'Thank You for Your Kind Gift'

These people should know better and realize they should volunteer to organize a community before they get any recognition, especially on the anniversary of 9/11.

A group of Sept. 11 responders finally got an answer from the White House to their plea for help: a thank you card.

A year ago, members of the Fealgood Foundation delivered that plea to the future President and other lawmakers in a DVD telling the tale of four ailing heroes.

One of the four, Greg Quibell, had just died of 9/11-linked leukemia. Another, former FDNY firefighter John McNamara, died of cancer last month.

They wanted to show Congress why it must pass the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, an $8.4 billion bill to help ailing Sept. 11 workers.

But the act has languished. What the responders have gotten are thank you's, not just from the White House, but from members of Congress who also got copies of "Save the Brave."

"One congressman's office sent it back with a letter that said we're sorry, we don't accept gifts," said John Feal, who lost half his foot at Ground Zero.

Feal got the note from the White House saying "Thank you for your kind gift" last week.

Quibell's widow, Theresa, said the off-tone response was "disturbing," but would forgive it if the President delivers. "My God, at least take care of these guys now," she said.

Adminstration officials say Obama remains committed to those who answered the call on Sept. 11, and the days after. He reaffirmed his pledge Friday in the Daily News.

Congressional leaders insist they're committed as well, and the House could finish its bill this month - and vote by November.

Yes, Obama is so committed to the cause he couldn't be bothered to show up in Manhattan today, or even send his sidekick with the bad hair plugs. Obama had plenty of time this week to show up at a memorial for Walter Cronkite, but can't be bothered to show his face on 9/11.

Naturally, on a day when we all come together as one, leave it to the unctuous Carolyn Maloney to take a cheap political swipe.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan) blamed the glacial pace on the GOP. "The previous administration denied there was even a problem," she said.

Maloney has been in Congress every day since 9/11. What has she doen to help?