1. Mediaite
  2. Gossip Cop
  3. Geekosystem
  4. Styleite
  5. SportsGrid
  6. The Mary Sue
  7. The Jane Dough
  8. The Braiser
Advertisement

Report: NY Tea Party Gubernatorial Candidate Carl Paladino Sent Racist Emails

» 31 comments

New York gubernatorial candidate and “Tea Party leaner“ Carl Paladino is (steeping?) in hot water over his email history. Buffalo area political blog WNYMedia.net has posted emails sent by Paladino that feature everything from racist images of President Obama, to a horse-on-human beastiality video.

The Political Carnival is also carrying this story, along with a new report of a Tea Party leader tweeting “Illegals everywhere today! So many spics makes me feel like a speck. Grrr. Wheres my gun!?”

Two more bad apples? Perhaps, but at this rate, the Tea Party movement is in danger of turning into the “Hard Cider Movement.”

Paladino’s campaign manager dismissed the allegations, while blithely refusing to refute the authenticity of the emails. From Alan.com:

Paladino’s campaign manager, Michael Caputo, is defending his candidate.

“Carl Paladino has forwarded close friends hundreds of e-mail messages he received,” Caputo said. 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.”

Doing more damage than damage control, Caputo also said:

“We’re not sure about the authenticity of the emails, and we don’t care,” said Paladino’s campaign manager, Mike Caputo. “i’m not even going to comment on the emails. It’s not something I care to look at…

“Let he who has never opened a graphic image on their internet cast the first stone.”

Meanwhile, it turns out the Springboro Tea Party leader who sent that offensive tweet feels like a speck because of his own son:

Racist comments, including a slur about Hispanics, posted on the Twitter page of the Springboro Tea Party were particularly hurtful to Alana Turner.

“Illegals everywhere today! So many spics makes me feel like a speck. Grrr. Wheres my gun!?” said the March 21 posting on the site managed by the group’s founder, Sonny Thomas.

Turner said the comments upset her because she and Thomas have a 6-year-old son who is part Hispanic.

Classy. A local Tea Party leader denounced the comments, and said that the national movement is not focused on immigration, and certainly not racism. He should clue in Tom Tancredo, who told a cheering Tea Party convention that there ought to be voter literacy tests.

You can expect to see one, or both, of these men on an upcoming “Worst Persons” segment, but surely the truth lies somewhere between Keith Olbermann’s blanket generalizations about the Tea Party and the complete denial of Tea Party leaders (and some of the media) that their movement has any racial baggage at all.

On the one hand, the expiration date on the term “isolated incidents” expired a long time ago. While the majority of Tea Partiers are decent people, they don’t seem to mind offensive signs in their midst, at least not enough to make these people feel unwelcome. It seems you have to meet a pretty high bar to get kicked out of a Tea Party event.

On the other hand, dismissing the entire movement as racist is lazy and unfair, and I think it has provided the distraction necessary for the movement’s real flaws to go unexamined, so much so that a narrative has emerged that the Tea Party movement is becoming mainstream.

These two examples aren’t likely to do anything but increase the volume on the current all-or-nothing conflict between supporters and opponents of the Tea Party.

Follow us on Twitter.

Sign up for Mediaite's daily newsletter.

Email Twitter Facebook Digg Reddit Stumble Upon Yahoo Buzz LinkedIn Tumblr Delicious
  • roxsteady

    I’m sorry but, this photo is hysterical. It’s because the President and First Lady are of such stature, class, intelligence and pure style, that the photo is ridiculous in it’s comparison to them. It’s a really racist and pathetic attempt to trash the first family, and it fails on that front miserably. I can also admit though that it’s pretty funny too. For all of the reasons given above.

  • Snipzor

    So the emails also included some porn and bestiality as well as the racism. Nice, stay classy social conservatard.

