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Carl Paladino
Cuomo Tax Cap Wins Praise From — GASP! — Paladino
May 6th - 11:16 am
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plan to cap taxes is winning praise from an unlikely source: former GOP gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino.
The Buffalo businessman’s former campaign manager Michael Caputo is circulating an interview with an online outfit called Tea Party Works, that has Paladino credit his former foe for pushing the issue.
“Circumstances have changed. Our position is that we want to reel everything back and make this government much smaller than it is. The people in charge right now are not going to do that. If this is all we can get out of them right now, get it out of them! That’s what you have to do until you have the strength to take charge and implement your own program. We’re not there now,” Paladino said in the interview. “You have to learn how to win, you have to take positions that are winnable. Otherwise, people are going to become frustrated and they’re going to disappear – and the effort will die.”
Paladino’s compliments come as Gov. Andrew Cuomo plans to travel the state promoting his 2 percent cap on property taxes, which has passed the Republican-led Senate. An alternative bill is apparently in the works in the Democratic-controlled Assembly, which may include exemptions and an expiration date.
Cuomo spokesman Josh Vlasto on Thursday quickly shot down the idea of letting the cap expire after 3-5 years.
And the warm and fuzzies from Paladino to Cuomo are in stark contrast to the comments the Republican made on the 2011-12 budget, which he blasted.
“The only way your going to help our economy is creating jobs. Nothing in that document so far that I have seen creates jobs,” Paladino told WGRZ-TV.
Caputo Responds To Bribe ‘Smear’ With Accusations Of His Own
Mar 22nd - 12:28 pm
Things are getting ugly out in NY-26, where Carl Paladino’s former campaign manager, Michael Caputo, is the target of an allegation that he offered to convince one of two independent contenders, David Bellavia, to drop his bid in exchange for $50,000.
The accusation appeared on PoliticsNY.net, a WNY Website that more often than not is at the center of controversy at that end of the state.
It started circulating yesterday – the deadline for filing independent petitions. Businessman Jack Davis made a big show of delivering his 12,000+ signatures – more than three times the 3,500 limit – marking their depature (via convoy) for the Board of Elections with a formal press confernece.
Bellavia’s supporters kept a much lower profile, announcing via press release (sent by former US Senate candidate Gary Berntsen) that they had reached the 3,500 mark and postmarked their petitions before the close of business.
Caputo has advocated on Bellavia’s behalf, but insists he has no formal role with the Iraq War veteran’s campaign and never contacted Assemblywoman Jane Corwin’s camp on his behalf. Corwin, it’s worth noting, is supported by Paladino and the entire Erie County GOP establishment.
Here’s Caputo’s statement, which he e-mailed after I called him for comment:
“I have never solicited a bribe in my lifetime. I play no role whatsoever in the NY26 race. I do not work for David Bellavia and I made no contact with the Corwin camp at his behest. More importantly, David Bellavia would never entertain such an unconscionable idea.”
“David’s opponents have done some pretty rotten things to force him out of this race. They’ve lied to his face, they’ve lied to others, they’ve denigrated his valorous combat service to our nation, they’ve illegally accessed his credit report, they’ve left bribe offers on his voicemail, they’ve maligned his family, and more.”
“Clearly, this is just another attempt to smear David: when a candidate fuels his campaign with integrity, he becomes a popular target for those who have none.”
Paladino And Sheen Out On The Town? WINNING!
Mar 18th - 11:55 am
Now here’s a recipe for disaster: Carl Paladino and Charlie Sheen tying one on in the Queen City.
Curtis Sliwa this morning on AM 970 The Apple said the city was dissed by Sheen for scheduling Erie, Pa. on his “My Violent Torpedo of Truth/Defeat is Not an Option Show” tour–bypassing Buffalo. He then asked Paladino if he had any advice for the former TV star.
“Come to Buffalo, you’ll have a lot of fun here,” he said.
“I’ll take you out afterward. I’ll show him the highlights. We’ll have a ball together.”
