9/11 Workers Rip Rudy Over Ground Zero Gaffe
In a sane world, this would be an enormous gaffe. Rudy Giuliani is now coming under fire for saying the following yesterday about 9/11 workers:
"I was at Ground Zero as often, if not more, than most of the workers. I was there working with them. I was exposed to exactly the same things they were exposed to. So in that sense, I'm one of them."
Sept. 11 workers who fell ill from Ground Zero, understandably, aren't too happy about this:
His statement rang false to Queens paramedic Marvin Bethea, who said he suffered a stroke, posttraumatic stress disorder and breathing problems after responding to the attacks."I personally find that very, very insulting," he said.
"Standing there doing a photo-op and telling the men, 'You're doing a good job,' I don't consider that to be working," said Bethea, 47.
Ironworker Jonathan Sferazo, 52, who said he spent a month at the site and is now disabled, runs a worker advocacy group with Bethea and called Giuliani's comments "severely" out of line.
"He's not one of us. He never has been and he never will be. He never served in a capacity where he was a responder," Sferazo said.
In the aftermath of the attacks, admirers dubbed Giuliani "America's Mayor," praising his leadership in the face of an unprecedented disaster. Detractors, including the International Association of Fire Fighters, which put out a scathing 13-minute video on his performance, suggested he profited politically and financially from the attacks.
"[Giuliani] is self-absorbed, arrogant and deluded," said IAFF spokesman Jeff Zack.
The Rudy campaign's response? To dismiss these critics as a "Democratic front group" indulging in "partisan rantings."
It's unclear who exactly the "Democratic front group" is supposed to be, however. If it's the International Association of Fire Fighters, it's probably worth noting that its New York locals endorsed Rudy repeatedly for Mayor.
Update: Here's some more criticism:
Michael Palladino, head of the Detectives Endowment Association, the union of NYPD detectives, told the Associated Press that the mayor's record can't compare to those who spent 12 months sifting through toxic debris for evidence and human remains."As a result of their hard work, many are sick and injured. The mayor, although he did a fine job with 9/11, I don't think he rises to the level of being an equal with those men and women who were involved in the rescue, recovery and cleanup," Palladino said.
Even better, there's also this:
Battalion Chief John McDonnell, head of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association in New York, said: "I have a real problem with that statement. I think he's really grasping and trying to justify his previous attempts to portray himself as the hero of 9/11."
August 10, 2007 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
indeed. just wait -- there will be deafening silence from the media about this
August 10, 2007 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
If you think this is good, then you need to check out the current issue of the Village Voice. It features a lengthy cover story titled: Rudy Giuliani's FIVE BIG LIES About 9/11: On the stump: He just can't stop spreading smoke and ashes about his dubious record.
As run down in the story, the BIG LIES are:
1. "I think the thing that distinguishes me on terrorism is I have more experience dealing with it".
2. "I don't think there was anyplace in the country, including the federal government, that was as well prepared for that attack as New York City was in 2001". (Let's ask the firefighters about that one".
3. "Don't blame me for 7 WTC".
4. "Democrats do not understand the full nature of the scope of the war against terror".
5. "Every effort was made by Mayor Giulliani and his staff to ensure the safety of all workers at Ground Zero". (See above).
And yes, I know that the Voice is really a front for Comintern.
This man should not be elected dog catcher in a one person election. I am a New Yorker, I know.
The article is here:
www.villagevoice.com/news/0732,barrett,77463,6.html
August 10, 2007 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rudy's statement is a stretch, however, it is a calculated statement that was most certainly to receive criticism (see this thread). But it also has an upside, that is the statement gets his name in the chat and focuses on his strongest point, namely, his performance on and immediately after 9/11.
August 10, 2007 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
By that logic, the Swift Boat Campaign should've helped John Kerry. We'll see if Greg is right or if major media notices at all.
August 10, 2007 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
The inmagery of John Kerry's days in the milatry meant nothing to the voting public, unlike Rudy and 9/11. On a national scale the 9/11 clips with building crashing around him while he walked through the streets of NYC is at that Rudy has and this story brings these images back in focus.
August 10, 2007 11:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
I propose that we in the blogosphere/netroots do everything in our power to make sure this line by Rudy does not die in a day and instead becomes an important part of the process of defining Rudy to the larger public. Democratic candidates should mock this assertion by Rudy when an appropriate opportunity presents itself. Rudy's line is so damn telling of what he's become since the immediate aftermath of 9/11 -- the ultimate narcissist who believes his own press clippings, the guy who believes that being supportive of a worker or a solider is as hard as BEING the worker or the soldier.
Rudy's line is very revealing, and it is so much worse than any number of supposed Gore idiocies like the (distorted) assertion by the MSM that Gore had taken credit for "inventing the internet." He can't be allowed to get away with this. I am sure Colbert will do a "Word" on it, but I'd like to see the comment attract MSM criticism.
August 10, 2007 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
I commented below on this. In short, we in the blogosphere and netroots should do everything we can to force the media to highlight this incredibly revealing remark by Rudy.
August 10, 2007 11:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
tbhull - I think I know where you are coming from, but I also think you are wrong here. It is always the best strategy to try to use your opponent's apparent strength against him, and to engage in that sort of jujitsu you always risk evoking that strength. If you do it right, though, the strength is evoked but then used to turn the tables on the candidate. The one thing about Rudy's public image that he already has in his favor -- and does not need to improve upon -- is the association of Rudy with September 11. A story here or there that makes that association part of its backdrop does nothing significant to help Rudy on that score. A story that punctures the myth of Rudy as a guy who, for all of his personal peccadillos, was selfless when the chips were down and put the workers and people of New York first in those traumatic days, is precisely what Rudy does NOT want to see.
August 10, 2007 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Giujitsu: taking what Rudy thinks are his strengths and turning them against him
August 10, 2007 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just what we need - another Poser-in-Chief.
August 10, 2007 12:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
As always, I may be wrong. The images of 9/11 is all that Rudy has. If he can keep the attention on 9/11 (even defending his absurd comments) he thinks he has a chance. Rudy was getting a little jealous as has been out of the headlines while Romney proves he is a grade A privileged smarmy dolt.
August 10, 2007 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
No risk no reward. All of Rudy's presidential chips have "9/11" stamped on them.
August 10, 2007 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
People - me included - keep waiting for Rudy's Macaca moment. It might also be a slow bleed : everyday another outrageous, egomaniacal idiocy coming out of his giant, loud mouth. And as with Macaca, it took a little while for the MSM to notice - at first dismissing it as a trifle. We'll see.
[CT]
One million page hits against Bush!!!
August 10, 2007 1:52 PM | Reply | Permalink