  • valkyrie101

    I loved this quote: “Two more bad apples? Perhaps, but at this rate, the Tea Party movement is in danger of turning into the “Hard Cider Movement.” :-)

  • AmericanCowboy

    Race Baiting

    The race baiting currently being perpetrated by the left is designed to stifle intelligent debate. When the left is forced to address facts and logical thought, they NEVER, NEVER, NEVER have a leg to stand. They attempt to change the subject or randomly claim racism for no apparent reason. It is a little like turrets syndrome, racism just pops out of their mouth randomly. America is wise to this. Racism does not carry the meaning it had a year ago.
    Racist is now defined as the following
    rac•ist [rey-sizt]
    -adj
    1. any American who’s beliefs differ from that of the current Communist President’s Administration or his lunatic Liberals followers

  • valkyrie101

    I am betting that you do not know much about communism, cowboy. It is un-American to castigate the office of the president the way the right does. It is un-patriotic, and plays into the hands of our foreign enemies.

  • Snipzor

    I agree with AmericanCowboy, a demotivational poster that’s captioned “Holy Shit run niggers, run” is totally not racist. And the guy that forwarded it is also totally not a racist. Same goes with a racist video that circulated around Stormfront in 2008, it totally is not racist in any way. And the bestiality video he forwarded is also not bestiality. And the sky is totally not blue, it’s green.

    When the story is literally “Check out this racist disgusting excuse of a human being”, there’s no other context to show because it’s all right there. Is it just me, or did you not actually bother to read up on the story? Of course not, because you didn’t.

  • Snipzor

    And I apologize for the NSFW post up there, if you’re really that upset.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Kathleen-McKinley/620992945 Kathleen McKinley

    Ok, I’ve had it with the left and the media trying to paint the Tea Party as racist. I know it kills you guys that we aren’t racist, but we are not.

    There hundreds of thousands of us. Are there a few kooks in the mix? Sure. Just as there are in the Democratic party and anywhere else there are hundreds of thousands of people.

    This piece is so full of lies and half truths I can barely stand it. A gubernatorial candidate in NY who self claimed he was a “tea party leaner” is suddenly “NY Tea Party Gubernatorial Candidate” in the headline. And who decided that? Our Tea Party leader? Oh wait. We don’t have one. No one speaks for us. This is a MOVEMENT, not a political party. Maybe someone could inform Tommy Christopher of that fact. Does Christopher imagine that ANYONE in the tea party movement would defend such e-mails??? Of course he doesn’t. He knows we wouldn’t. We condemn them completely even though they have nothing to do with us whatsoever.

    Sorry Tommy, these are “isolated incidents.” And this gubernatorial candidate has NOTHING to do with the tea party.

    If the tea party has this “racial baggage” then why are we so fired up for Col. Allen West’s candidacy? Why are so many of our speakers at tea parties across the country black? Maybe you should inform Kevin Jackson, Claver Kamau-Imani, Natalie Arceneauxe about all our racist tendencies since they are in such danger speaking to us. Gee, I guess we must not realize they are black while we are cheering them on at all the tea parties.

    I have actually met Tommy Christopher. He seemed nice, but it’s clear that he is just another hate filled liberal determined to spin, lie, and smear perfectly good people just to score a few points with his fellow liberals in print.

    It’s despicable. Shame on you, Tommy.

  • valkyrie101

    The are some racists who are part of the tea party, the same as there are some who are part of the democrats, although less so, since the democrats are the party of black people. They vote democratic. The majority of black politicians are democrats. Are there racist black people on the left, yes. The left must take responsibility for that racism, like Jeremiah Wright. So the tea party too, they should work on weeding out racism. It is a dynamic.

  • AmericanCowboy

    valkyrie101 says:
    April 12, 2010 at 7:43 pm
    I am betting that you do not know much about communism, cowboy.

    Maybe you can tell us where Obama’s plan of “Wealth Redistribution” comes from?
    Never mind…I already know you will get it wrong. I will help you out.
    Karl Marx, who wrote the Communist Manifesto, thought that socialism did was not y. He proposed a new economic system called Communism, which calls for “Redistribution of Wealth”. Castro’s Revolution and takeover of Cuba is based on Marxism. As a Cuban who now lives in America about Communism.
    These are the 10 Pillars of Communism

    1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.
    2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.
    3. Abolition of all rights of inheritance.
    4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.
    5. Centralization of credit in the banks of the state, by means of a national bank with state capital and an exclusive monopoly.
    6. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the state.
    7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the state.
    8. Equal obligation of all to work. Establishment of civil army.
    9. Abolition of all the distinction between town and country by a more equable distribution of the populace over the country.
    10. Free education for all children in public schools.

