Paterson Speaks of Civil Rights Gains at Delegate Breakfast DENVER, COLORADO (WXXI) - On the final day of the convention, Governor David Paterson was finally given his due from the New York delegates. After being inadvertently passed over as a speaker at the breakfast on Monday, the governor was greeted warmly when he addressed delegates just hours before Barack Obama was to speak.

Holding signs saying "We Luv Our Guv", Governor David Paterson was given a standing ovation from New York's delegation.

"I can't read the signs, but I can see when people remove food from my plate," joked Paterson, who accused Senator Chuck Schumer of stealing a muffin.

Turning serious, Paterson, who says he did not know if he would ever live to see this day, says he remembers what it was like when his father ran for lieutenant governor of New York nearly forty years ago, in 1970.

"They told him he was an asset on that ticket," said Paterson. "They never even mentioned his name in the paid television campaign ads."

"What do you think that did to the morale of African Americans who were asked to support the Democratic Party?" he asked.

Paterson says while the fight for civil rights in American has not always been positive, it's at least been progressive.

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