GOP gubernatorial nominee Carl Paladino is trying to embarrass his Democratic opponent, Andrew Cuomo, into a freewheeling debate that, in the Buffalo businessman’s opinion, should include every single candidate who got on the ballot – from the Anti-Prohibition Party Manhattan Madam to the Freedom Party’s Charles Barron.

In a letter first reported by the NYT this morning, Paladino slams Cuomo’s father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo, saying he “left our state economy a wreck” and suggesting the AG feels he’s entitled to inherit the job to further a “political dynasty.”

Paladino also praised a man he just recently was quoted as calling a “degenerate idiot” – former Gov. George Pataki – saying his fellow Republican “put his own political best interests aside for the public good” by insisting in 2002 that the minor party gubernatorial candidates be included in debates along with his Democratic opponent, then-state Comptroller H. Carl McCall.

“It’s difficult to understand why you, a polished veteran campaigner, scion of a political dynasty and king-designate, would fear a simple businessman from Buffalo, who candidly has never been in a debate in his life – except maybe in a bar,” Paladino wrote in the missive, which appears in full after the jump.

“Frankly, I dont think you have the cojones to face me and the other candidates in a open debate.”

I covered those multi-candidate debates, which also included then-Independence Party contender Tom Golisano (on his third failed bid for governor and being advised by none other than Roger Stone, who is now helping Paladino.)

Although all the candidates joined in ganging up on Pataki, the incumbent frontrunner, the crowded format offered little time for questioning and provided considerable cover for the governor.

Cuomo was also on the ticket that year, having withdrawn from the Democratic primary just one week before the election – too late for his name to be removed from the general election ballot, which ended up causing the death of the Liberal Party. He didn’t participate in the debates.

Paladino, who lambasted his former GOP primary foe, Rick Lazio, for refusing to go mano-a-mano prior to Sept. 14, is now playing coy with the Conservative Party contender, saying he won’t participate in debates unless all the minor party candidates are allowed to do so as well.

Cuomo has said he’s open to debates, but hasn’t provided much in the way of details. In the meantime, here’s the full text of Paladino’s letter:

CARL P. PALADINO
September 20, 2010

Mr. Andrew Cuomo
Office of the Democrat Party of New York
Albany, NY

Dear Andrew:

Please note in all previous correspondence that I have addessed you as Mr. Attorney General with the appropriate respect for the office that you hold. However, today I address you as the man the Democrats – the folks who gave us Spitzer, Paterson and Hevesi – have nominated for Governor of New York.

It has been six days since I publically challenged you to a series of debates. You have not responded publically and have declined to comment, but news from reporters is that you insist on including Conservative nominee Rick Lazio.

So in other words you want to cut out the Black candidate and the Woman candidate and I imagine you don’t want the Green Party candidate their too. And the pro-tax Working Families Party, of course you are their nominee.

I guess what I find most offensive, other than the arrogance towards the public by your lack of a public answer, is the idea that this is somehow your decision as you have some sense of entitlement based on being the son of Mario Cuomo, a governor who left our state economy in a wreck. I know. I remember trying to make a living in Upstate New York while your father was governor.

I think former Govenor George Pataki set the correct precedent on this and debated all nine of his legal opponents who had a place on the ballot because he believed the people had the right to hear each candidate.

Pataki put his own political best interests aside for the public good. It’s difficult to understand why you, a polished veteran campaigner, scion of a political dynasty and king-designate, would fear a simple businessman from Buffalo, who candidly has never been in a debate in his life – except maybe in a bar.

Frankly, I dont think you have the cojones to face me and the other candidates in a open debate. I dont think you have the cojones to answer direct questions regarding the mistakes you made at HUD in pushing a sub-prime mortgage scheme that cost taxpayers $2.4 trillion dollars and cost most New Yorkers the value of their 401-Ks.

I don’t think you have the cojones to answer questions about why you embraced ethically-challenged Charlie Rangel while pledging to clean up corruption. I don’t think you haved the cojones to defend why some were prosecuted in the Hevesi Pension scandal while others – including many of your key supporters – were not.

So Andrew, for the first time in your life be a man. Don’t hide behind daddy’s coattails even though he pulled strings to advance your career every step of your way. Come out and debate like a man.

Because no one inherits the New York Governorship – you have to earn it.

Sincerely
Carl P. Paladino

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