Bill Thompson failed Sunday to challenge an anti-Semitic statement by a caller on a radio show who slammed Mayor Bloomberg as caring only about “the Jewish people of his persuasion.”
The Democratic mayoral hopeful was appearing as a guest on KISS-FM’s “Open Line” during the final 48 hours before tomorrow’s general election when a caller who identified himself as “Carl from Harlem” greeted him and said, “I believe that you will be a good mayor . . . you are for the people, for all the people.”
He went on to say Bloomberg is “divisional . . . He just thinks about helping the rich, the rich contractors, and the Jewish people of his persuasion, and I think that it’s time for that type of thinking and that type of people to be moved out of office.”
The host thanked Carl before moving on to two other callers. Thompson replied to a policy question but never referred back to the earlier call.
Thompson later told The Post that he would have denounced Carl had he stayed on the line and said, “I didn’t hear the full comment that the guy had . . . If you go back and look, everyone ignored him. I think they basically just kind of cut him off.”
Thompson’s campaign issued a statement from the candidate, saying, “I received a lot of calls from New Yorkers today, and I did not hear anyone say anything anti-Semitic.
“Obviously, if I had, I would have immediately denounced it or any other statement offensive towards any New Yorkers.”
Bill Thompson is running AGAINST Mike Bloomberg. Why is it his job to defend Bloomberg from political attacks? He is supposed to attack his opponent not defend him. Only a Jew can twist this around and make attacks against Bloomberg, Thompson’s problem
From the book Audacity of Hope: ‘I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.’
One guess, Thompson is fond of using this person’s photo and his support.
Not only did he ignore the callers anti semetic comment he doesnt even attempt to apologize for it or even attempt to say that such comments are not okay and do not reflect his beliefs….his lack of comment shows what he really feels…subltle anti semitism
dont be naive……………………………….
i do not see it as anti semitic; please fellow jews, do not be paranoid..
This guy is already showing signs of “let them vent” remind you of something?
Give him some slack. Imagine the pressure, and I doubt he was paying attention to what every shoiteh caller had to say…