[blindlaw] Now time to celebrate new blind Governor publicly; tim e enugh for private education later
E.J. Zufelt
everett at zufelt.ca
Fri Mar 14 14:00:36 CDT 2008
Locke,
Do you think that this could be because NC has not adopted apportionment of
damages in contributory negligence defences? Perhaps this is a policy
decision to protect blind individuals who otherwise may find themselves with
no award at all for partial contributory negligence. However, I cannot
understand why blind pedestrians deserve protection where other plaintiffs
who only partially negligently contribute to their injury do not.
EJ
----- Original Message -----
From: "Locke Milholland" <lmilholland at hotmail.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 3:15 PM
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Now time to celebrate new blind Governor
publicly;tim e enugh for private education later
> In NC, it's not contributory negligence for a blind person to cross the
> street into oncoming traffic, cane or not, when he/she gets hit by
> oncoming
> traffic and sues the driver, or his or her estate sues the driver.
>
> I do not know the legislative history prompting the writing of that
> statute,
> but I would argue a preference towards the blind person not being
> negligent
> in the hallway setting.
>
> A reasonable and prudent person similarly situated, and even when
> imprudent
> to step into oncoming traffic, there is no negligence, then in NC a close
> decision on any negligence claim will go to the blind person.
> Locke
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "McCarthy, Jim" <JMcCarthy at nfb.org>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 1:47 PM
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Now time to celebrate new blind Governor
> publicly;tim e enugh for private education later
>
>
>>I have a distinct recollection of that case reading it in my torts class
>> in law school. I think that the characterization offered by Bruce was
>> correct because the state of Louisiana (and not the blind guy) was
>> actually being sued for the personal injury that resulted. The state
>> was not found liable and I believe the court discussed a reasonable
>> blind person standard for determining whether the blind vendor would be
>> liable. What I do not recall is whether that discussion was in fact
>> dicta given that the blind guy was not being sued. Would an ordinary
>> blind person use or not use a cane in the situation that he found
>> himself in at that time was the question as I recall it. I am not sure
>> though that the court ever reached a decision on that question.
>> Jim McCarthy
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>> On Behalf Of E.J. Zufelt
>> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 1:43 PM
>> To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Now time to celebrate new blind Governor
>> publicly;tim e enugh for private education later
>>
>> Interesting about the case.
>>
>> Does anyone know if any common law jurisdictions have established a
>> standard of care for such a situation?
>>
>> EJ
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Bruce E. Naccari" <bnaccari at cox.net>
>> To: <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: <blindlaw-request at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 2:19 PM
>> Subject: [blindlaw] Now time to celebrate new blind Governor publicly;
>> tim e enugh for private education later
>>
>>
>>> I think I begin to read here some criticism of Governor Peterson for
>>> not using normal blindness ways of doing things but also some praise
>>> of those who choose not to use canes or dogs;anticipating more
>>> discussion of this issue I offer my own opinion:
>>> While the news media is celebrating in a positive way the elevation of
>>
>>> a man they are calling our first blind American governor, it would not
>>
>>> be timely or useful for any blind persons to reproach him for
>>> choosing, as many affluent and/or powerful blind individuals seem to
>> do, not to use a
>>> long white cane or a guide dog. That is my opinion; and I believe it
>> is
>>> consistent with the evolution of the internal culture of the NFB I
>>> have observed occur as more and more battles have been won: as the
>>> organized blind have become more powerful and have won more and more
>>> battles, the need to be as combative and aggressive as in earlier
>> years has lessened.
>>> This was more or less explicitly stated by the late great Dr.
>>> Jernigan in one of his Presidential addresses to the NFB Convention in
>>
>>> which he addressed those who were criticizing him for sometimes
>>> having his spouse assist his mobility in crowded environments by his
>>> taking her arm in a dignified and discreet way, where cane use would
>>> have meant one of those not especially navigationally -useful
>>> uninterrupted and repeatedly-thwarted cane-swingings into a thicket of
>>
>>> others' shins, ankles or calves and unnecessarily slow progress ,
>>> given that Mrs. Jernigan was at his side anyway. That address by Dr.
