Obama Praises Koch: "Extraordinary Mayor"
Died today at age of 88
President Barack Obama is praising former New York Mayor Ed Koch as an "extraordinary mayor, irrepressible character, and quintessential New Yorker."
Koch died Friday of congestive heart failure at the age of 88.
Obama said Koch took office when New York was in a fiscal crisis and helped the city's economic revival. He applauded Koch's energy and force of personality. He took note of Koch commitment to causes, including Israel's security.
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A comparison between the raw personalities of dead Mayor Koch and live Obama can be very enlightening. The voice of Koch was focused on his brash views; the voice of Obama was always focused on favorably organizing the community. The Obama game has proven to be more effective; it made him president and the Pied Piper of Washington.