    This is Obama’s play book. We are already on our way.

    If you don’t want to take my word for it, according to Obama’s own book he liked hanging out with all his Marxist professors in college. He has a ton of admitted Commies and Marxists he has appointed to his cabinet. He many Commies do you know? Obama has surrounded himself with them.

    valkyrie101 says:
    April 12, 2010 at 7:43 pm It is un-American to castigate the office of the president the way the right does. It is un-patriotic, and plays into the hands of our foreign enemies.

    There is nothing more American than fighting Communism.

  • Big_F-ing_Deal

    “Are there a few kooks in the mix? Sure.”

    This crap doesn’t work anymore.
    Too many racist teabaggers have been exposed, often in high positions, like this gubernatorial candidate.

    There’s this recent one too…

    Ohio Tea Party Organizer Threatens To Shoot Latino Immigrants – “So many spics makes me feel like a speck. Grrr. Wheres my gun!?”

    Happy Slavery Month, Teabaggers!!

  • AmericanCowboy

    To correct my previous post regarding Karl Marx. What I meant to say was:

    Karl Marx, who wrote the Communist Manifesto, thought that socialism was not good enough. He proposed a new economic system called Communism, which calls for “Redistribution of Wealth”. Castro’s Revolution and takeover of Cuba is based on Marxism. Ask a Cuban who now lives in America about Communism.

    Big_F-ing_Deal says:
    April 12, 2010 at 8:34 pm “Happy Slavery Month, Teabaggers!!”

    Only a racist pig like BFD would think of such a thing.

  • valkyrie101

    My goodness, you are suggesting that socialism did not exist prior to Karl Marx? Throughout history, that has been a dominant system when tyrants ruled lands. The king owned everything. Most of the Kingdoms of the world were of that type, in fact. One dominent ruler owning everything, and via high taxes, he doled it out. Can a democracy employ socialist principles? Why not? Is that not the dominant notion behind having a state run military paid for by mandatory taxes? That is a socialist arrangement. It works. We prefer it to buying mercenaries from well armed corporations, like Blackwater.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Bill-Adkins/1585417987 Bill Adkins

    “AmericanCowboy says:
    April 12, 2010 at 7:38 pm
    Race Baiting

    The race baiting currently being perpetrated by the left is designed to stifle intelligent debate.”

    Race baiting? Obviously there was no one around to read this story to you – but, my god, man, it had pictures!! Better have your batteries checked – there’s no current powering the few brain cells you possess.

  • AmericanCowboy

    valkyrie101 says:
    April 12, 2010 at 9:03 pm
    “My goodness, you are suggesting that socialism did not exist prior to Karl Marx?”

    Please point out where I said that? I did not make that arguement, so you just make one up?

    I am not talking socialism. I am not saying Obama is a Socialist. Obama like Marx does not beleive Socialism goes far enough. Obama is a Marxist. Do you even know the differance?

  • AmericanCowboy

    Bill Adkins says:
    April 12, 2010 at 9:58 pm

    I am not talking about those pictures. That is one guy. I would think the Hilter Obama photos are more accurate. I dont care that he is Black. I hate Obama because he is a Fascist Marxist

    There is TONS and TONS and TONS of bogus race baiting going on and you know it. Are the blacks in the Tea Party racists? The Tea Party has nothing to do with race. THis is a ploy by the left and we are on to you.

  • valkyrie101

    Obama does not advocate violent revolution so therefore, Obama could not be a Marxist. You are comparing a peace loving man with a man advocating violence. That is an untrue and unfair comparison.

  • AmericanCowboy

    valkyrie101 you sure don’t keep up with the New Marxist Movement do you? Haven’t you heard their speeches this days?

    The new Marxist plan is “Change” through the educational system and through “Community Organizing” instead of violence.

    Do you see Bill Ayres setting off bombs any more? No, he is a college professor.

    Just look up a few of Obama’s Ex-Green Jobs” czar, Van Jones, who had to resign after video of him admitting he was a communist surfaced. He talks about the sneak attack that we are expearencing.

