Gov. Patterson

No one can say that about New York Gov. David Patterson. I heard him speak in New York at Sharpton’s National Action Network conference last week. The fact that he was there was itself a statement. But he made even more telling statements during a 17-minute speech.

Not only did he regularly attend Sharpton rallies while serving as a state senator and lieutenant governor, Patterson ticked off a list of things he first learned at Sharpton-sponsored events. He said he first learned about predatory lending in 1994 or 1995; holistic medicine in 1998, alternatives in education in 1999 and alternative energy in 2002.

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.”

He noted the irony of poor people having a role in the decline of some of America’s largest and most influential financial services institution.

“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.

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 things for any political advantage. If anything, associating with Sharpton could hurt him or anyone seeking state-wide office.

And, of course, there could be disadvantages of a New York governor taking 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, “If Senator Obama was not from the neighborhood, Senator Obama would be 15 points ahead.”

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.

Patterson said it was an indictment of the education system that 37 percent of African-Americans in New York and a third of Latinos don’t complete high school.

He said, “If this were one of these Wall Street corporations, they would have gone down a long time ago.”

George Curry

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 NNPA News Service, is a keynote speaker, moderator, and media coach. He can be reached through his Web site, www.georgecurry.com.)