>>
>>> Jernigan was rather historic because it began the process by which he
>>> and then President Maurer have presided over the NFB evolving from the
>>
>>> then-necessary model of Saul Alinsky-like confrontation of the Sixties
>>
>>> to the sort of powerful mainstream education and lobbying and advocacy
>>
>>> we now see bearing so much fruit. So let not Governor Peterson be
>>> reproached publicly in anyway for not using a cane, I would urge.
>>>
>>> That said, I would argue against the position that it is somehow
>>> praiseworthy that the new Governor does not use a cane or dog. As a
>>> person who became blind very slowly by a slow late-blooming RP, I
>>> chose with NFB Encouragement to begin using a long white cane in
>>> public places long before it was strictly necessary for my own
>>> convenience. Although I was then, about 18 years ago, already
>>> "legally" blind, I could still read print of the thicker larger
>>> typefaces and could make eye contact and navigate by sight. And I
>>> still wore and used spectacles. ( A bit comically, I still wear them
>>> because of the slight UV protection and because I recall my rather
>>> thuggish face looks better with them than without them!) But I cannot
>>> count how many times I broke those spectacles by walking into poles or
>>
>>> posts, how many holes and steps I fell or skidded down, etc. Such
>>> mishaps were inevitable unless I had, caneless, restricted my mobility
>>
>>> to walking with others' guidance, something I think is to be avoided
>>> for sure. Others' guidance is fine when available and more efficient;
>>> but no one should need it. However, it was not the expense of broken
>>> eyeglasses or the pain of smashed nose thumpings or twisted ankles
>>> that finally persuaded me to carry my cane at all times, even inside
>> stores and my work building; rather, it was a debt of justice to
>> others.
>>> I began to find I could not travel alone without another's guidance
>>> and without a cane without risk to others. The chagrin and remorse I
>>> felt when I had a collision I caused with an elder woman of many
>>> decades age with a painful back condition was critical I had not been
>>> able to see her; but I had enough vision to be trying to navigate a
>>> supermarket without a cane and then to observe the extreme pain my
>>> collision with her bad back was causing her. I realized that the cane
>>> not only served to make my own travel more efficient and safe for me;
>>> it also alerted others not to rely on my inefficient sight. Of
>>> course, when I began to use my long white cane while still having som
>>> nough sight that my limited seeing was perceived as sight by others,
>>> the experience was not without moments of comedy or awkwardness: the
>>> times I was mistaken for a pool player carrying his cue stick; the
>>> times the ignorant might even become belligerent and accuse me of
>> "faking"
>>> blindness, etc. But cane use definitely passed the cost-benefit
>> analysis.
>>> My experiences in that transitional stage were not unique. If you
>>> look In the Southern Reporter, Second series, you will find a case
>>> report of a Louisiana tort suit filed against the State by a plaintiff
>>
>>> injured by the New Orleans State Office Building's blind vendor when
>> he, who did not
>>> use a cane or a dog, had caused a collision when he was walking
>>> apparently "sighted" to the men's room from his stand. He knew his way
>>
>>> by heart; but the person with whom he collided had no warning that the
>>
>>> vendor could not see the plaintiff and avoid him or her as sighted
>>> folk routinely avoid each other by close passings. AS I recall eth
>>> plaintiff lost but only because the courts properly held the State
>>> as a mere landlord and concession grantor and Randolph-Shepard
>>> administrator was not responsible for the vendor's conduct. We blind
>>> folk are responsible for our own choices, including any damage we
>>> might cause to others if we are deemed negligent I traveling alone
>>> without the appropriate and easily-obtainable use of a long white
>>> cane or a guide dog. Let us remember the cane and the dog not only are
>>
>>> obviously beneficial to us; they also in my opinion render courtesy
>>> and do justice to others by letting them know they should not rely on
>> us to see them as would a sighted pedestrian.