Paladino went on to say Sheen isn’t so crazy and his recent outrageous and erratic behavior is all a ruse.
“I think he’s really putting all this on,” Paladino continued.
“I think he’s having a ball. He’s a good actor and an absolutely funny character. He’s playing games with them all right now and I like that.”
Given that endorsement, perhaps a run for office is in the cards for Sheen down the road?
Paladino: I’ve Been Conned And Slandered
Mar 14th - 12:36 pm
Carl Paladino had some very choice words for the Buffalo News in response to the paper’s report this weekend that he “stiffed” staffers, vendors and consultants who worked on his 2010 gubernatorial campaign to the tune of about $130,000.
Paladino told YNN Buffalo’s Kevin Jolly yesterday that there’s “absolutely no truth whatsoever ” to the story, adding:
“I think finally spineless (News Publisher) Stan Lipsey and his hatchet man (James) Heaney have gone over the edge they clearly have slandered me here. It’s malicious, it’s clearly malicious. And I’ll be talking to the lawyers on Monday. And maybe this is the way we’re going to get the Buffalo News out of our hair. Maybe I’ll end up owning the News someday soon.”
Heaney, the reporter who wrote the story, has been the target of Paladino’s ire for some time now. Ditto Lipsey, and, well, the entire paper in general, actually.
In the piece, Heaney quotes several former Paladino aides, focusing particularly on Tim Suereth, who is described as having first served as manager of internal operations and later as an unpaid volunteer.
Suereth says Paladino has refused to reimburse him $6,300 for expenses and also alleges the Buffalo businessman took out a $3 million loan from an undisclosed outside source, which Paladino apparently did not disclose. It’s unclear whether failing to report this runs afoul of Election Law.
Paladino says Suereth initially came to work on his campaign using the last name “Smith” and was brought in by Michael Caputo, a consultant who is a protege of Roger Stone. (Paladino and Caputo were once close, but have had a serious falling out and are no longer speaking).
He’s a con man,” Paladino insisted.
“…I find out after two-and-a-half months that we’re paying this guy $12,000 a month to be a driver and he couldn’t drive,” he continued.
“I find out that the reason he wasn’t using his real name was because his wife was on the payroll and so was his kid – all with different names. And when we got into the work that he was doing, I halved his pay…They all show up from Florida and it’s one big con.”
While I have had my own differences with Paladino, I have to point out the following:
Wayne Barrett reported last September on the connection between Paladino and Stone, noting that Suereth, a Florida real estate broker, is married to Stone longtime secretary, Dianne Thorne, who worked on Paladino’s campaign, as did her stepson, Andrew Miller.
Paladino, Roberto Endorse Corwin, Who’s Hitting The Hustings
Feb 22nd - 4:38 pm
No big surprise here. Buffalo businessman/former gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino has been in Assemblywoman Jane Corwin’s corner since he decided not to run for former Rep. Chris Lee’s seat himself.
Nevertheless, in case you’re interested, here’s what he has to say about her candidacy, 24 hours after the NY-26 GOP leaders selected her as their preferred contender whenever Gov. Andrew Cuomo calls the special election:
“I am honored and thrilled today to once again reiterate my support and endorsement of Jane Corwin for Congress.”
“The challenges facing our country are enormous – runaway spending, overwhelming regulations, crushing deficits and unaffordable big government giveaways like Obamacare and wasteful bailouts.”
“Washington needs leadership that will stand up to the liberal special interests and Obama-Pelosi agenda and reclaim our country for taxpayers and everyday citizens. That’s why Jane is the right choice to represent us in Congress.”
“I’m a proud member of the Tea Party movement in New York, and together we helped change the face of Congress in November. Jane Corwin will be another member in our movement to take our country back.”
“As the 2nd most conservative member of the New York State Assembly in rankings by the New York State Conservative Party and the #1 Legislator of Unshackle Upstate, a New York reform organization, Jane knows we need to slash federal spending, balance the budget, end bailouts, oppose the Obama stimulus package and support repeal of Obamacare.”
