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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."
How did they ever get her off the ground?
I understand that. I know why Malzberg hosts the event, but I don't understand why he felt a need to be so meek when the situation clearly called for him to make a stand.
It's also worth noting that this is the same Steve Malzberg who has rightly criticized Republican Congressman Peter King for his failure to vote in favor of the articles of impeachment against Bill Clinton back in 1998.
You can bet if your scenario works out that the Prez will do/sign whatever she wants. Just like Slick! What a freaking nightmare.
Ohmygawd...........tell me this was a joke. Please. Even if it wasn't.
This would make a great SNL skit. They should call it "ankle lift" instead.
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To be perfectly blunt, he's a wimp. In the past year, he has vehemently said that he would never want to work in another twin towers, and he was practically hysterical during the anthrax thing -- from raising his voice a few octaves to actually admitting that he was wearing gloves to open his mail.
Oh, look at this!!
Back home we called that "Taking out the trash".
I believe he was asked to act as M.C. by the PBA, because he's been a steady supporter of theirs, even over the opposition of Mayor Rudy.
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?
He really had no choice, it wouldn't have been gracious to do such a thing....the real beef is with the PBA who willingly allowed her to get up and score cheap political points on the backs of cops, who she called murderers, and who she allowed to be spat on at her nominating convention in Albany. I understand the cops want any support for their contract, but the PBA accepting support from the Hilderbeast is like Isreal accepting support from Hitler.
Malzberg just dropped about a dozen notches on my respect meter with this one.
He did get in one small comment on stage , by referring to her as a "new friend" of the cops. In fairness he was informed at the last minute that she was going to be there. Again, I don't think your beef is with Malzberg so much as the PBA for allowing the witch to ride the "pro cop bandwagon"
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