>>>
>>> But if that message and any message about Braille and/or use of
>>> alternative blind ways of doing things like screen reading software is
>>
>>> to be "preached" to governor Peterson, it seems to me it would be most
>>
>>> useful to the cause of the blind and more politic and courteous to
>>> have the NFB of New York or another present or former blind public
>>> official give that sermon to him privately and deferentially.
>>>
>>> P.S. If I am improperly posting by teh wrong steps here please give
>>> me instruction on how to post properly. I'm a novice with this format.
>>
>>> BEN
>>> ---- blindlaw-request at nfbnet.org wrote:
>>>> Send blindlaw mailing list submissions to blindlaw at nfbnet.org
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>>>> than "Re: Contents of blindlaw digest..."
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Today's Topics:
>>>>
>>>> 1. Re: New York's lieutenant governor, a blind lawyer,
>>>> (Mark BurningHawk)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>> -
>>>>
>>>> Message: 1
>>>> Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2008 08:31:15 -0800
>>>> From: "Mark BurningHawk" <stone_troll at sbcglobal.net>
>>>> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor, a blind
>>>> lawyer,
>>>> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Message-ID: <001201c885f0$d3483870$4201a8c0 at markea5ff9c354>
>>>> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
>>>> reply-type=original
>>>>
>>>> Or, maybe he's too caught up in living a real life to worry about
>>>> what kind of blind person he's being.
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Corey Cook" <coreyfaith at bellsouth.net>
>>>> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 8:15 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor, a blind
>>>> lawyer,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> AMEN!!!
>>>>
>>>> Corey Cook
>>>> Live Journal
>>>> http://vanguardman.livejournal.com/
>>>> Xanga
>>>> http://www.xanga.com/ciu_nice_guy
>>>> AIM
>>>> goldadore922
>>>> MSN
>>>> romans815 at earthlink.net
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: Rod Alcidonis
>>>> To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
>>>> Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 10:07 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor, a blind
>>>> lawyer,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> This is an attitude of the past and it has been rejected on
>> numerous
>>>> occasions on this list. The notion that "my way is the highway" is
>>>> unhealthy
>>>> and we need to stop preaching it. I am a firm advocate for Braille
>>>> literacy,
>>>> and I always try to focus my effort to encourage only those who are
>>
>>>> in need
>>>> of my encouragement. One doesn't become a successful politician
>> over 22
>>>> years by not being independent. This fact can be easily assumed. If
>>
>>>> he has
>>>> been successful at it since 1986, I doubt it is anyone's business
>> to
>>>> question his level of independence in 2008.
>>>>
>>>> We each as blind individuals have our strength and weaknesses; no
>>>> one is
>>>> perfectly independent in this world. What works for you may not
>>>> work for
>>>> him, and vice versa. This does not, however, in any ways, suggest
>>>> that he is
>>>> less independent than you are.
>>>>
>>>> If he is not considered independent to you, let me remind you that
>>>> he is the
>>>> first one to make us proud in this capacity. I know others have
>>>> written on
>>>> the list in recent days to diminish that aspect with words of
>>>> speculation,
>>>> and it is just unfortunate. Also, remember that Stevie Wonder and
>> Ray
>>>> Charles never made us that proud in the world despite their level
>>>> of fame.
>>>>
>>>> As oppose to celebrating such a great achievement by a blind person
>>
>>>> in such
>>>> an ignorant and unforgiving society, it is regrettable that some of
>>
>>>> us are
>>>> casting doubts on his abilities before he even has the chance to
>> prove
>>>> himself. Shame on anyone who feel that this is appropriate at this
>>>> time.
>>>> The
>>>> media is not doing it but you, as a blind person is doing it. This
>> is
>>>> frankly regretable. As blind folks we have to begin to learn the
>>>> need to
>>>> celebrate the achievements of others like us, regardless of their
>>>> scope,
>>>> before we begin to advance our unhealthy judgmental attitude of the
>>
>>>> past to
>>>> diminish others successes.
>>>>
>>>> Rod Alcidonis
>>>> Juris Doctor Candidate, 2009.
