Web site posts politically incorrect Paladino e-mails

STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

ALBANY - Racy e-mails forwarded by Republican Carl Paladino and released by a political Web site hit the fledgling gubernatorial campaign of the Buffalo businessman who prides himself in being politically incorrect.

One image featured bestiality in an e-mail aimed at insulting the French. Another was a photo of President Obama and the first lady altered to appear to be a pimp and hooker. Another e-mail shows a video of an African tribal dance, titled "Obama Inauguration Rehearsal," while another depicts pornography.

Paladino spokesman Michael Caputo did not deny the private e-mails released on the western New York Web site WNYmedia.net, but said they were simply forwarded to Paladino's friends. Caputo said Paladino doesn't agree with most of the messages and blamed the political establishment for releasing them publicly.

"Many of these e-mails he received were off color, some were politically incorrect, few represented his own opinion, and almost none of them were worth remembering," he said in a statement. "We're not surprised the political establishment feels threatened by Carl's drive to take Albany back for taxpayers."

WNYmedia.net said it confirmed some of the e-mails were authentic by contacting several people who had received them, according to the Talking Points Memo Web site.

The e-mails prompted responses from political leaders.

"Carl Paladino's e-mails offer us a clear insight into the man, his vision, his contempt for so many of our citizens, and his extreme agenda," said State Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs. "Unquestionably, his disgusting e-mails disqualify him completely from public service."

Alex Carey, a spokesman for the state Republican committee, condemned the e-mails "wholly inappropriate, especially coming from somebody who claims to be representing the Republican Party's viewpoints." Carey said the e-mails were "racist, homophobic, misogynistic and wholly unrepresentative of what Republicans stand for and our values." Jacobs criticized the other Republican gubernatorial candidates, Steve Levy and Rick Lazio, for not denouncing Paladino's e-mails. A spokesman for Lazio declined to comment. Levy campaign spokesman Josh Hills said "a seasoned operative like Mr. Jacobs understands that you don't deflect attention from an opponent who is imploding."