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on these things. You can't really come out ahead in many of these cases. But I have a basic political philosophy, which is I never say, “No comment,” and I always will comment if they ask. I mean I don't intrude myself in every situation, but I have established a reputation for whatever it's worth, and I think it has a lot of worth, that if you call Koch and you want an answer on something that's controversial and you want his opinion, he'll give it to you. And so lots of people call me, and that has made it more possible for me to become more widely known politically, because they know they will get a direct answer. So that's by way of background. And sometimes that can be hurtful because you get involved in situations where there's no political mileage, but you can't have it both ways and I'm happy to have it as I do.

So the reporter calls up and says, “We'd like to get your comments on film. Will you do it?” And I say, “Oh, sure.” He said, “Would you come over to Sheridan Square, where both the VID and Tamawa has its headquarters.” They're two blocks apart. I said, “Sure.”

So we meet and sit on the bench in front of the Sheridan Square park right close to that newsstand that's there. And the reporter says, “What did you think of Carmine?” I said, “He's a very able man.” “Well, how do you feel about the fact that he was just sentenced to jail?” I said, “Very sorry.”