Paterson Becomes Governor of New York
David Karp, AP
New Leader
Emerges From Scandal
Paterson rose from lieutenant governor to the chief executive's office following Eliot Spitzer's stunning resignation amid a prostitution scandal. Spitzer's departure from office became official at noon.
At his swearing-in as the state's 55th governor, Paterson plans to use his inaugural speech to project confidence and optimism, while relating his own personal struggles to New York's ability to overcome challenges, an aide said.
Paterson will become the state's first black governor — and would be the nation's first legally blind chief executive to serve more than a few days.
President Bush gave Paterson a congratulatory call Monday morning.
"He said that his friends in New York had told him that while it's a big job, that you can handle it," White House press secretary Dana Perino said. Bush said he "knows that Lt. Gov. Paterson will be able to do a great job, and that he looks forward to meeting him soon."
After acknowledging what a difficult week it has been for the state, Paterson plans to talk about the need for Republicans and his fellow Democrats to work together to address pressing issues, including the state budget.
Paterson spent much of last week meeting with Democratic and Republican leaders in preparation for his unexpected transition.
The new governor was Spitzer's lieutenant for just 14 months. Paterson has been a Democratic state senator since 1985, representing parts of Harlem and Manhattan's Upper West Side.
He graduated from Columbia University and Hofstra School of Law.
His father, Basil, a former state senator representing Harlem and later New York's first black secretary of state, was part of a political fraternity that included fellow Democrats U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, former New York City Mayor David Dinkins — the city's first black mayor — and former Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton.
"It's very daunting" Paterson said Friday. "I definitely feel anxiety ... but in the end, we have a job to do. And we're here to do that job."
Federal prosecutors must still decide whether to pursue charges against Spitzer. The married father of three teenage girls was accused of spending tens of thousands of dollars on prostitutes — including a call girl known as "Kristen" in Washington the night before Valentine's Day.
Emerges From Scandal
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David Paterson, here at a dinner Friday night, was sworn in Monday as New York's 55th governor, taking over from Eliot Spitzer, who has been implicated in a prostitution ring.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
Spitzer forgot he was in a country where illicit adult sex is more sinful that the CEOs who have claimed millions in salary and stock options at the same time their predatory lenders were causing the housing industry to hit bottom harm millions of Americans, and more reprehensible than an administration that deliberately manipulated intelligence to put our duty-bound military in harm's way, and more egregious than a government that bleeds the coffers and charges a national debt of more than $9 trillion to our children and grandchildren. Strange priorities!
NOT ONLY SHOULD SPITZER BE CHARGED BUT SO SHOULD THAT WOMAN ASHLEY ,SHES NOT A KID AND KNOWS RIGHT FROM WRONG SELLING ONE'S BODY IS A NO-NO.
Spitzer should be prosecuted and so should Senator Vitter - he did the very same thing yet continues to be a senator.
At his swearing-in as the state's 55th governor, Paterson plans to use his inaugural speech to project confidence and optimism, while relating his own personal struggles to New York's ability to overcome challenges, an aide said.
Paterson will become the state's first black governor — and would be the nation's first legally blind chief executive to serve more than a few days.
President Bush gave Paterson a congratulatory call Monday morning.
"He said that his friends in New York had told him that while it's a big job, that you can handle it," White House press secretary Dana Perino said. Bush said he "knows that Lt. Gov. Paterson will be able to do a great job, and that he looks forward to meeting him soon."
After acknowledging what a difficult week it has been for the state, Paterson plans to talk about the need for Republicans and his fellow Democrats to work together to address pressing issues, including the state budget.
Paterson spent much of last week meeting with Democratic and Republican leaders in preparation for his unexpected transition.
The new governor was Spitzer's lieutenant for just 14 months. Paterson has been a Democratic state senator since 1985, representing parts of Harlem and Manhattan's Upper West Side.
He graduated from Columbia University and Hofstra School of Law.
His father, Basil, a former state senator representing Harlem and later New York's first black secretary of state, was part of a political fraternity that included fellow Democrats U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, former New York City Mayor David Dinkins — the city's first black mayor — and former Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton.
"It's very daunting" Paterson said Friday. "I definitely feel anxiety ... but in the end, we have a job to do. And we're here to do that job."
Federal prosecutors must still decide whether to pursue charges against Spitzer. The married father of three teenage girls was accused of spending tens of thousands of dollars on prostitutes — including a call girl known as "Kristen" in Washington the night before Valentine's Day.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
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