“Most importantly, Jane knows how to create jobs, because she’s done it her entire life in the private sector. That’s the kind of leadership we need in Washington, and that’s why I am supporting Jane Corwin for Congress.”
There’s also a statement from Lenny Roberto, who’s described as an “active Tea Party member and founder of Primary Challenge” (he also ran against Rep. Brian Higgins last fall).
The point here, obviously is to push back against the portion of the Tea Party movement in WNY that isn’t on the Corwin train, seeming to prefer Bellavia instead. Clearly, this is a coordinated effort since the statements are remarkably similar.
Flip-Flop Alert
Feb 16th - 1:01 pm
A reader forwarded this Google alert, which he found rather amusing.
As you’ll recall, Carl Paladino’s initial take on the budget proposed by his erstwhile opponent, Governor Andrew Cuomo, was that it moved in the “right direction,” but didn’t go far enough to solve the state’s myriad of problems.
Yesterday, however, the Buffalo businessman was singing quite a different tune, releasing a blistering attack of Cuomo’s budget, which is posted in full below.
This comes in the wake of an effort by Paladino’s former campaign manager, Michael Caputo, to get the Tea Partiers to bake Cuomo’s budget. There has been some disagreement in WNY Tea Party circles as to whether Paladino was angered by Caputo’s move. Rus Thompson says he is, Caputo says he isn’t.
Source: Paladino ‘Seriously Considering’ NY-26 Run (Updated)
Feb 9th - 7:43 pm
Yes, it’s true.
The former Buffalo businessman, who said on multiple occasions that he was done with politics and wouldn’t seek elected office again after losing to Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo last year, is in fact mulling a return to the public stage by running for former Rep. Chris Lee’s seat.
“He’s having his ear bent very hard, and is strongly considering it,” a source with knowledge of these conversations told me.
Paladino would be a force to be reckoned with in NY-26, considering that he carried 12 counties in the general election – basically every county west of Monroe.
Remember, Lee’s district includes all or some of the following counties: Erie (Paladino won big here; it’s his home base), Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming.
Paladino doesn’t live in NY-26, but rather in NY-27 (that’s Rep. Brian Higgins’ district). But there’s no residency requirement for House candidates. I recall that former Rep. John Sweeney moved into NY-20 – to Speigletown from Cohoes – just before running for the seat vacated by Jerry Solomon.
Paladino’s a wealthy guy, he could certainly afford to relocate if he really wants to run.
Update:
Buffalo TV Station WGRZ just tweeted this: “Carl #Paladino says he will not run for Rep. Chris Lee’s spot. He says many people pushing for NYS Assemblymember Jane Corwin.”
He Said, He Said – Tea Party Edition
Feb 7th - 2:37 pm
At the risk of getting in the middle of what’s shaping up to be a full-blown war of words between WNY Tea Party advocate Rus Thompson and former Carl Paladino campaign manager Michael Caputo, I’d like to state up front that this will be my last blog post on this particular topic.
There, now that we have that out of the way….Caputo sent me the following e-mail responding to the e-mail that Thompson sent yesterday to his list of TEANewYork supporters:
I read Rus Thompson’s email. Rus is my friend and colleague and we often disagree. Today he requires correction:
1) “Carl has been quoted in the local media as saying Caputo is way off the reservation by contacting the TEA Parties.” (NO – Carl said exactly this: “[Caputo] was way off the reservation if he was trying to speak for the tea party people.” Watch it on video here.
“Carl is right; he knows I’m not a member of the Tea Party. Pretending to speak for an group to which I do not belong would certainly be “way off the reservation.”)
2) “He is using the master email lists for his own purpose and without permission from Carl.” (WRONG – I own my copy of the list, and campaign-related lists are a fraction of what I’ve used to drive 3,000 letters to New York State legislators in support of Cuomo’s fiscal reforms. )
3) “I have to say first and foremost Carl Paladino does not condone or support what Caputo is doing.” ( NO – I cleared this with Carl early on. Twice. He doesn’t oppose me speaking my mind. He also doesn’t want to jump aboard, but that would be inappropriate – and weird – anyway).
