Governor Paterson Continues To Fan Flames Of Controversy

NEW YORK (AP) - Gov. David Paterson says his comments last week suggesting some of his critics were motivated by racial bias have been misunderstood.

Speaking Tuesday at the State University at Stony Brook, the state's first black governor says he did talk about some negative racial stereotyping that has gone on from time to time, but he didn't blame his problems on that.

In a radio interview last Friday, Paterson said the media has exploited racial stereotypes in coverage of him and other black elected officials. He later said he was talking about certain media outlets.

David Dinkins, New York City's first black mayor, says Paterson should be more careful when discussing race, telling The New York Times it's a fight you can't win.

Glenn Schuck reporting with a David Dinkins interview.