New York - Gov. Paterson: It Would Be "Dangerous" To Have Gov. Paladino

New York - Gov. Paterson stepped up his criticism of Republican Carl Paladino this morning, saying it would be “dangerous” to have such a divisive figure in the governor’s office.

“He doesn’t have any policies, he has no idea how he would change things and almost one third of his statements turn out being interpreted as being offensive,” Paterson said during an interview this morning with the Daily News’ Errol Louis on WWRL 1600.

Paterson said he was initially willing to give the bomb-throwing Paladino the benefit of the doubt when he said some of his more controversial comments - especially remarks about placing poor people in unused prisons - had been taken out of context.

But then, according to Paterson, “he restates it.”

“So now I’ve come to the conclusion that this is deliberate,” Paterson said. “That he is deliberately trying to provoke people for his own political gain. And my point is, that somebody that does that is not fit to be in the executive branch of the state of New York.”

Paterson later added: “When you repeat it , and I now I know it’s deliberate I can conclude in no other way that this is a person that would be dangerous to have in leadership.”

Paladino, according to Paterson, has not shared any of his policies about how he would cut spending or taxes. Instead, according to the governor, he only knows how to be divisive.

“The worst thing you can ever have is a public that’s upset, that’s dispirited and confused with no leadership,” Paterson said. “Leadership is about bringing people together.”

Paterson was also critical of the Tea Party movement that helped propel Paladino.

“I’m not blaming the Tea Party here, but I’m just saying it seems rather unfocused,” Paterson said. “I never get exactly what it is that the people who are angry want to do about it, other than be angry, which always leads to the castigation of other people.”