>>>> Roger Williams University School of Law
>>>> 10 Metacom Ave., Box: 9003
>>>> Bristol, RI 02809
>>>> Cell: 718-704-4651
>>>> Home: 401-824-8685
>>>> Visit my Law School Blog at:
>>>> http://blogs.rwu.edu/law/ralcidonis
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "albert griffith" <albertpgriffith at hotmail.com>
>>>> To: "'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 9:30 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor, a blind
>>>> lawyer,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> > Whether the man uses Braille or a cane isn't relevant to his
>>>> > qualifications
>>>> > as a politician but it does cause me to wonder a little about him
>>>> > personally. Someone who can only see shapes and doesn't use a
>>>> white cane
>>>> > can't be fully independent.
>>>> >
>>>> > -----Original Message-----
>>>> > From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>>> [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>>>> On
>>>> > Behalf Of Rod Alcidonis
>>>> > Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 2:39 PM
>>>> > To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
>>>> > Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor, a blind
>>>> lawyer,
>>>> >
>>>> > As long as he had a way to cope not learning them is of no
>>>> consequence.
>>>> > The
>>>> > man is been in politics since 1986 and he has performed
>>>> remarkably since.
>>>> > Though important, Braille is not the savior of the world and the
>>>> ability
>>>> > to
>>>> > function efficiently. This point has been made here times and
>> again.
>>>> >
>>>> > I doubt he could be functioning without a cane if he were walking
>>
>>>> into
>>>> > things everywhere in the legislature's building. A cane is only
>>>> usable
>>>> > when
>>>> > it's needed not just for the heck of using a cane. I use one
>>>> because I
>>>> > need
>>>> > to, and the governor does not use one because he found that he
>>>> does not
>>>> > need
>>>> > one. Obviously he has just proven his effectiveness without them.
>>
>>>> Let's
>>>> > stop
>>>> > creating issues where none exist.
>>>> >
>>>> > Rod Alcidonis
>>>> > Juris Doctor Candidate, 2009.
>>>> > Roger Williams University School of Law
>>>> > 10 Metacom Ave., Box: 9003
>>>> > Bristol, RI 02809
>>>> > Cell: 718-704-4651
>>>> > Home: 401-824-8685
>>>> > Visit my Law School Blog at:
>>>> > http://blogs.rwu.edu/law/ralcidonis
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > ----- Original Message -----
>>>> > From: "albert griffith" <albertpgriffith at hotmail.com>
>>>> > To: "'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
>>>> > Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 5:42 AM
>>>> > Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor, a blind
>>>> lawyer,
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> >> While he sounds brilliant and I'm happy for him, it was reported
>>
>>>> that he
>>>> >> refused to learn Braille and uses no travel aid such as a white
>>>> cane or
>>>> >> guide dog. I'd be interested in hearing his side of the story.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> -----Original Message-----
>>>> >> From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>>> [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>>>> On
>>>> >> Behalf Of Sarah Clark
>>>> >> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 11:18 PM
>>>> >> To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
>>>> >> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor, a blind
>>>> lawyer,
>>>> >>
>>>> >> That's how I understand it as well. I read that he did not pass
>>
>>>> the New
>>>> >> York bar exam so never became a practicing attorney, and because
>>
>>>> of that,
>>>> >> he's apparently been a big advocate on the issues of special
>>>> >> accommodations
>>>> >> for bar exams.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Sarah
>>>> >>
>>>> >> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> >> From: "Rod Alcidonis" <roddj12 at hotmail.com>
>>>> >> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
>>>> >> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 11:52 AM
>>>> >> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor, a blind
>>>> lawyer,
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>> As far as my recollection serves me he is not a lawyer. He had
>>>> only been
>>>> >>> to
>>>> >>> Law School.
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> And, as a New Yorker and an African American who is blind, I am
>>
>>>> very
>>>> >>> happy
>>>> >>> for him. He has demonstrated so much and the Media can only
>>>> mention that
>>>> >>> he
>>>> >>> is blind, not whether he can do the job. I briefly met him
>> prior to
>>>> >>> starting
>>>> >>> Law School and he is a brilliant individual.
