O'Donnell: Giuliani Out of Control
By DAVID BAUDER
AP Television Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Forget Hillary Rodham Clinton. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's toughest opponent may now be
Rosie O'Donnell.
The so-called Queen of Nice berated Giuliani on her talk show Tuesday for his administration's policies on the
homeless, calling him ``out of control'' and urging viewers to call him and complain.
O'Donnell said she was willing to get arrested to protest the policies, as some New York City residents have done
in rallies this week. In October, the talk show host emceed a campaign fund-raiser for Mrs. Clinton, Giuliani's
likely opponent in a race for the U.S. Senate next year.
``He thinks he, like, runs the world,'' O'Donnell said. ``Newsflash, Rudy — it's not good to arrest the homeless
people.''
The Republican mayor, in a later public appearance, dismissed the
remarks as a partisan attack.
A new Giuliani-backed policy, slated to take effect later this month,
would require homeless people to work for shelter. Parents who refuse
would be at risk of having their children placed in foster care.
A police crackdown on the homeless ensued after a woman was assaulted by a brick-wielding man
on a Manhattan street early last month. Authorities have been rounding homeless off the streets
and into shelters; those who have refused to go have been subject to arrest.
O'Donnell's attack came after she told viewers that actor Woody Harrelson would be a guest.
``I hope he doesn't take a nap while he's out there because Mayor Giuliani would have him
arrested,'' she said.
Without mentioning that the policy would apply to people who refused to work, O'Donnell told viewers that Giuliani wanted to take children
away from homeless people.
``Is that the most startling thing you've ever heard? In America, in 1999?'' she said. ``It's unbelievable. ... He's out of control, this guy.''
She credited Giuliani, however, for cleaning up New York and making it better.
Her show flashed Giuliani's office phone and fax numbers on the screen and urged viewers to contact him if they disagreed with the policies.
``He's running for Senate, you know,'' she said. ``Big surprise. This is the way to get those voters. Sure, just, you know, arrest all the
homeless people.''
Giuliani, at a news conference, said the remarks were a carryover of her campaign appearance for Mrs. Clinton.
``I remember her remarks at the fund-raiser, and she's obviously a very, very strong partisan, and I think she's probably carrying over her
politics in her show,'' the mayor said.
During the Clinton fund-raiser in October, O'Donnell mocked Giuliani's slim build, saying he looked like ``a human Pez dispenser.'' The
Giuliani campaign privately complained about the personal nature of the remark.
The producer and distributor of O'Donnell's talk show said Tuesday they have no problem with O'Donnell speaking her mind on political
issues.
``People are not just looking at her for adoration of celebrities,'' said Jim Paratore, president of Telepictures Productions. ``They want to
know what she says and what she thinks.''
O'Donnell has used her show to go on the political attack before, arguing with actor Tom Selleck over gun policy and the National Rifle
Association. She was near tears on Monday as she talked about the Oklahoma middle school shooting.
By DAVID BAUDER
AP Television Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Forget Hillary Rodham Clinton. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's toughest opponent may now be
Rosie O'Donnell.
The so-called Queen of Nice berated Giuliani on her talk show Tuesday for his administration's policies on the
homeless, calling him ``out of control'' and urging viewers to call him and complain.
O'Donnell said she was willing to get arrested to protest the policies, as some New York City residents have done
in rallies this week. In October, the talk show host emceed a campaign fund-raiser for Mrs. Clinton, Giuliani's
likely opponent in a race for the U.S. Senate next year.
``He thinks he, like, runs the world,'' O'Donnell said. ``Newsflash, Rudy — it's not good to arrest the homeless
people.''
The Republican mayor, in a later public appearance, dismissed the
remarks as a partisan attack.
A new Giuliani-backed policy, slated to take effect later this month,
would require homeless people to work for shelter. Parents who refuse
would be at risk of having their children placed in foster care.
A police crackdown on the homeless ensued after a woman was assaulted by a brick-wielding man
on a Manhattan street early last month. Authorities have been rounding homeless off the streets
and into shelters; those who have refused to go have been subject to arrest.
O'Donnell's attack came after she told viewers that actor Woody Harrelson would be a guest.
``I hope he doesn't take a nap while he's out there because Mayor Giuliani would have him
arrested,'' she said.
Without mentioning that the policy would apply to people who refused to work, O'Donnell told viewers that Giuliani wanted to take children
away from homeless people.
``Is that the most startling thing you've ever heard? In America, in 1999?'' she said. ``It's unbelievable. ... He's out of control, this guy.''
She credited Giuliani, however, for cleaning up New York and making it better.
Her show flashed Giuliani's office phone and fax numbers on the screen and urged viewers to contact him if they disagreed with the policies.
``He's running for Senate, you know,'' she said. ``Big surprise. This is the way to get those voters. Sure, just, you know, arrest all the
homeless people.''
Giuliani, at a news conference, said the remarks were a carryover of her campaign appearance for Mrs. Clinton.
``I remember her remarks at the fund-raiser, and she's obviously a very, very strong partisan, and I think she's probably carrying over her
politics in her show,'' the mayor said.
During the Clinton fund-raiser in October, O'Donnell mocked Giuliani's slim build, saying he looked like ``a human Pez dispenser.'' The
Giuliani campaign privately complained about the personal nature of the remark.
The producer and distributor of O'Donnell's talk show said Tuesday they have no problem with O'Donnell speaking her mind on political
issues.
``People are not just looking at her for adoration of celebrities,'' said Jim Paratore, president of Telepictures Productions. ``They want to
know what she says and what she thinks.''
O'Donnell has used her show to go on the political attack before, arguing with actor Tom Selleck over gun policy and the National Rifle
Association. She was near tears on Monday as she talked about the Oklahoma middle school shooting.