Lazio visits Orange County, attacks financial backers of proposed Islamic Center near ground zero

THR

GOSHEN - Rick Lazio seems like he's always blasting the Islamic center proposed near ground zero.

Lazio, the Republican candidate for governor, rails against the project on a TV commercial — over images of a skeletal World Trade Center. His website challenges Democratic opponent Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to investigate the finances behind the project and debate it.
Lazio — down some 30 points in the polls and $23 million in campaign money — has made the issue such a big deal, a French TV reporter came to Goshen Wednesday to ask him about it at a campaign stop.

So why, if it's a New York City issue, has the former congressman from Long Island made the Islamic center the centerpiece of his campaign?
"I don't think it's a local issue at all. Two thirds of Americans support my position ... people from both sides of the aisle," he said in front of a bevy of local Republican backers outside Big Dave's Family Barbecue — right after supporters of the other Republican candidate for governor, Carl Paladino, started chanting "Debate Paladino."
And then, over more chants, Lazio launched into the provocative rhetoric that's become as much a part of his campaign as his promises of more jobs and a balanced budget.
"Let's disclose where the money is coming from," he said. "Are they radical organizations? Are they a foreign government?"
But, Lazio was asked, why is the Islamic center an important issue for Orange County?
"Wherever you live," he replied over more chanting, "people are concerned about the risk of our public safety, as a result of radicalized elements and terrorism."
This is why, he said, he'll continue to speak out on the issue.
But he won't be doing much speaking about — or debating — Paladino, whom he'll face in a September primary, despite the fact that Lazio has been endorsed by the Republican and Conservative parties.
"I'm focused on Andrew," he said. "What you have here is what's wrong with Albany, people who won't have a reasonable debate."
In fact, because of that heckling by the few Paladino supporters - or what a staffer said was tight scheduling - Lazio's news conference was cut after less than 10 minutes.
But as he was whisked into his black Chevrolet Traverse SUV, he squeezed in an answer to a question that, for many in the state, is more urgent than the Islamic center - the chances of gas drilling in Sullivan County and much of the Southern Tier.
"We've got to get to a way to say yes (for drilling) in a responsible way," he said, as he stepped into his SUV. "We may want to do this in a pilot program."