Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind the source for blindness news and information since 1907

By Eric Luu © WNBC-TV, New York City — Gov. David Paterson is considering challenging News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch at Jeopardy. Paterson made a few jabs at Murdoch following his comment linking the dysfunctional state of New York politics with Paterson’s blindness and his inability to read Braille. Murdoch apologized to the governor Wednesday, but Paterson didn’t mind taking a few overtime shots at the media mogul. “I think I would be willing to be on ‘Jeopardy’ with Mr. Murdoch any time,” Paterson joked on an early-morning radio interview on the John Gambling show on WOR-AM, according to the NY Daily News…. READ ARTICLE

By Edith Honan © Reuters, NEW YORK — New York Governor David Paterson, facing a tough battle to keep his job, has fallen so low in public opinion that even his visual impairment that once earned him respect is being held against him…. READ ARTICLE

By Jason Fink © am New York — Media mogul Rupert Murdoch apologized Wednesday to Gov. David Paterson for saying the governor “doesn’t know what’s going on” because of his blindness, administration officials said. Murdoch, a billionaire whose News Corp. owns Fox News, the Wall Street Journal and many other holdings, made his remarks during a panel discussion of CEOs on Tuesday…. READ ARTICLE

By Dan Janison © Newsday, New York — Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corporation owns Fox Broadcasting, The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post, raised eyebrows Tuesday for off-the-cuff remarks about a certain governor’s physical impairment. It came during a panel talk before the Journal’s elite “CEO Council.” “Look at New York State, it’s unbelievable,” said the 78-year-old media tycoon. “The Congress, the state Assembly, and Senate are totally incompetent. The governor,” Murdoch continued on videotape, shaking his head, “is a very nice, honest man, who’s blind, and can’t read braille, and doesn’t really know what’s going on…. READ ARTICLE

By Jennifer Millman © WNBC-TV, New York City — Why don’t we have more civility in our political discourse? “Because David Paterson is blind and can’t read braille,” according to the wisdom of Rupert Murdoch. Serving on a panel with Indian businessman Ratan Tata and The New York Times financier Carlos Slim yesterday, the News Corp. CEO suggested that the failings of political conversation rest on the shoulders of Governor David Paterson…. READ ARTICLE

© UPI, Albany, New York — New York Gov. David A. Paterson says jokes made about his blindness indicate “anger” present in U.S. society toward the blind. Speaking Saturday to an advocacy group for the blind, the governor spoke out about recent media portrayals of his blindness, including a skit on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” Newsday reported Sunday. “A society where that attitude … anger … vitriolic conduct is excusable when it’s waged on a governor, think of what happens to an individual (looking for a job),” Paterson said at a meeting of the New York chapter of the National Federation of the Blind…. READ ARTICLE

By James T. Madore © Newsday, New York, ALBANY – Citing ridicule of his blindness by actors and newspapers, Gov. David A. Paterson suggested Saturday there was a growing hatred for the visually impaired based on falsehoods. He said taxpayers wrongly blame the blind for tax increases to fund special education and social services. Speaking to an advocacy group for the blind, he said blind people are good workers but 70 percent are jobless due to discrimination. Warning of “antagonism . . . fomenting in society,” Paterson questioned why there wasn’t more public outcry over portrayals of him as bumping into objects on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.” He cited New York Post opinion pieces that said he was too dependent on one aide to read documents and that he should touch buildings at Ground Zero to know what kind of redevelopment was occurring. “A society where that attitude . . . anger . . . vitriolic conduct is excusable when it’s waged on a governor, think of what happens to an individual [looking for a job],” Paterson told the National Federation of the Blind’s NY chapter…. READ ARTICLE

By Jeremy Peters © The New York Times — If the White House believed its message to Gov. David A. Paterson to bow out of the 2010 governor’s race would be graciously heeded, it had a disappointment on Sunday when Mr. Paterson took to national television to reaffirm his intention to seek election. Appearing on “Meet the Press,” Mr. Paterson tried to cast himself as both a sympathetic figure and a governor with resolve, insisting he would not be pushed out of the race. “I’m blind, but I’m not oblivious. I realize that there are people who don’t want me to run,” he said. “But let me just tell you at the outset: I am running for governor in 2010.”… READ ARTICLE

By Reid J. Epstein © Newsday — New York Gov. David Paterson on Sunday morning reiterated his intention to seek election in 2010 and again denied the White House had explicitly asked him to end his campaign. Speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Paterson said President Barack Obama’s administration has relayed “concerns” about his low rating in public opinion polls, but never told him to leave the race…. READ ARTICLE

By Elizabeth Benjamin © Daily News, New York, NY — Bronx Councilman Oliver Koppell is calling on Staten Island state Sen. Diane Savino to retract her recent comments saying that Gov. Paterson’s job performance is “hindered” by his blindness…. READ STORY