Sep 19, 2008 6:26 am US/Eastern
Actions Speak Volumes: Palin, NYC Is My Town
Not Long After Squashing GOP VP's UN Trip, Clinton Hob-Nobs With Jewish Group At Gotham Fundraiser
Reporting
Lou Young
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Hillary Clinton was all smiles on Sept. 18. After stopping GOP VP nominee Sarah Palin from attending a UN rally, she was out getting praised by a Jewish group at a fundraiser.
CBS
It was billed as the first event to feature Sen. Hillary Clinton and Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.
Now it won't have either of them. And there are questions about whether Palin was big-footed by the Democrats.
It was a display of raw political power. Clinton managed to get Palin disinvited by a Jewish group to the rally on Monday even as she accepted the praise and adoration from another Jewish group at the Israel Bond fundraiser on Thursday night at the Grand Hyatt in New York City.
Clinton made it pretty clear: This is
her town.
In New York City it seems Clinton trumps Palin. The state's junior senator said she wouldn't appear with the Republican VP nominee. And now the rally's sponsor has said no thanks to Palin and all U.S. politicians.
The event next week is designed to protest Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's appearance at the United Nations. The question is was it pressure from Clinton that got Palin disinvited.
Clinton pretended not to hear CBS 2 HD's questions on Thursday night.
CBS 2 HD: "Senator, were the organizers of Monday's rally right to de-politicize it?"
Clinton: "Thank you all very much."
It's our understanding that once Clinton pulled out of the rally the organizers tried to balance Palin by offering the Obama campaign a speaker spot of their choosing. The coalition of Jewish groups that organized the protest now tell CBS 2 HD that the continuing flap over Palin's presence made them rethink having any politicians at all.
A lot of people are unhappy about that.
"I think that the story would have been about Palin and Clinton being there together," coalition member Stuart Appelbaum told CBS 2 HD.
"I'm a little annoyed, yeah," said Al Jefferies, an Israel supporter and Rockland County resident. "I'd like to see more support for Israel across the board, across the political parties."
Republicans are crying foul, calling the change outrageous, sad and disappointing. John McCain issued a statement Thursday night, saying "Gov. Palin was pleased to accept an invitation to address this rally that has regrettably been withdrawn under pressure from Democratic partisans."
Democrats at Thursday night's fundraiser largely defended the group's decision.
"I think it's probably a fair and good resolution to keep politics entirely out of it," said former NYC Public Advocate Mark Green.
Of course, anyone can attend Monday's rally, but it is unclear how many politicians would want to attend, be seen … but not heard.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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