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> Rod Alcidonis
>>>> >>> Juris Doctor Candidate, 2009.
>>>> >>> Roger Williams University School of Law
>>>> >>> 10 Metacom Ave., Box: 9003
>>>> >>> Bristol, RI 02809
>>>> >>> Cell: 718-704-4651
>>>> >>> Home: 401-824-8685
>>>> >>> Visit my Law School Blog at:
>>>> >>> http://blogs.rwu.edu/law/ralcidonis
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> >>> From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>
>>>> >>> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
>>>> >>> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 3:27 PM
>>>> >>> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor, a blind
>>
>>>> lawyer,
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>> Hello Michael and listers,
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> History could be made this fall when we elect a new
>> President
>>>> should
>>>> >>>> a
>>>> >>>> Democratic Candidate win the election. This nation could have
>>>> its first
>>>> >>>> African-American, or its first woman who is also the spouse of
>>
>>>> a former
>>>> >>>> U.S.
>>>> >>>> President serving in our nation's highest political office.
>>>> Given that
>>>> >>>> New
>>>> >>>> York State now has a blind governor it's very conceivable that
>>
>>>> we could
>>>> >>>> elect a blind U.S. president in the not so distant future.
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> Peter Donahue
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> >>>> From: "Michael O. Hanson" <mhanson at winternet.com>
>>>> >>>> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
>>>> >>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 10:31 AM
>>>> >>>> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor, a
>>>> blind lawyer,
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> I beliefve he resigned this morning.
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> >>>> From: "Nightingale, Noel" <Noel.Nightingale at ed.gov>
>>>> >>>> To: <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
>>>> >>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 10:24 AM
>>>> >>>> Subject: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor, a blind
>>>> lawyer,
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>From the Justice For All sidebar blurb:
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> First Blind Governor of New York?
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> In the wake of yesterday's breaking news of New York Governor
>>
>>>> Elliot
>>>> >>>>> Spitzer's involvement in a prostitution ring, many top aides
>> to
>>>> >>>>> Spitzer
>>>> >>>>> expect his resignation.
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> If Governor Spitzer does resign, Lt. Governor David A.
>>>> Paterson, who
>>>> >>>>> is
>>>> >>>>> legally blind, would become the state's first black, first
>> blind
>>>> >>>>> governor.
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> A bit more about Mr. Paterson:
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> Link to NY Times profile:
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >
>>>>
>> http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/p/david_a_pat
>>>> >>>>> erson/index.html?inline=nyt-per
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> Text:
>>>> >>>>> David A. Paterson
>>>> >>>>> Stewart Cairns for The New York Times
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> David A. Paterson was elected lieutenant governor of New York
>> in
>>>> >>>>> November 2006 on the ticket led by Eliot Spitzer. Previously,
>> Mr.
>>>> >>>>> Paterson had served as the minority leader of the state
>> Senate.
>>>> The
>>>> >>>>> scion of a prominent Harlem political family, Mr. Paterson
>>>> was born
>>>> >>>>> legally blind and worked as a prosecutor before entering
>>>> politics.
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> Mr. Paterson's decision to become Mr. Spitzer's running mate
>>>> stunned
>>>> >>>>> many in Albany. With the growing strength of Democrats in
>>>> statewide
>>>> >>>>> elections, it seemed only a matter of time before his party
>>>> took over
>>>> >>>>> the chamber, allowing him to join the ruling triumvirate in
>>>> Albany and
>>>> >>>>> take his seat with the governor and the Assembly speaker to
>>>> decide
>>>> >>>>> between them how New York State is governed. By contrast, the
>>>> >>>>> lieutenant
>>>> >>>>> governor's post brings with it no power and little prestige.
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> Mr. Paterson explained the decision in terms the few
>> lieutenant
>>>> >>>>> governors who had been given a real role, saying he wanted to
>>
>>>> be an
>>>> >>>>> "extension'' of Mr. Spitzer. Others close to him spoke of the
>>
>>>> enviable
>>>> >>>>> position he would be in if there was a chance to move up. If,
>> for
>>>> >>>>> instance, Hillary Clinton were to become president, Mr.
