An E-mail from Governor Paterson

Submitted by Melissa Hoffmann on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 10:18

New York state needs money, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevension, we're all fat and unhealthy -- or, as they put it, "obesogenic."

Hence the proposed "soda tax," a revenue-raising device made easier to sell to the public through its targeting of the products blamed for what's considered a national epidemic of obesity. (Because that had nothing to do with us, or our appetites.)

Financial desperation aside, it was a surprise to see an e-mail from New York's executive, Gov. David A. Paterson, in my inbox last night. The e-mail address seemed valid, so I started to read. It wasn't until the third paragraph that I became a bit confused:

"I have been a physician in New York for 30 years."

And a politican? Quite a feat for someone lately accused of being shiftless. 

But, no, it turns out Governor Paterson's just sending e-mails on behalf of this guy:

Richard F. Daines, M.D., Commissioner
NYS Department of Health

Daines also wrote a column on the same topic for the Albany Times-Union.

But his masquerade definitely did get me to read his soda tax missive. Well played!

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