President Obama flew to New York yesterday as world leaders gathered for UN meetings during a tense time in the Mideast — but he saved his best diplomatic moves for the ladies of “The View.”
Obama, who addresses the UN General Assembly today, isn’t scheduled to hold a single bilateral meeting with any heads of state before he leaves town this afternoon. Last year, he had 13 such meetings.
Arriving at ABC’s Manhattan studios with First Lady Michelle Obama, the president brought host Barbara Walters — who was celebrating her 83rd birthday — a gift basket that included M&Ms, Marine One playing cards and some coveted White House-brewed beer.
Then Obama — who is trying to maximize his appeal to female voters — turned on the charm, commenting on being the only man on the chat show’s stage.
“I told folks I’m just supposed to be eye candy here for you guys,” he cracked.
Michelle Obama said of her husband, “He’s very loving. He’s very giving. He’s very open. He’s funny. I’m funnier.”
The Obamas discussed other hot topics, like their upcoming 20th anniversary. (They’ll celebrate a few days late because of the first presidential debate.)
“I like lavishing her with all kinds of attention when she deserves it, and she always deserves it,” Obama said of his wife.
Back in DC, White House spokesman Jay Carney was grilled by reporters who wanted to know why Obama didn’t have any bilateral meetings with world leaders on his schedule.
“I can tell you again that the president has had extensive conversations with leaders in the region where there has been unrest of late. He will continue to have those conversations,” Carney said.
But House Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor (R0-Va.) slammed Obama’s decision to go on “The View” as a “lack of willingness to lead in times of trouble,” and said there was a “continued pattern of throwing Israel under the bus.”
Among those Obama won’t be meeting is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who arrives in New York on Thursday. The White House declined Netanyahu’s request to meet, claiming their schedules didn’t line up.
Newly elected Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi won’t get a meeting either, even as he makes his first address to the world body today.
Meanwhile, the Post learned cops busted a motorcyclist for refusing to stop for Obama’s motorcade. The man, Jakob Sherbakov, who lives in The Bronx and turns 38 next Monday, was going north on York Avenue at around 5 p.m. while the presidential motorcade was heading south.
He allegedly refused an order to shut his engine, and instead gunned it, barreling between two police cars, a law-enforcement source said. He got within only 40 feet of the president’s car before a sergeant managed to drag him off his bike. The officer’s ankle was broken in the struggle.
Sherbakov, whose record includes menacing, possessing stolen credit cards and a pot rap, was charged with assault, reckless endangerment and resisting arrest. Additional reporting by Larry Celona