>>>> Spitzer would
>>>> >>>>> appoint a replacement to complete her term. Mr. Paterson has
>>>> >>>>> demonstrated political skills and good timing in the past; he
>>
>>>> became
>>>> >>>>> the
>>>> >>>>> minority leader in the Senate by pulling off a coup, which is
>>
>>>> a rare
>>>> >>>>> feat in Albany.
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> As the leader of the Democratic minority in the Senate, Mr.
>>>> Paterson
>>>> >>>>> has
>>>> >>>>> tried to make up for his lack of power with wit, flurries of
>>>> reform
>>>> >>>>> proposals and unusual bursts of candor, a combination that
>>>> has made
>>>> >>>>> him
>>>> >>>>> a quotable presence in a Capitol where such leaders are often
>>
>>>> ignored
>>>> >>>>> as
>>>> >>>>> irrelevant. He worked on making inroads with national
>> Democrats,
>>>> >>>>> traveling to Washington to meet with Congressional leaders.
>>>> And here,
>>>> >>>>> where much of what passes for legislative humor is of the
>>>> backslapping
>>>> >>>>> variety, Mr. Paterson's stands out.
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> Take his request at a recent news conference on government
>>>> reform.
>>>> >>>>> "Anyone else in this Capitol that's telling you about the
>>>> reform that
>>>> >>>>> they're doing, I want you to give me their names, we're going
>>
>>>> to bring
>>>> >>>>> them to this conference room, and we're going to beat them
>> up,"
>>>> he
>>>> >>>>> said,
>>>> >>>>> with a straight face.
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> Mr. Paterson was born to politics. His father, Basil,
>>>> represented the
>>>> >>>>> same Harlem district that his son later did, and ran
>>>> unsuccessfully
>>>> >>>>> for
>>>> >>>>> lieutenant governor in 1970. The younger Mr. Paterson was
>>>> raised at
>>>> >>>>> the
>>>> >>>>> knees of much of Harlem's old guard. He also grew up legally
>>>> blind,
>>>> >>>>> after an infection as an infant that left him totally without
>>
>>>> sight in
>>>> >>>>> his left eye and with severely limited sight in his right.
>>>> His family
>>>> >>>>> moved to Long Island, where they found a school that agreed
>>>> to educate
>>>> >>>>> him in regular classrooms. He graduated from high school in
>> three
>>>> >>>>> years,
>>>> >>>>> went to college at Columbia and graduated from Hofstra Law
>>>> School.
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> When he was elected Senate minority leader, Mr. Paterson
>>>> recalled the
>>>> >>>>> discrimination he had suffered because he is disabled. "So I
>>>> have had
>>>> >>>>> this desire my whole life to prove people wrong, to show them
>>
>>>> I could
>>>> >>>>> do
>>>> >>>>> things they didn't think I could do," he said. "This is just
>>>> another."
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> --March 10, 2008
>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> >>>>> blindlaw mailing list
>>>> >>>>> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
>>>> >>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> >>>> blindlaw mailing list
>>>> >>>> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
>>>> >>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> >>>> blindlaw mailing list
>>>> >>>> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
>>>> >>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> _______________________________________________
>>>> >>> blindlaw mailing list
>>>> >>> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
>>>> >>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
>>>> >>
>>>> >> _______________________________________________
>>>> >> blindlaw mailing list
>>>> >> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
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>>>> >>
>>>> >> _______________________________________________
>>>> >> blindlaw mailing list
>>>> >> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
>>>> >> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
>>>> >>
>>>> >
>>>> > _______________________________________________
>>>> > blindlaw mailing list
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>>>> > _______________________________________________
>>>> > blindlaw mailing list
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>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> blindlaw mailing list
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>>>>
>>>> --
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>> -----------
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> > _______________________________________________
>>>> > blindlaw mailing list
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>>>> >
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ------------------------------
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> blindlaw mailing list
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>>>>
>>>> End of blindlaw Digest, Vol 46, Issue 16
>>>> ****************************************
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