N.Y. governmor brings refreshing change

By George E. Curry

Al Sharpton likes to say from time to time that Democrats treat Black voters as if we are their mistresses. Party officials don't mind seeing us at night, but they shy away from stepping out with us during daylight. The same can be said for some Black politicians, who shy away from associating with Sharpton.
No one can say that about New York Gov. David Patterson. I heard him speak last week in New York at Sharpton's National Action Network conference. The fact that he was there was in itself a statement. But he made even more telling statements during a 17-minute speech.
Not only did Patterson attend Sharpton rallies regularly while serving as a state senator and as lieutenant governor; he also ticked off a list of things he first learned at Sharpton-sponsored events. He first learned about predatory lending in 1994 or 1995, about holistic medicine in 1998, about alternatives in education in 1999, and about alternative energy in 2002.
Patterson said that he, Sharpton, and Congressman Gregory Meeks of New York were "Brown babies.”
“In addition to color," he explained, "we were born in the year of Brown v. the Board of Education decision."
Patterson noted that the landmark decision was handed down on Monday, May 17, 1954.
"I was born that Thursday, but they didn't think I could handle it by myself, so they sent Rev. Sharpton and Greg Meeks a couple of months later," he said.
Patterson showed no sign of not being able to handle anything in his speech, calling out African Americans who felt they were too good to attend civil rights rallies. "Many of them wouldn't come by the National Action Network because they thought they were beyond that: 'I'm working for Merrill Lynch,'" the governor said. "It's just a spiritual lesson for us. The more you put people down, the more you're putting yourself down."
Patterson noted the irony of poor people having a role in the decline of some of America's largest and most influential financial services institutions. "The same individuals who had bilked, hoodwinked, and cajoled people who had less than them or knew less than them found out that there's a flood rising," the governor said. "It has overtaken Merrill Lynch, Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, AIG — the list goes on and on. And now they're asking for $700 billion that's called a bailout. I remember when we used to call that welfare."
Speaking before the House had approved the bailout, Patterson made it clear that he opposed the plan. "Do you know how much it would cost to bail out every foreclosed homeowner in this country? One hundred billion. Boy, that sounds like a deal." He said he was using mid-2007 figures, and the total amount now would be in the neighborhood of $144 to $150 billion.
"That's a steal," he said. "I should go down to Washington and tell them I have a deal to bail out all homeowners, and we can do it for $150 billion."
Listening to Gov. Patterson, I thought how refreshing it was to hear him address the Wall Street fiasco so openly and honestly. He obviously wasn't saying these things for any political advantage. If anything, associating with Sharpton could hurt him, or anyone else seeking statewide office.
And, of course, it could be disadvantageous for a New York governor to take on Wall Street. But instead of being protective of failed corporate executives, Patterson pointed to a strong state measure designed to help the poor.
"What we have done in New York State, a law that was passed in June, says there will now be a uniform standard for what is considered a loan and what is considered an inducement. If the financial considerations show that it was not possible for the borrower to pay back the money to the lender, then the loan will be considered a criminal act of inducement."
Patterson referred to Barack Obama as "our candidate," adding that "if Senator Obama was not from the neighborhood, Senator Obama would be 15 points ahead." He drew a chuckle when he said, "Senator McCain has no answers, and his running mate is paling in comparison."
Of all of the issues he addressed, Patterson was most passionate about education. He reminded me of my teachers back in Tuscaloosa, Ala., when he talked about students' ability to achieve when given the right direction and motivation. He said it was an indictment of the education system that in New York, 37 percent of African Americans and a third of Latinos don't complete high school.
"If th[e education system] were one of these Wall Street corporations, they would have gone down a long time ago," he said.
Patterson has been speaking like this for years. We should have known more about him a long time ago.
George E. Curry, former editor in chief of Emerge magazine and the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) News Service, is a keynote speaker, moderator, and media coach.