    Did you know Bill Ayres admitted he was a commie? Why do you think Obama knows so many Commies? How many commies do you know?

    The mountain of evidence still isn’t high enough for you? When the landside from that mountian of commie chit finally lands on you let me know.

  • valkyrie101

    Our country celebrates those who seek to bring change through legal means. So trying to redefine Marxism in some new way, without violence, and according to law, is simply no longer Marxism, whatever you want to call it.

  • AmericanCowboy

    I like that it is OK to make fun of someone mentally retarded child, but not of someone who spends money like a pimp.

    The left are such hypocrites

    Obama sucks and so does his wife Ru Paul Obama. I know…I am a racist right?

  • AmericanCowboy

    valkyrie101 says:
    April 12, 2010 at 11:17 pm
    “Our country celebrates those who seek to bring change through legal means. So trying to redefine Marxism in some new way, without violence, and according to law, is simply no longer Marxism, whatever you want to call it.”

    Where in the Communist Manifesto does it say you must be violent? That is not in the Manufesto. It is in the nature of the Marxist…Just like Obama’s buddy Bill Ayres. Obama does not want a civil war. At least not yet. I predect a civil war if he was elected to a second term because I think that is when he would aggesively implenment his full communist agenda and expose himself. Once he expose himself completely that is when many of the Obamabots like yourself will finally wake up

  • Toshiba2

    Hey Cowboy,

    None of those “pillars” are being carried out here in the U.S. The close one is the “banks centralized” which began Pre-Obama and most banks have paid back that money! Everything else is conjecture on your part!

  • valkyrie101

    cowboy,
    You do not know much about history. Marxism is about violent revolution. Socialism is an economic system which utilizing public ownership for the sake of the common good. For example, our military system. We collect taxes and maintain a government run military for the purpose of protecting our common good. That is socialism. If you hate socialism, are you in favor of dismantling our national military system in favor of buying the services of mercenaires from private corporations? Or buying our police services from corporate run security firms? If not, you endorse socialism.

  • Nachi

    Why would that surprise anyone. These people are the very scum of the earth.

  • valkyrie101

    No, they are priceless, necessary, sincere, the answer is in resolution of the two sides. That is by far the most productive model. The emotions are real, genuine, and therefore purposeful. Everybody should speak their mind.

  • kieronnpollard

    at least not enough for these people feel unwanted. It appears that you have to meet a high threshold to get kicked out of a Tea Party event.
    memory card reader

  • sideboom

    in the old days, we traveled by car mostly , as white people on the road ,we learned to avoid african cafe’s, because they served blacks only , this was when the back of the bus was black terretory, and drinking fountains were designated ! children were seperated in schools and the learning rate of whites was not impeeded by the slower aquity of african immigrants , alass , all good things must come to an end !

  • sideboom

    america is enjoying a DEFACTO government , with central control based in tel avive ,as well as offices around the world ! isnt democracy wonderful ?

  • sideboom

    It is gratifing in some small way that after so long a period of mismanaged u.s. government, Even an offspring from a tribesman originating from kenya has brought some degree of rachionality to washington, but not without difficulty for sure ! all of the old guard establishment (good ole boys) have been ruffaled up now , their dominance in capital enterprises / corporate control and “class distinction ” is being exposed for all responsible americans to see , if they are so disposed ,(open minds are beautiful) !

  • sideboom

    the controversial issue in contention between israel and muslims in (so called ) peace talks is hopeless to resolve because of the need for housing of millions of american jews wishing to retire intheir holy land ! rich beyond needs, and tryumphant in eluding the ulterriore scheme of conquest of stolen / occupied land !

  • sideboom

    The idology of islam is credible in world relegion as any other traditional faith ! the zionist /jew ,especially in america is a cumulation of continued historical bigotry from nazi era cryterriour ! the directional attitude of world jews eludes to subversive stradigy /spin in usery of public oppinion aquision !

© 2012 Mediaite, LLC | About Us | Advertise | Newsletter | Jobs | Privacy | User Agreement | Disclaimer | Power Grid FAQ | Contact | Archives | RSS RSS
Dan Abrams, Founder | Power Grid by Sound Strategies | Hosting by Datagram