The New York Press’s Azi got Tom on the phone a little while after the news that he had pulled out broke (unbeknownst to Azi).
Tom Golisano: “Surprised to hear back from me? What can I do for ya?”
Azi: “I was kind of wondering what your announcement was going to be.”
TG: “In your phone message to me, you said you wanted to talk about Paychex.”
Me: “I was doing a broader story about—”
TG: “I’m not doing any political interviews.”
[Azi, flailing, asks how Paychex has been doing in the last few years.]
TG: “Are you a financial reporter?”
Azi: “No I’m not. I’m a political reporter.”
TG: “Well then, forget about it. Okay?”