David Paterson is a member of a great New York political family who grew up in and around the state's public life. His father, Basil, was New York's secretary of state, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 1970 and the first African-American vice chair of the Democratic National Committee. Basil Paterson, a long-time hero of urban liberals, remains a well-regarded labor lawyer and outspoken progressive - as well as his son's closest counselor.
Paterson has, as well, a particularly strong track record of taking bold positions on civil rights issues - especially gay rights. "David Paterson is a terrific, progressive guy - extremely LGBT-friendly," says Ethan Geto, a Democratic strategist with a history of activism on behalf of New York's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Indeed, Geto told The Advocate magazine that was thought Paterson would be a champion in the struggle for to advance same-sex marriage initiatives in the state.
All the moral and intellectual courage of a jackal.