2009, 11:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
jillio Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 32,782	Things just keep getting more and more absurd around here.

09-24-2009, 01:37 AM	#8 (permalink)
netrox Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,447	He was NEVER popular and was elected JUST because of the scandal. You're just a political troll.

09-24-2009, 02:32 AM	#14 (permalink)
kokonut Banned Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,173	Wow, a bonafide (legally) blind governor!

09-24-2009, 02:45 AM	#17 (permalink)
kokonut Banned Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,173	I remember that SNL skit. I thought it was done in poor, poor taste. Those actors are going to realize that they're only temporarily abled in life.

09-24-2009, 03:05 AM	#23 (permalink)
Jiro YOU DOMESTIC DISSENT! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: The Sopranos State Posts: 27,602	Paterson needs to put his ego aside and step down. He needs to look at big picture. If he keeps on running for 2010 with horrendous popularity, Guiliani will UNDOUBTEDLY win the seat. DO NOT LET GUILIANI WIN! __________________ - Don't forget to buy Jiro's Special Edition Sunglasses for $19.95

09-24-2009, 03:21 AM	#24 (permalink)
KarissaMann05 The Deaf Cougar Join Date: May 2007 Location: Salem, Oregon Posts: 4,626 Blog Entries: 15	Wow. Interesting . . . I don't have any opinion about that link Jiro posted. Mmm...

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