'Billy'-nilly Obama

Thompson peeved at tepid tap

By MAGGIE HABERMAN

Last Updated: 7:10 AM, October 21, 2009

Posted: 4:19 AM, October 21, 2009

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President Obama last night headlined a Manhattan rally where he offered such a tepid endorsement of fellow Democrat Bill Thompson for mayor that even the candidate said he didn't think it went far enough.

Obama's single-sentence nod to the city comptroller came at a pro-health-care-reform event with hundreds of boosters at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Midtown.

"Our great city comptroller, our candidate for mayor, my friend Billy Thompson, is in the house," Obama said, his final acknowledgement after naming a string of officials.

The lukewarm shoutout was widely anticipated because Obama initially endorsed the candidate through a statement from his spokesman, who didn't even name Thompson. In fact, the aide praised Mayor Bloomberg, who's been supportive of the president's health-care reform efforts.

FBIGOOD GOING, GUYS: President Obama talks with (from left) FBI Director Robert Mueller, Assistant FBI Director Joseph Demarest Jr., and NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly yesterday at New York's Joint Terrorism Task Force headquarters, where he commended the team on its work.

FBI

GOOD GOING, GUYS: President Obama talks with (from left) FBI Director Robert Mueller, Assistant FBI Director Joseph Demarest Jr., and NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly yesterday at New York's Joint Terrorism Task Force headquarters, where he commended the team on its work.

Obama himself didn't mention Bloomberg, but his remark was typical of how cool he's been to his party's mayoral nominee.

When a Politico reporter stopped Thompson afterward to ask if he thought Obama had made an endorsement, the controller didn't answer directly. Instead, he pointed at her with two fingers and said, "No, do you consider that an endorsement?"

Thompson spokesman Jeff Simmons said later, "That's a complete mischaracterization of what took place. He was very happy with the president's words and the president's speech."

According to Simmons, Obama went much further boosting Thompson when the two met privately before the rally.

Thompson "thanked him for his support and for his endorsement," Simmons said, adding that he vowed to win.

"The president encouraged him in his run and said, 'Keep working hard.' Bill responded, 'I am, every day.' "

Absent from the evening affair was Gov. Paterson, who said he'd be busy with the state budget. Obama advisers have let him know they want to see him drop out of the 2010 governor's race.

Earlier in the day, Obama was the star attraction at a closed event for upstate congressional hopeful Bill Owens, and then at a big-bucks Democratic National Committee fund-raiser at the Mandarin Oriental on Columbus Circle. At the high-priced dinner, where Dem donors nibbled at lamb and apple tart, Obama took a jab at Wall Street.

"If there are members of the financial industry in the audience today, I would ask that you join us in passing necessary reforms," he said to applause. "Don't fight them. Join us. This is good for our country."

Sources said the two DNC events -- the rally and the dinner -- raised between $2 million and $3 million. Among those on hand at the Mandarin event were early Obama backers, including financiers Orin Kramer and Jim Torrey, and UBS head Robert Wolf.

Additional reporting by Jennifer Fermino

maggie.haberman@nypost.com

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Caveman2010

10/22/2009 8:16 AM

I recently asked my friend's little girl what she wanted to be when she
grows up. She said she wanted to be President some day.

Both of her parents, liberal Democrats, were standing there, so I asked
her,' If you were President what would be the first thing you would do?'

She replied, 'I'd give food and houses to all the homeless people.'

Her parents beamed.

'Wow! What a worthy goal.' I told her, 'But you don't have to wait until
you're President to do that. You can come over to my house and mow the
lawn, pull weeds, and sweep my yard, and I'll pay you $50. Then I'll
take you over to the grocery store where the homeless guy hangs out, and
you can give him the $50 to use toward food and a new house.'

She thought that over for a few seconds, then she lo oked me straight in
the eye and asked, 'Why doesn't the homeless guy come over and do the
work, and you can just pay him the $50?'

I said, 'Welcome to the Republican Party..'
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DON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN!

10/22/2009 6:31 AM

How can anyone take Il Duce II seriously? He couldn't care less about this country. All he is concerned about is his ego-maniacal self!
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Max1066

10/21/2009 1:48 PM

Endorsements by political party scumbags , like obama, are made for cost . And the cost is high . The more money you bring to the party the bigger the endorsement .
That is why our goverment is populated with scumbags .
Plain and simple .
An idea has no place in the equation .
It is all about the money !
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Jeebus_Cripes

10/21/2009 1:18 PM

Mmm-mmm-mmm
Barack Hussein Obama
He'll bring this country to it's knees
By coddling our enemies
Mmm-mmm-mmm
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ObamabinBiden09

10/21/2009 8:14 AM

BO also lectured Wall Street execs. Here's a guy whose never managed a lemonade stand dictating how to make things mo betta. I hope they had plenty of scotch and vicodon to keep from laughing.
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Obayme

10/21/2009 7:55 AM

Obammy only gets excited in there is a potential "Catstrophe".
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Caveman2010

10/21/2009 7:51 AM

Sounds like Thompson's "contribution" to Obama 2012 campaign was a little light.