# Would you call Carl Paladino's \[statement\] to a reporter a death threat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 30, 2010, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-carl-paladinos-statement-to-a-reporter-a-death-threat/555574 "2010-09-30T05:34:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-carl-paladinos-statement-to-a-reporter-a-death-threat/555574/21 "2010-09-30T17:10:05Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > I assume if you describe it as "an empty threat’, it is irrelevant? Does it not reveal character? Does it not tell you a lot about how he responds to pressure? Uh, no. Just that this wasn’t a credible death threat, any more than Truman was actually threatening to kick a music critic in the nutsack. Questions of character I will leave to the voters - who may decide to elect a jerk that they happen to agree with. This has been known to happen. I don’t think it will happen in this case, though, which means that formal dinners in Albany will be semi-homemade. Bleah! ---
**Author:** ![newcomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e5b9ba/32.png) [@newcomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcomer)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-carl-paladinos-statement-to-a-reporter-a-death-threat/555574/22 "2010-09-30T17:24:19Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I’ll cut the guy a break and say he was just idly threatening to hurt the reporter, not kill him. But people usually don’t like to see their public servants making threats. It doesn’t matter that reporters aren’t that popular. The problem here is not that Cuomo is going to run an ad about this (he won’t), it’s that people are already starting to see Paladino as a psycho. That’s what happens when it comes out that you’ve been emailing racist jokes and horse porn to your friends. So adding this on top of that is only going to make it harder for him to be taken seriously, and he’s already well behind in the polls. Then it must be that public is okay with picking on the candidate’s daughter as in it’s all fair and square? I made a similar comment elsewhere that politics nowadays is all about everything but the ideas and principles that candidate espouses and serious thinking of impact of certain policies that a candidate would like to establish or push for. You don’t like his policies or ideas? Fine, fight them on their own merits. Could it be that there is something of “Hey, he wants to be a politician now we’ll skin him until he bleeds”. And, when his reaction is indeed to bleed, then the public goes like “Oh, can’t do that!” Completely disregarding the fact that the attack on him at a basic human level was inappropriate and offensive and that his reaction was probably how 99% of people would react. And the net result, some smooth talking thief moves in the office while the public enjoys self-righteous moment of deliverance. And then, in couple of years same thing starts rolling. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-carl-paladinos-statement-to-a-reporter-a-death-threat/555574/23 "2010-09-30T18:18:48Z")
> [@newcomer](#): > > Then it must be that public is okay with picking on the candidate’s daughter as in it’s all fair and square? Uh… > [@Marley23](#): > > I don’t know if that actually happened but it would be a bit ridiculous to say the press is intruding on their private lives when he’s appearing with her in public. On the other hand if the Post has been sending photographers to her house, that’s too much. We’re talking about a 10-year-old and she is not running for office. > [@newcomer](#): > > Completely disregarding the fact that the attack on him at a basic human level was inappropriate and offensive What attack? ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-carl-paladinos-statement-to-a-reporter-a-death-threat/555574/24 "2010-09-30T18:32:36Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > > [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > > > Good point. How big a loser must the other Republican have been? Or is this another Christine O’Donnell case? > > Lazio is kind of a loser, yes. But Paladino is a Tea Party guy and had stronger support from the more conservative parts of the state- although I see he failed to get the nomination from the Conservative Party. Upstate New York isn’t "conservative’ in the same sense as what one might see in the South, Texas or Arizona, though. Buffalo and its surrounding suburbs are fairly liberal-leaning, as is Rochester. The rural counties tend to be more conservative, but again, it can’t be compared to a place like South Carolina or Oklahoma. Rockefeller Republicans are still quite common around these parts. Also, in the Buffalo area, Carl Paladino has a bad reputation as a developer. Historic properties succumbing to “demolition by neglect”, and tearing down urban-scale commercial buildings to build suburban context Rite Aid stores, are his trademarks. Upstaters are frustrated, though. Most governors and lieutenant governors have been from Downstate as far back as anyone can remember. Taxes are astronomical. Rural Upstate NY is nothing like West Virginia, but it’s seen much better days in the recent past, and it seems like nobody in state government cares. Paladino’s rage resonates with the public, even in a blue state with a strong progressive political tradition. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-carl-paladinos-statement-to-a-reporter-a-death-threat/555574/25 "2010-09-30T18:33:59Z")
