Here’s GOP/Conservative gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino arguing with reporters at the Columbus Day Parade in Manhattan earlier today over the anti-gay comments he made in Brooklyn yesterday.

Asked for the umpteenth time to clarify his remarks, Paladino responded:

“I just got done explaining it once, we’re at the Christopher Columbus parade and I want you to think about the Nina, the Pinta, and that Santa Maria. That’s what it’s about here today…We’re celebrating with the people at the Christopher Columbus Parade.”

Another reporter noted that Franco Zeffirelli is the grand marshall of this parade (actually, from what I can tell, that was back in 2002), adding: “He’s an out gay man, do you think he’s dysfunctional?” At that point, Paladino had clearly had enough, telling the reporter he had “never used that word” and to “stop fooling around with that.”

Paladino tried to end the discussion. But the reporter persisted, asking if Zeffirelli should not have been grand marshal, Paladino exploded:

“What are you talking about?” he demanded. “What are you smokin’!? I made a clear statement this morning on TV! Go look at it!”

Paladino’s campaign manager Michael Caputo then tried to shut things down. But NY1′s Juan Manuel Benitez jumped in, telling the candidate that some Latino leaders felt slighted when he failed to show up as planned to the Hispanic Day Parade. Paladino gave what seemed to be a genuine apology, saying his schedule had become too jammed for him to make it.

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