Paladino Pressured to Apologize?

The rabbi who drafted the controversial speech in which Carl Paladino referred to gay people as "dysfunctional" says the politician's family pressured him to apologize because they were worried about his gay nephew.

Rabbi Yehuda Levin (pictured) tells the New York Post that Michael Caputo, campaign manager for Paladino's New York gubernatorial bid, called him after Paladino's mea culpa and told him that the Republican candidate had no choice but to apologize.

"He [Caputo] said he had to do it because of his nephew," said Levin. "He said he was receiving pressure from his family."

Earlier Wednesday, The Post recounted a brief phone interview with Jeff Hannon, Paladino's 23-year-old gay nephew and an employee of his campaign. Hannon said he was "very offended" by his uncle's antigay comments.

But Levin says he's bothered by the apology and is withdrawing his support for Paladino.

"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," he said.