New York Governor David Paterson Shoots Straight With The I-Man

So, how's New York Governor David Paterson doing?

"For over two weeks now, I've been the subject of a number of outrageous rumors that have certainly distracted my ability to govern the state," he told Imus today, referring to an as-yet-unpublished New York Times profile that allegedly contains "bombshell" information that would force Paterson to resign.

He and his staff have spent valuable time shooting down these rumors to everyone who would listen, including the New York Times political director and its editorial board, with whom Paterson met yesterday for one hour and 45 minutes.

"I was not asked any questions about any of these salacious stories," he said, adding that their perpetuation has created "a dismal, almost Kafkaesque situation where you can't even respond to the rumors about the rumors."

When Paterson became Governor in March of 2008, he and his wife Michelle admitted to past marital strife, saying they had both carried on extramarital affairs. Imus asked Paterson today, point-blank, whether he had engaged in any kind of romantic or sexual relationship with anybody other than his wife since taking office.

"No," Paterson said. He lamented that his openness (he also admitted to trying "an assortment of substances" as a younger person), which seemed like the right thing to do, had made it possible for almost any other rumor about him to become believable.

"I have been depicted in a way that has been racialized, sexualized, hyper-sexualized, and dissolute," he added. "It is hard to diminish this kind of uproar when it gets started,"

Paterson acknowledged there are "entities" out there wishing him ill, though he declined to name names because, he said, "for me to speculate on it would be committing the same act that I'm complaining about: rumoring."

Besides all this hullabaloo about his personal life, Paterson has also been criticized for awarding a valuable gambling contract to Aqueduct Entertainment Group, of which the former New York Congressman Rev. Floyd Flake owns a .06 percent stake.

"Five entities competed," Paterson said of the deal to install video slot machines at a Queens racetrack. "The state lottery rated this company as one of the three that they thought had a full proposal, one that could sustain itself."

As for whether he was courting the influential Flake's endorsement for Governor, Paterson denied that charge. "At the time the contract was awarded, he had already publicly stated he was not picking a candidate in the Democratic primary this year," he said.

It's a primary that many think will be an uphill battle for Paterson, though he doesn't see it that way. He touted his accomplishments over the last nearly two years, saying he has closed the $33 billion of New York State's deficit; made payments to its creditors; kept schools and local governments funded; balanced budgets; and kept the state's credit rating strong, against all odds.

"I'm black, I'm blind, and I'm still alive," he said, smiling. "How much better do they want me to be?"

A rarely (if ever) satisfied Imus conceded this morning's appearance was good enough for him. And pigs flew overhead.

-Julie Kanfer