Posted on 08/16/2002 7:04:17 AM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
Officials with the Patrolman's Benevolent Association in New York were so concerned that New York Sen. Hillary Clinton would once again be booed off the stage during yesterday's Times Square demonstration for police and firefighter pay hikes that they begged the master of ceremonies to do what he could to keep it from happening.
"Before the time came to introduce her some of the hierarchy of the PBA were getting nervous," said WABC Radio's Steve Malzberg, who MC'd the event, in an account to his audience afterwards.
"They're gonna boo her. They're gonna really boo her," he said worried PBA officials told him. "Try to do whatever you can to make sure that doesn't happen," the top cops begged. "Could you do something to make sure they don't boo her?"
In addition to warning the other speakers, PBA delegates waded into crowd of 50,000 demonstrators before Clinton's appearance and urged their members not to heckle and jeer the former first lady, New York's Channel 9 news reported late Thursday.
The bid to spare Mrs. Clinton from a rerun of the reception she got last Oct. 20, when cops and fireman booed her off the stage during Paul McCartney's 9-11 benefit concert, extended to keeping news of her appearance secret until the last minute to minimize protest from police rank and file.
Malzberg said even he didn't know he'd be introducing the New York Senator until his own radio station reported she was invited to the event Thursday morning. The surprise appearance left many in the crowd grumbling, "I can't believe Hillary was here," he said.
Malzberg, a staunch Clinton critic himself, did his best not exacerbate the crowd's already simmering disdain for the 2004 presidential hopeful, referring to her as a "new friend" of the NYPD during his introduction.
But despite his best efforts boos were still audible - along with some lukewarm applause. Malzberg said most of the applause came from the PBA staff on stage.
"I'm very honored to be here today," Mrs. Clinton bellowed above the crowd's din. "And I'm especially honored because every single one of you know that there hasn't been a greater amount of sacrifice for any city in the world than by the police department and the fire department of New York City."
After her speech PBA delegates carried Mrs. Clinton off the stage in a symbolic demonstration of a "rescue lift."
1. Why was Steve Malzberg hosting an event like this in the first place?
2. If "media objectivity" was not an issue here (since he was hosting the event in the first place), then why didn't he just leave the stage instead of introducing Hillary Clinton?
Malzberg just dropped about a dozen notches on my respect meter with this one.
Four of the delegates were lated admitted to New York Hospital with suspected hernias. Three others are being treated for exposure to toxic substance that has not yet been identified. Medical personnel are analyzing a black, shiny and extremely odiferous residue found on the victims. Initial analysis indicates it contains 80% polyester, 19% dacron and a smattering of encrusted, fermented bodily fluids.
Plenty of hernia surgeries on the horizon.
Ohmygawd...........tell me this was a joke. Please. Even if it wasn't.
I don't have a problem with a media-type hosting a political rally. I just have a problem when that same person hides his b@lls under the bed and refuses to make a political "statement" when an opportunity arises.
Did they really do this? Put her on a stretcher and carry her off? Or carry her off some other way not using a stretcher? I absolutely can't imagine this. It reads like a joke or sarcastic comment. How bizarre.
I thought she wasn't running.
/tounge-in-cheek
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