Did Carl Paladino Say "F--k" Eric Holder?

The Hotline's Jeremy Jacobs writes:

It's already been a rough week for Republican Carl Paladino's New York gubernatorial campaign and it looks like the hits are going to keep on coming.

In a previously unreleased video obtained by Hotline On Call, Paladino has some choice words for Attorney General Eric Holder when asked about holding terrorist trials in New York City.

Questioner: "If you were the chief executive of New York, what would your response be to the attorney general of the United States deciding to hold terrorist trials in Manhattan?"

Paladino: "F*** him. F*** him."

The Atlantic's Chris Good adds: "It's somewhat difficult to tell, from the video itself, whether Paladino is the one saying this. The first utterance isn't caught on camera."

I'm not an audio expert, but it seems pretty clear to me that Paladino did not actually make that remark. If you care, fast forward to the two-minute mark and listen:

It doesn't seem to be Paladino saying "f--k him" because (1) the voice simply sounds different--clearer than Paladino's micced up voice, and (2) most importantly, the second utterance of "f--k him" comes as Paladino begins saying something about reopening Guantanamo. I don't think he could have made both remarks.

Paladino has a penchant for putting his foot in his mouth, but in this instance I think he's innocent (well, aside from his laughing, which may or may not have been in respone to the "f--k him" comment from someone else). At the very least, the tape seems inconclusive.