Hillary roasts GOP, toasts Queens Dems

The Queens Democratic Organization held its annual Pre-Election Cocktail Party at Antun's in Queens Village. Elected Democrats and Party faithful packed the room both to celebrate their anticipated victories in the upcoming election, and fondly remember the late Tom Manton, who as Chairman of the County Organization, made Queens and the event essential parts of politics in New York.
The great esteem for the departed leader and honored guests, his widow Diane, son John and his wife Rita, was reflected in a moment of silence. That was the only silent moment of the evening.
The big draw on Wednesday, October 25, was the anticipated appearance of U.S. Senator and ever-rumored Presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The new Chair of the Queens Democratic Party, Congressmember Joe Crowley, repeatedly drew applause as he acknowledged Borough President Helen Marshall and the many elected officials in the room of 200 at Antun's located 96-43 Springfield Boulevard, especially State Senator David Patterson, who is running as Eliot Spitzer's Lieutenant Governor. Crowley prompted even louder applause as he mentioned the absent candidates Spitzer and Andrew Cuomo, who he explained, &#8220were doing what good Democrats do - campaigning hard.”
Clinton, perhaps auspiciously, entered the President's Room at Antun's to thunderous applause and it took some time for her to get from the door to her honored seat at the dais, as a throng of well-wishers pressed against the rope line erected to secure her path.
Crowley drew laughter as he explained that during her &#8220listening tour” of New York as a candidate, Clinton had spent the night at his parents' home, and had slept in his bed. &#8220But I was nowhere near there,” he joked.
The Senator commenced her address in a lighter vein, acknowledging the recent buzz about her and possible plastic surgery, turning the barb against her opponent, former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer and the Republican Party.
She soon turned to such serious matters as the situation in Korea, the war in Iraq and homeland security funding for New York, saying that first-responders here should be treated better than &#8220props for press conferences.” Though senators have even more influence over foreign and domestic policies than House members, at times her calls bore a resemblance to a presidential stump-speech, especially the line which drew the loudest cheers, &#8220It's time to get back to the Clinton economic policy and start growing the economy again.”
Clinton also urged those in attendance &#8220don't give up on anyone in any of the races, right down to the State Senate,” and then called to the dais candidate Nora Marino, who is widely seen as a heavy underdog to Republican State Senator Frank Padavan in the 11th Senate District contest.