Angry with Governor Paterson? Get in line with Kennedys, Cuomos, Bloomberg BY KENNETH LOVETT in Albany and JOHN LAUINGER and CELESTE KATZ in New York DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS Updated Sunday, January 25th 2009, 11:35 AM Simmons/News Rev. Al Sharpton (seated) with Senator-designate Kirsten Gillibrand at Sharpton's Political Action Network on Saturday. She also met with Rep. Charles Rangel. The Kennedy family scolded Gov. Paterson Saturday night, criticizing his slipshod treatment of Caroline Kennedy and the airing of rumors about the Camelot daughter's personal life. "Maybe [Paterson] was caught off guard by her decision, but to disparage her the way they have is beyond understanding," one source close to the Kennedy's said. "They put up the stuff about her marriage. Paterson of all people? I don't get it." Another family friend said, "It's not going over well." A veteran Democratic political operative noted that Paterson during the course of six months has managed to "p--- off" the Kennedys, Mayor Bloomberg and the Cuomos since he also didn't select state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.Kennedy, once seen as one of Paterson's top choices to replace Secretary of State Clinton in the Senate, removed herself from contention Thursday after a series of chaotic reports had her withdrawing and then reconsidering. She released a statement shortly before midnight saying she dropped out for personal reasons. The next day, Paterson named Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democratic congresswoman from upstate Hudson, to the Senate seat. Gillibrand Saturday had only good words for Kennedy. "I admire her and respect her very much and I actually hope that she will work with me on the issues that she cares about," Gillibrand said. Despite differences on issues like gun control, Gillibrand, who is embarking on a statewide listening tour, also says she'll work with Mayor Bloomberg. Gillibrand, 42, made the Rev. Al Sharpton's House of Justice her first official stop Saturday, saying she would address the concerns of the entire state and make the troubled economy her top priority. "My commitment to you is that I'm going to listen to you," said Gillibrand, who has been criticized by gun control and immigration reform advocates - and even some fellow Democrats - as too conservative to serve New York in the Senate. She brushed off the criticism. "I think it might be bumpy for a day, but it's going to be a very short story," Gillibrand told NY1. Rep. Pete King, a Long Island Republican who had expected to be facing Kennedy for the seat in 2010, said he still plans to run for the Senate seat. King demanded Paterson disclose details about his selection process - including whether promises of campaign favors or fund-raising were made - or face a possible investigation. "There's a crisis of confidence," King said. [email protected] http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/01/24/2009-01-24_angry_with_governor_paterson_get_in_line.html --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "WebTV Dawgs/Dittos" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/WebTV-Pals -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
