Sure, Newark, N.J. mayor Cory Booker is a publicity hound, but he knows how to advocate for his city. Late night funnyman Conan O'Brien, saying mocking Newark was the most "expensive joke I've ever told," had the moderate-liberal Democratic mayor on his show last night to make amends for their mock feud and forked over a $100,000 charitable donation to a Newark charity. The "Tonight Show" host and Mayor Booker buried the hatchet in their tongue-in-cheek battle of words that was sparked last month when Mr. O'Brien zinged the city's health-care plan "consists of a bus ticket out of Newark." Mayor Booker shot back with a YouTube video in which he banned Mr. O'Brien from flying into Newark, with the two alternating responses until U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton jokingly called them to settle things.
Yesterday, they faced off in person. Mr. O'Brien asked Mayor Booker why he got so mad at him, when comedians blasted Newark all the time. "When there's a herd coming after you, you have to go after the weakest gazelle," Mr. Booker said to laughs from the audience.
Booker Rising response: The 15-minute appearance gave Mayor Booker a chance to tout his accomplishments in Newark, such as the significant reduction in crime, to a national audience. Mr. O'Brien even now has a "Newark Joke Jar" where he has to put in $500 every time he cracks a joke about Newark LOL. Good PR move, Mayor Booker!
0 comments:
Post a Comment