Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton took the stage of the Al Smith charity dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Thursday to roast each other, but Clinton saved saved a few barbs for New York's top politicians.
"Your eminence," the Democratic presidential candidate addressed Cardinal Timothy Dolan, "you do deserve great credit for bringing together two people who've been at each other's throats — mortal enemies, bitter foes. I've got to ask: How did you get the governor and mayor here together tonight?"
Apparently the two New York Democrats' tussle over mayoral control of city schools and rent regulation laws, among other issues has been public enough to catch Clinton's attention.
Mayor Bill de Blasio had already had a rough start to the roast after he was booed when introduced at the white-tie fundraiser for Catholic Charities, which is also a presidential campaign ritual.
By contrast, his predecessors Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg drew loud cheers.
Clinton's speech did not, however, spare Giuliani.
Introducing the elected officials in the Waldorf-Astoria ballroom, the former New York Senator noted “the honorable Chuck Schumer, the honorable Andrew Cuomo, the honorable Mike Bloomberg.
“And, we have Rudy Giuliani,” she added.
The joke elicited no smile or laugh from the Republican former mayor, who has campaigned for Donald Trump and made regular appearances on as a talking head on TV news shows.
“Many don’t know this, but Rudy actually got his start as a prosecutor going after wealthy New Yorkers who avoided paying taxes,” Clinton said, referring to Trump's evasion of personal federal income taxes for years. “But as the saying goes, if you can’t beat ‘em, go on Fox News and call ‘em a genius.”
Giuliani didn't get the memo to smile. - Senator Al Franken https://t.co/1W9W0B8UXa
— Maddow Blog (@MaddowBlog) October 21, 2016
Meanwhile, Trump steered clear of inside jokes. His best zinger targeting a speech that his wife delivered at the Republican National Convention in July.
"Michelle Obama gives a speech, and everyone loves it," he said. "My wife, Melania, gives the exact same speech and people get on her case."
The Archdiocese of New York did serve as prop in one Trump quip: "You know Cardinal Dolan and I have some things in common, such as we both run impressive properties on Fifth Avenue," the Republican began an allusion to an insult slung by Sen. Marco Rubio earlier this year. "Of course, his is much more impressive than mine. That's because I built mine with my own beautifully formed hands."
We leave you with a friendly reminder: there are still 18 days until the General Election.
America in this whole election pic.twitter.com/igXGdWgQ9S
— Dan Eggen (@DanEggenWPost) October 21, 2016