At least he didn’t threaten to use the man like a horse. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-carl-paladinos-statement-to-a-reporter-a-death-threat/555574/26 "2010-09-30T19:25:42Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > At least he didn’t threaten to use the man like a horse. :eek: Somehow I don’t think the horse minded… I can’t believe Paladino managed to last this long before blowing up at someone. The guy is legendary around here for his temper. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-carl-paladinos-statement-to-a-reporter-a-death-threat/555574/27 "2010-09-30T19:32:18Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Upstate New York isn’t "conservative’ in the same sense as what one might see in the South, Texas or Arizona, though. Buffalo and its surrounding suburbs are fairly liberal-leaning, as is Rochester. The rural counties tend to be more conservative, but again, it can’t be compared to a place like South Carolina or Oklahoma. Rockefeller Republicans are still quite common around these parts. That’s more precise. He’s a conservative by New York standards but maybe not by national standards, which isn’t a surprise. New York City’s recent Republican mayors have been the same way. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-carl-paladinos-statement-to-a-reporter-a-death-threat/555574/28 "2010-09-30T19:36:44Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > > [@gonzomax](#): > > > > I assume if you describe it as "an empty threat’, it is irrelevant? Does it not reveal character? Does it not tell you a lot about how he responds to pressure? > > Uh, no. Just that this wasn’t a credible death threat. That’s for a jury to decide, and whether the victim felt it was credible. Even if it was empty posturing, it showed a very unsavory and unstable character. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-carl-paladinos-statement-to-a-reporter-a-death-threat/555574/29 "2010-09-30T19:38:23Z")
> [@newcomer](#): > > > [@Marley23](#): > > > > I’ll cut the guy a break and say he was just idly threatening to hurt the reporter, not kill him. But people usually don’t like to see their public servants making threats. It doesn’t matter that reporters aren’t that popular. The problem here is not that Cuomo is going to run an ad about this (he won’t), it’s that people are already starting to see Paladino as a psycho. That’s what happens when it comes out that you’ve been emailing racist jokes and horse porn to your friends. So adding this on top of that is only going to make it harder for him to be taken seriously, and he’s already well behind in the polls. > > Then it must be that public is okay with picking on the candidate’s daughter as in it’s all fair and square? Who’s picking on his daughter? > [@](#): > > Completely disregarding the fact that the attack on him at a basic human level was inappropriate and offensive… What attack? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-carl-paladinos-statement-to-a-reporter-a-death-threat/555574/30 "2010-09-30T19:56:20Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > [@Mr.Moto](#): > > > > Uh, no. Just that this wasn’t a credible death threat. > > That’s for a jury to decide, and whether the victim felt it was credible. Even if it was empty posturing, it showed a very unsavory and unstable character. It may say something about his character but there’s zero chance this is going to court. The guy lost his temper and yelled some stupid things. I can’t imagine charges being filed and no one was harmed. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-carl-paladinos-statement-to-a-reporter-a-death-threat/555574/31 "2010-09-30T20:39:45Z")
Death threats are illegal. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-carl-paladinos-statement-to-a-reporter-a-death-threat/555574/32 "2010-09-30T20:55:37Z")
Uh huh. Find a prosecutor to take it up. Good luck with that. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-carl-paladinos-statement-to-a-reporter-a-death-threat/555574/33 "2010-09-30T21:06:58Z")
I’ll assume you’re right even thought I don’t know exactly how the state of New York defines a death threat. (I’ll see if I can look that up.) There still aren’t going to be charges. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-carl-paladinos-statement-to-a-reporter-a-death-threat/555574/34 "2010-09-30T22:13:20Z")
There probably won’t be charges, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t commit a crime. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-carl-paladinos-statement-to-a-reporter-a-death-threat/555574/35 "2010-09-30T22:30:34Z")
