This image was lost some time after publication.

It's apparently Pedophile Day in state politics: The News' Ben Smith notes a controversy concerning the image above, used in a flier by failed Attorney General candidate Sean Patrick Maloney. Gay City News claims that the image perpetuates a stereotype of gay men preying on young boys. Smith finds the concern "overwrought," wondering how we even know the predator in the picture is supposed to be gay. (It's the hair, Ben.)

Meanwhile, Republican Attorney General candidate Jeanine Pirro (a great joke about whom can be found here), "held a news conference outside the Capitol calling civil confinement for sex offenders 'the most important public safety issue of our time.'"

Asked if it was really a more important public safety issue than terrorism, Ms. Pirro, the Republican candidate for attorney general, said: "You know what, I think as it relates to New York families, to parents with children - I mean, we hear far too often about, you know, certain names that strike fear into the hearts of every parent. I mean Megan Kanka, Polly Klass, Jessica Lundsford, Sarah Lunde, I mean kids in their own homes, in their own beds, being abducted and kidnapped and murdered by sexually violent predators. Terrorism, obviously, is an overwhelmingly important issue for safety in New York. But as it concerns families, there isn't a family that I come across that isn't concerned about children going to school and possibly being abducted or confronting a sexual predator.''

Huh. We would have said that the biggest concern about children going to school was that they might possibly be run down by Al Pirro. Guess it's all about priorities.

Blood Libel? [NYDN]
Pirro on the Threats of Our Day [NYT]
Pirro tells of ire over husband's speeding ticket [Journal News]