Newark Mayor Cory Booker helps man hit by car?

Published June 22, 2012 4:00am ET



Cory Booker, the Democratic Mayor of Newark who saved a woman from a burning building, indicated that he helped a man get medical attention today after he was hit by a car, although police arrived to the scene before he did and tended to the man.

“Pulled up on pedestrian/vehicle accident,” Booker tweeted today. “We got man stabilized & into ambulance. He’ll b OK. Thanx 2 all who helped.” In another tweet, he added, “I appreciate the driver,” explaining that the “Man ran into traffic. Driver did the right thing & stayed & helped me & others aid man until medical help arrived.”

Local law enforcement explained later that “it was Michael Davidson, a 19-year veteran of the Essex County Prosecutor’s office who was first on the scene, and performed much of the heroism,” according to the New Jersey Star-Ledger, which recommended that people “hold the accolades” they intended to shower on Booker, who was a “concerned bystander” in this incident.

Booker, after (perhaps) overstating his role in assisting the man, lamented worldy cynicism. “In a cynical world, good deeds resound more loudly than any negative words,” he said.

Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., applauded the mayor. “Booker! Great save Mr. Mayor,” he tweeted.

Booker achieved national stardom after saving a woman from a burning building, but he got the Obama campaign hot under the collar after denouncing the “nauseating” attacks on Mitt Romney’s career at Bain Capital by the president’s campaign.

“In this particular instance he was just wrong,” Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod said in a scolding television interview.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest defended criticism of Romney’s Bain career during today’s press gaggle, saying it provided “an apt illustration of the differing approaches advocated in this election for strengthening our economy.”