Ovation Greets Paterson in Harlem

Ovation Greets Paterson in Harlem
By JOHN ELIGON

Gov. David A. Paterson received a roaring ovation Saturday at the Harlem headquarters of the National Action Network, the organization founded by the Rev. Al Sharpton, in his first public appearance in his home neighborhood since becoming governor of New York.

Governor Paterson’s eight-minute speech was sermon-like, as he invoked scripture and spoke several times of faith as a guide to healing the state’s ills. The governor did not address the scandal surrounding his extramarital affairs that has dogged him over the last several days.

“Fighting to eradicate poor housing is an article of faith,” he said. “Trying to build a better educational system is doing the same work that we preach and practice in our religious institutions. That regardless of what religion you may actually espouse yourself, that trying to clean up our health care system so that it’s affordable is actually doing the work that is our faith. And that the truest faith of all is the faith in pursuit of justice.”

Governor Paterson came to the stage flanked by Mr. Sharpton and former New York Mayor Edward I. Koch.

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