NYPost

RUDY RIPS INTO DEM DUO FOR DUCKING DUBYA

By DEBORAH ORIN and DAVID SEIFMAN

May 1, 2001 -- WASHINGTON - Mayor Giuliani chided Sens. Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton for skipping President Bush's White House lunch and the chance to mend fences.

The mayor said it would have made sense for Schumer and Clinton to be more "diplomatic" after New York socked Bush by voting overwhelmingly against him in last fall's election.

"The president does have a lot to say and do about New York," Giuliani said.

"Maybe we should be a little sensitive to the fact we want to ask the president and we want to ask Washington for many things."

The only New Yorkers from the state's 33-member congressional delegation to show up for the event to mark Bush's 100th day were Republican Reps. Felix Grucci (L.I.) and Jack Quinn (Buffalo).

Bush invited all 535 House and Senate members as part of his bid for bipartisanship, but the White House said only 193 came and Democrats stayed away in droves: only about 50 came.

"Whenever you have the opportunity to have personal time with the president, you take it," said Grucci, who said he talked to Bush about how to help seniors buy drugs in a high-cost state like New York.

Asked about complaints that Bush isn't paying enough attention to New York, Quinn replied: "You think when only two out of 33 show up, they'll pay any more [attention]?"

Clinton was in New York to meet with Patrolmen's Benevolent Association head Pat Lynch, lunch with ex-Sen. Alfonse D'Amato (R-N.Y.) and speak at a union event. Schumer said he had previous plans.

Democrats who attended included Sens. Joseph Lieberman (Conn.), the 2000 vice presidential nominee, Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), Bob Graham (Fla.) and Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka (both Hawaii).

-- Anonymous, May 01, 2001