Caputo later followed up with: “This is certainly a tempest in a Tea pot, especially when you compare these few buzzing hornets to the pressing matters at hand in Albany.”
Tea Party Advocate: Caputo Off Paladino’s Reservation
Feb 7th - 10:54 am
Late last night, Buffalo-area Tea Party advocate Rus Thompson sent out an e-mail with the subject line “urgent request from Carl Paladino” that insisted the former gubernatorial advocate “does not condone or support” his former campaign manager’s public push in favor of Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s budget.
According to Thompson, Michael Caputo is using the master e-mail lsits “for his own purpose and without permission from Carl.”
“It is being portrayed by the media that the TEA Party is supporting Governor Cuomo’s budget proposal of a 2% property tax cap, when in reality only four groups have,” Thompson cotinued.
“Carl has been quoted in the local media as saying Caputo is way off the reservation by contacting the TEA Parties. Caputo said this morning on a local radio show that those of us that are against what he is doing and taking a wait and see attitude are just partisans.”
“Partisans? Just because we do not support this budget proposal. Apparently he does not understand any of us.”
“This whole situation has sparked a huge and in many ways contentious debate between TEA Party groups across the state. In a time where we should be working together, this move has started to split our movement and it has to come to a stop.”
“If we are ever going to have a bigger impact on the insane politics of New York state, things like this cannot happen.”
As you’ll recall, Thompson was initially going to run for state comptroller on Paladino’s third party Taxpayers line, but ended up taking a pass. The Buffalo businessman failed to establish the party after falling short of the 50,000-vote mark last November.
Thompson worked for Paladino as a driver during the campaign, receiving some negative press from the NY Times after the paper revealed he had served jail time in Arizona on charges of drunken driving.
More Tea Partiers Back Cuomo’s Version Of ‘Carl Lite’
Feb 7th - 8:57 am
Failed gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino’s campaign manager, Michael Caputo, coined the “Carl Lite” phrase, so I can’t take credit for it.
But however much Gov. Andrew Cuomo might take issue with that characterization, it seems be working, as Caputo’s push to get New York’s Tea Party crowd on board with the Democratic governor’s fiscally conservative budget appears to be gaining steam.
The latest to sign on are Bob and Mary Meyer, co-founders of the Suffolk County 9-12 Project.
The couple sent out an e-mail yesterday that included a link to a recent National Review story entitled “Cuomo the Conservative,” and urged fellow Tea Partiers to back Cuomo’s agenda, even though it doesn’t go nearly as far as Paladino had proposed.
“Gov. Andrew Cuomo has presented a budget laced with real conservative fiscal reforms,” they wrote. “In fact, we were surprised how much his proposals sound like Carl Paladino’s plan. He’s proposing bureaucracy layoffs, Medicaid cuts, property tax relief, and mandate reform.”
“What kind of agenda is this from the son of Mario Cuomo? You simply cannot call his fiscal plan progressive or liberal – it’s conservative.”
“In fact, Gov. Cuomo’s program is so conservative that the entitlement crowd, the unions and other Albany liberal special interests are screaming. When you hear that squeal you KNOW somebody is doing something right.”
“The executive budget isn’t a panacea; grassroots activists aren’t getting everything we fought for in the last election. Gov. Cuomo wants to eliminate 10,000 State jobs; Carl wanted to cut 25,000. Gov. Cuomo will trim Medicaid two percent; Carl wanted to cut far more from optional benefits. Gov. Cuomo has pledged no tax hikes, fee raises or borrowing to balance the budget – Carl did the same.”
The e-mail, which appears in full after the jump, also includes a link to the Committee To Save NY’s Website.
The CSNY site provides an already scripted letter to state lawmakers in support of Cuomo’s proposals and a search function that allows users to locate their representatives by entering their zip codes.
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