Legal Commentary

Gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino today defended his remarks on gays and lesbians yesterday, reiterating that although he opposes discrimination against gays and lesbians he continues to oppose gay marriage.  Not having seen the interview, I don't know whether he stood by his remarks that children ought not be "brainwashed" into thinking homosexuality is "acceptable," which is a far harder line than simply opposing same-sex marriage.  He added that gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo ought not have taken his daughters to a gay pride parade, because it involves "a bunch of very extreme-type people in bikini-type outfits grinding at each other and doing these gyrations, and I certainly wouldn?t let my young children see that."

I am glad he lives in the morally upright state of New York.  Here in Tuscaloosa, we regularly see a bunch of people in very extreme-type people in bikini-type outfits engaging in gyrations.  They are called the Crimson Tide cheerleaders, and I can attest that they do indeed engage in "brainwashing."  You would not believe how many children's-sized cheerleader outfits are for sale in Tuscaloosa, or how many parents allow their children to witness the cheerleaders' "disgusting" displays, to use Paladino's word.  I am not saying this conduct is solely responsible for our plunge in this week's BCS rankings, but we must not stint at the possibility.