Lady Gaga at Center of 'Slut' Debate Between New York Borough Presidents

Lady Gaga is a polarizing figure, even in her hometown of New York City.

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The Mother Monster ignited a bit of a political debate this week, starting when Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro slammed her at an anti-drug event in his tiny island borough.

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"There's Gaga. Here's this ... this ... I would call her a slut. This slut is influencing many, many children," he said, noted that his niece's daughters are big fans of the Grammy winner -- and he's not sure why. "To me, she's not an actress, she's a slut ... in the pure meaning of the word," he added.

But Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer would hear none of it; he is a friend of Gaga's parents and praised her in a statement on Tuesday.

"Lady Gaga’s work is a symbol of individuality and artistic expression. In addition to her artistic pursuits, she is a social justice activist and a real leader for marriage equality in this country," Stringer told the New York Observer's Politicker blog. "And no matter which continent Gaga happens to be in today, she remains an Upper West Sider at heart."

Stringer is a potential mayoral candidate next year, and while he's a Democrat, his view on Gaga mirrors that of Republican-turned-Independent current mayor, Michael Bloomberg, who shared a kiss with the singer to ring in 2012.