Paladinos Family pressured him to retract anti gay remarks

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Carl Paladino’s family pressured him to apologize for his anti-homosexual rants because they were concerned about his gay nephew, the ultra right wing rabbi who drafted the controversial speech said.

Rabbi Yehuda Levin, who represents an umbrella organization of ultra-Orthodox clerics, said that Paladino’s campaign manager Michael Caputo called him after Paladino’s mea culpa and told him that the Republican candidate had no choice but to apologize.

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"He [Caputo] said he had to do it because of his nephew," said Levin.
 

"He said he was receiving pressure from his family."

But Levin — who had endorsed Paladino and introduced him to the tight knit Orthodox community — wasn’t swayed by the candidate’s sudden devotion to family.

"Mazel tov. We’ll have a coming out party. But when he came to me three days ago, he didn’t know that? I find this to be condescending," said Levin, who is now withdrawing his support for Paladino.

Jeff Hannon, Paladino’s gay nephew, told the Post exclusively that he was "very offended" by his uncle’s anti-gay rants.

Michael Caputo said Paladino apologized after thinking it through.

"Carl felt the sting of this directly through his family and thought through his response with many inputs. The rabbi is a good person and a respected man of G-d," said Caputo.

"Carl and Rabbi Levin agree on many things and disagree on some, too. He’s entitled to his opinion."

Paladino on Sunday caused an uproar when he told a Brooklyn synagogue that he doesn’t want kids "brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality" is acceptable.

Levin penned a speech when Paladino didn’t read, which stated, "There is nothing to be proud of in being a dysfunctional homosexual."

Initially, Paladino refused to apologize and went so far as to blast his Democratic opponent, Andrew Cuomo, for bringing his two daughters to a gay pride parade.

But on Tuesday, a red-faced Paladino backed down from his comments and said he was sorry to the gay community


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