Bloomberg: Um, You Know, Stop Picking On The Princess

Leave it to Michael Bloomberg, the man of many parties, to rush to the defense of Caroline Kennedy while at the same time making the story all about himself.

Mayor Bloomberg yesterday defended Caroline Kennedy from attacks over recent interviews in which she punctuated her remarks with a stream of "ums" and "you knows."

"Caroline Kennedy isn't just your average person, so people may be a little more critical," said Bloomberg, who has repeatedly praised Kennedy since she threw her name into the hat to replace Hillary Rodham, Clinton in the Senate.

Well, I though everyone was trying to, um, portray the Princess as an average New Yorker? Could you people get your talking points straight?

But in a classic case of vintage Bloogberg whine, he makes it all about himself.

"If there's anybody who understands the pain and suffering of having the press criticize how you speak, it is me," he added.

Pain and suffering?

Aww, the poor widdle bllionaire is suffering from criticism.

It's positively heartbreaking.

Well, maybe if the guy wasn't such an all-knowing, obnoxious nanny-stater who flouts the law to allow himself to run again he wouldn't be subjected to the painful criticism.

I've said it before and it's worth repeating. Bloomberg and every other politician out there ought to emulate George W. Bush in at least one area: How to comport themselves with dignity and grace in the face of criticism. In Bush's case, few people in high office have ever suffered as much abuse as he has but have your ever heard him once whine about it?

Bloomberg also has the gall to complain other candidates for the Senate seat (did you know there are other candidates?) aren't being subjected to criticism. Well, maybe if they could get some notice they might.

Bloomberg's defense of Kennedy yesterday also extended to the criticizing the press corps, which he accused of subjecting her to intense scrutiny not visited on her rivals.

"Nobody seems to be asking other particular candidates, 'Tell us what you would do in the situation of world chaos or whatever, a Depression, a world war,' " Bloomberg said.

Kevin Wardally, of Bill Lynch Associates, who is representing Rep. Carolyn Maloney in the Senate contest, said Kennedy has "sucked the air out of the room," and his client would welcome scrutiny from the press.

"We're barely included," said Wardally. "We are the last sentence in most articles in a list with the other candidates."

Meanwhile, it sure doesn't appear Bloomberg's support is helping.