How long has Carl Paladino been a “Real” Republican?  In various campaign videos on his website, he gives the impression that he’s been a longtime member of the party.  “I’m a registered Republican…and not just yesterday” he says in this video.

I guess by “and not just yesterday”  he means since 2005.  Prior to 2005, he was a registered Democrat, for 31 years.

Why does it matter?  Paladino is currently push polling information that potential opponent Steve Levy is really a Democrat in Tea Party clothing.  Carl is making political hay from Levy’s donations to the Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee, totaling $650 since 1999.

He’s also made vague threats that he is gathering ammunition to use against his rivals and sent out a press release yesterday that read:

The Paladino campaign pointed to campaign finance records showing several Levy contributions to the Silver-controlled Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee (www.paladinoforthepeople.com/650PiecesofSilver).

“Time and again, Democrat Steve Levy contributed to the extension of Sheldon Silver’s rule in Albany – and Silver drove our state into the ground,” said Paladino, a Republican candidate for Governor of New York. “His longtime support for Speaker Silver is a fundamental problem for our party and a dealbreaker for most rank-and-file Republicans watching the governors race.”

Paladino said, “Monday I’ll join the Republican Govneror’s (sic) race against one professional politician who is still a pure Democrat and another who had a lot of chances and can’t get it done.”

Paladino also said his belief in core Conservative and Republican party values particularly sets him apart on abortion, gay marriage and the gun rights.

Essentially, Carl is trying to force a purity test between himself (a true Republican) and a guy who donates to Democrats.  Seems like an odd strategy when Carl was a registered Democrat for the better part of thirty years, don’t you think?

Certainly, people can change party affiliations, not a big deal right?  But did Carl also stop donating to Democratic candidates?  Certainly, he wouldn’t make a stink about Levy’s $650 if he had any Democratic donations lurking in his closet, right?  Well…

Carl has been one of the most loyal, reliable and generous donors to the Erie County Democratic Party and various statewide Democratic candidates for decades.  Note the use of the present tense in that sentence.  Carl still donates reliably to Democrats as a quick check of New York State Board of Elections Campaign Finance Reports would indicate.  Has he donated to Republicans?  Absolutely!  He has given a lot of money to local and statewide Republicans over the years, but that’s not the issue.  Paladino has forced the issue that a Conservative Republican doesn’t donate to Democrats, much less Sheldon Silver!

Carl has donated to many Democrats under his own name, including State Supreme Court Justice Tim Drury, Judge Diane Devlin, Judge Penny Wolfgang, Denise O’Donnell and Eliot Spitzer.  However, he also donates donates under various names and corporations in an attempt to hide his tracks.

Donations have been recorded in his name, under the name of his primary business, and various other business entities bearing his stewardship.  All of these organizations share the same address, 295 Main Street, Suite 210, headquarters of Paladino’s real estate development firm and legal offices.

These are just the corporate entities that Carl has established using the Ellicott Development offices, we’re still digging for more.

Staats Street Group, Inc. has given nearly $5,000 to local and statewide Democrats, including $150 to the Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee, which Paladino uses as evidence that Levy is really a Democrat.

Swan Group LP, has given nearly $27,000 to various Democrats, including Robin Schimminger, Byron Brown, Brian Higgins, the New York State Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee, Erie County Democratic Party (ECDC), Len Lenihan, Jim Keane, and Dennis Gabryszak.

Mohawk Group LP, has given $9,600 to Democrats including David Paterson, Mark Poloncarz, Sam Hoyt, the ECDC and the Lackawanna Democratic Committee.

Niagara Group, LP has given $4,790 to local and statewide Democrats including Spitzer for Attorney General, Higgins, Dan Ward, Paul Tokasz, Hoyt and the ECDC.

Slade Group, LLC has given $10,500 to corrupt former candidate for Erie County Executive Paul Clark.

Michigan/Seneca Group, LP has given $14,750 to local and statewide Democrats including Spitzer for Attorney General, Paul Clark, Len Lenihan, the ECDC, Denise O’Donnell, Higgins, Paterson and Spitzer for Governor.

8246 Group, LP has given $6,600 to local and statewide Democrats including the ECDC, Spitzer, Paul Clark and Jim Keane.

2468 Group, LP has given $13,600 to local and statewide Democrats including Hoyt, Higgins, Denise O’Donnell, the ECDC, Jim Keane, Carl McCall,  Spitzer, Paul Clark, and Crystal Peoples.

Ellicott Development has given over $12,500 to local and statewide Democrats including Denise O’Donnell, Gary Parenti, Joe Nicoletti and Spitzer

Ellicott Group has given $700 to local Democrats including Hoyt and Higgins.

Ellicott Group, LLC has given $1,200 to local Democrats including the ECDC.

Ellicott Group A Partnership has given $5,600 to local Democrats including the ECDC, Hoyt, Paterson and Mickey Kearns.

JP Group has donated nearly $20,000 to local and statewide Democrats including Spitzer, Bonnie Russell, the ECDC, Paul Clark, Alan Hevesi, Lynn Marinelli and Joe Mesi.

Jefferson Utica Group, LP has given $1,200 to local Democrats.

9274 Group, LP (Who by the way have won 62 GSA contracts for a total of $738,171 in government money) has given $4,200 to local Democrats.

Paladino and his various shell companies and associations have donated over $135,000 to Democratic candidates since 2000, including several hundred dollars for Sheldon Silver’s Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee.  We’d have to consult paper records to go further back than that.

I think there’s a lesson in all of this for Mr. Paladino…

The Ellicott Square Building, where Paladino has his corporate headquarters is a world renowned architectural masterpiece which features a majestic glass skylight.  Perhaps he should remember not to throw stones from inside that glass house.