Rep. Peter King Tried to Sound Enthusiastic About Carl Paladino

If it wasn’t irritating enough to Rep. Peter King of New York that Imus got him on late this morning, things became even more contentious when Imus slandered their mutual friend Bo Dietl for his behavior at yesterday’s Imus Ranch Golf Outing.

“You’re off on the wrong foot this morning,” King told Imus.

With all the talk lately of whether President Obama is going to raise taxes for the top one percent of earners in America, Imus wondered if doing so has ever reduced the deficit.

“I don’t think it has,” King, a Republican, said. He credited John F. Kennedy, of all people, with cutting taxes across the board to stimulate the economy in the 1960s. Obama’s approach, on the other hand, “is a European, socialist mentality” that would “penalize people for success.” After all, King pointed out, the people making the most money “are the people who create the jobs.”

And income is obviously relative; in New York, a married couple could easily reach the $250,000 threshold that would raise their taxes, but still not be considered rich by New York standards.

“To me, this is class warfare, it doesn’t work, and they should get beyond that,” King said, a distinct whine detectable in his voice.

In last week’s primaries, Carl Paladino beat Rick Lazio become the Republican nominee for Governor in New York, a feat unthinkable until it actually happened. Now, he’s mounting a campaign against Democrat Andrew Cuomo, who was considered a shoo-in until a Quinnipiac poll released yesterday showed he leads Paladino by just six points.

King, for one, could not have sounded less enthusiastic about the slightly insane Paladino representing his Party. “I’ll support him, sure,” he said. “I get along very well with Andrew Cuomo and he’s been a good attorney general, but I support the nominee of the Republican Party.” Sure you do.

He believes Paladino tapped into the Tea Party anger, and is now obligated to channel that anger in a positive way. King said, “If he can show he has solid, constructive ideas, this is going to be a real race, which no one would have thought.” No one including, apparently, King.

As for why he wouldn’t support Cuomo and insists on “toeing the party line,” as Imus put it, King pointed to his the fact that he endorsed Democrat Ed Koch; didn’t vote to impeach President Bill Clinton; and also supported Independent Joe Lieberman.

Carl Paladino“I think Andrew Cuomo would be a good Governor, but on policy, I would probably agree with Carl Paladino more,” King said. “I have to see how he’s going to articulate that policy, how he’s going to lay it out, and whether or not he has the gravitas he needs to be governor.”

King would like to see a different tri-state area Governor—Chris Christie in New Jersey—run for higher office, namely the Presidency, even though Christie has insisted he’d never do it.

“I don’t really see a candidate we have for President who can go up against Barack Obama,” King said. “Unpopular as he may be, he’s still going to be a tough candidate in 2012. I think Chris Christie is the guy who would get the Conservatives on our side.”

Imus thanked King for coming on the show today, and apologized for getting him on late. Which King, who might want to consider removing the chip from his shoulder, interpreted quite differently, saying, “You’re throwing me off the air now?”

-Julie Kanfer