Maybe this would apply to what Paladino said. > [@](#): > > § 240.26 Harassment in the second degree. > A person is guilty of harassment in the second degree when, with intent to harass, annoy or alarm another person: > 1. He or she strikes, shoves, kicks or otherwise subjects such other person to physical contact, or attempts or threatens to do the same; or 2. He or she follows a person in or about a public place or places; or 3. He or she engages in a course of conduct or repeatedly commits acts which alarm or seriously annoy such other person and which serve no legitimate purpose. > Subdivisions two and three of this section shall not apply to activities regulated by the national labor relations act, as amended, the railway labor act, as amended, or the federal employment labor management act, as amended. > Harassment in the second degree is a violation. I believe that means it’s not a felony or a misdemeanor. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-carl-paladinos-statement-to-a-reporter-a-death-threat/555574/36 "2010-09-30T22:35:38Z")
What’s the statute on terroristic threats? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-carl-paladinos-statement-to-a-reporter-a-death-threat/555574/37 "2010-09-30T23:10:33Z")
“I will take you out”, is a death threat. We all know what it means. Does he mean it? I don’t know but with that temper and attitude, he may. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-carl-paladinos-statement-to-a-reporter-a-death-threat/555574/38 "2010-10-01T00:09:12Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > What’s the statute on terroristic threats? Putting on my internet lawyer hat again, I’m pretty sure this wouldn’t apply to him for several reasons. [Link here.](http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/LAWSSEAF.cgi?QUERYTYPE=LAWS+&QUERYDATA=$$PEN490.20$$@TXPEN0490.20+&LIST=SEA150+&BROWSER=BROWSER+&TOKEN=52229681+&TARGET=VIEW) ([The second degree harassment law is over here.](http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/LAWSSEAF.cgi?QUERYTYPE=LAWS+&QUERYDATA=$$PEN240.26$$@TXPEN0240.26+&LIST=SEA27+&BROWSER=BROWSER+&TOKEN=52229681+&TARGET=VIEW)) > [@](#): > > § 490.20 Making a terroristic threat. > 1. A person is guilty of making a terroristic threat when with intent to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policy of a unit of government by intimidation or coercion, or affect the conduct of a unit of government by murder, assassination or kidnapping, he or she threatens to commit or cause to be committed a specified offense and thereby causes a reasonable expectation or fear of the imminent commission of such offense. > 2. It shall be no defense to a prosecution pursuant to this section that the defendant did not have the intent or capability of committing the specified offense or that the threat was not made to a person who was a subject thereof. > Making a terroristic threat is a class D felony. Paladino was talking to an individual, not trying to coerce a civilian population. I don’t think you can say there was a reasonable expectation he was going to do it either. Taken literally, Paladino threatened to kill the guy. I’ll grant that. He didn’t mean it but that’s the clear reading of what he said. His defense today, which I only heard part of, seems to be “I was saying I was going to take him out just like I’m going to take out all the trash in Albany.” Which is just plain stupid, but you knew they were going to come up with one stupid lie or another. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-carl-paladinos-statement-to-a-reporter-a-death-threat/555574/39 "2010-10-01T00:19:14Z")
I don’t think it’s enough to justify a criminal charge. He said ‘I’ll take you out’ but hasn’t done anything to follow up on said threat. If you want to bring him up on charges for attempting to kill his own campaign, I can get behind that. I mean come on threatening the press before and election, that’s a great way to endear them to you, I’m sure they’ll have nothing but favorable things to say about him now. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-carl-paladinos-statement-to-a-reporter-a-death-threat/555574/40 "2010-10-01T11:29:21Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > > > I read once that Harry Truman, when president, sent a scathing letter to a reporter who had published something about his daughter, but I don’t recall the details. I don’t think it included a death threat. > > “Some day I hope to meet you. When that happens you’ll need a new nose, a lot of beefsteak for black eyes, and perhaps a supporter below!” > > [Cite.](http://www.trumanlibrary.org/trivia/letter.htm) > > Not a death threat, certainly, but not very nice. And let’s face it, Truman’s threat was as empty as Paladino’s. I thought your argument was that Paladino’s statement was okay because lots of right wingers like death threats against reporters. Now it is okay because Truman did it too? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-carl-paladinos-statement-to-a-reporter-a-death-threat/555574.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-carl-paladinos-statement-to-a-reporter-a-death-threat/555574.md?page=3)