Top Rudy Ally: First Responders Who Criticize Rudy Don't Understand That Terrorists Attacked Us On 9/11
Okay, there's now been yet another unsightly turn in the battle over Rudy's claim that he was at Ground Zero as much, if not more, than "most" of the 9/11 recovery workers.
Now a top Rudy ally and longtime Rudy loyalist -- Giuliani's former deputy mayor, Joe Lhota -- has stepped up to defend him. How? Well, Lhota says that by criticizing Rudy, first-responders are revealing that they don't understand that it's the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11.
From today's Associated Press piece on the flap:
A former deputy mayor, Joe Lhota, said the critics are politically motivated and wrong."They're taking their anger out in the wrong direction," Lhota said. "He was literally there four and five times a day; he did anything but run away.
"They're losing sight of the fact that this country, and this city, was attacked on that day by terrorists; it's their fault."
Yeah, so if you criticize Rudy in any way for anything relating to his 9/11 performance, you don't understand that the terrorists attacked us on 9/11. Rudy's September 11 performance is sacrosanct and inviolable. To criticize Rudy's 9/11 performance in any way is to fundamentally misunderstand the true and enduring significance of what happened that day. Not only does Rudy own that day; he's also sole owner of the right to interpret it.
There's little doubt that Lhota was made available to the media by the Rudy team. So is it the campaign's official position that his first responder critics don't understand who attacked us on 9/11? Maybe some reporter will ask the campaign this question. And was he really there "four and five times a day?" Also worth asking.
Down, down, down.
Jay Cost puts it in sharp relief by using some historical perspective:
August 11, 2007 9:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Are you certain?
Hillary says it was the half-Vast Rightwing Conspiracy while I think it was the Clintonoids. Loyal Bushies say it was Islamofascists and Islamofascists say it was Jews. Lou Dobbs and Tancredo say it was illegal immigrants and Mike Gravel says it was the other Democratic candidates for president. Chris Matthew and Tim Russert say it was liberal bloggers and Orally says he had tell them.
You shouldn't go off so half-cocked certain about these things until there has been a trial so we can be sure who was guilty.
Every Democrat who can afford a couple thou should send Giuliani a donation for his campaign so he can get to the bottom of this while he is being destroyed in the general election.
Best, Terry
August 11, 2007 9:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just like Bush, Rudy is trying to exploit 9/11 and make it a partisan, divisive issue. He would talk about something else, if he could think of something.
August 11, 2007 9:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
"He would talk about something else, if he could think of something. "
How about "family valyoos"?
Oh, wait....nevermind.
August 11, 2007 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
OK, but who's saying he ran away? I loathe this method of defense. And I'm not holding my breath while waiting for big media to finally start asking questions about these statements.
August 11, 2007 11:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
We are now starting to see the vintage Rudy that all of us New Yorkers came to know and hate.
If the pressure is kept up on this subject, sooner or later (probably sooner)someone will ask Rudy directly about this and there will be a vintage Giuliani eruption, and it won't be pretty. There is real vulnerability here, and he will lash out, hopefully on camera.
Remeber, on September 10, 2001 his poll numbers made the Decider's look good.
August 11, 2007 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I also think that it's a very big deal that the criticism of rudy's 9/11 performance has now pushed its way into the mainstream media. the rudy camp has to be very panicked about that indeed.
August 11, 2007 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
First responders understand absolutely that terrorists attached the United States on 9/11... they also understand they had a egomanical idiot for mayor on 9/11. What part of reality doesn't Rudy understand? Answer: none. That is what makes him a GOPer.
August 11, 2007 1:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Desperation is starting to set in. They want to nip it in the bud, and they're making it bigger by adding more amateurish approximations. This guy should never have said "four or five times" like that. Nor that first responders don't understand. Total, desperate bunk. This is awesome. The power of the blogosphere. We have them scrambling for justifications (which are really hard to come by in Rudy's case - I mean, the private suite in the emergency center? and to do what? entertain Bernie Kerik's so-called girlfriends? Judi(th)???)
[CT]
One million page hits against Bush!!!
August 11, 2007 2:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
You hit the nail on the head:
Giuliani's problem is that the First Resppnders and the families of those who died do realize that the terrorists hit on 9/11
AND the majority of the American people realize that it is him and his ilk who have been smacking us about on a daily basis since then.
August 11, 2007 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
and wearing a gown . . . Rudy knows about dressing up like a woman . . . Not very well, I admit . . . But he knows enough to talk about doing it.
August 11, 2007 3:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
and wearing a gown . . . Rudy knows about dressing up like a woman . . . Not very well, I admit . . . But he knows enough to talk about doing it.
August 11, 2007 3:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rudy's taste for high heels and pantyhose is well documented - that's totally cool with me, but I don't know about the Republican base...(shameless plug: the Rudy Giuliani Burlesque Revue)
[CT]
One million page hits against Bush!!!
August 11, 2007 3:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stephen Colbert takes on Rudy's use of language and 9/11 pretty well:
its hilarious, worth a watch
August 11, 2007 4:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I, too, loathe the technique of defending against a charge that wasn't made. It can be done blatantly as here or more deviously.
For example, a charge that someone is claiming more credit than they deserve for an action they took is met not with a defense that yes that action was that meritorious and that's why the credit is deserved but rather with a claim that no other action was appropriate in that setting which does not address the problem of exagerating meritorious but relatively minor action actually done.
August 11, 2007 4:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I dropped in on the thread at the right time...
it (almost)opened with the dandy one liner from party of one
"Just like Bush, Rudy is trying to exploit 9/11 and make it a partisan, divisive issue. He would talk about something else, if he could think of something..."
and concluded with the Colbert link.
August 12, 2007 1:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
The more Rudy explains the broader the criticism becomes, and his defenders aren't helping him. When first responders become "the enemy," it's time for him to find another issue to ride.
August 12, 2007 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here we go again with the Poser In Chief. One thing I thought 9/11 might do is give us an appreciation of heroic working stiffs everywhere. Guess not. This is just like the other neocon chickenhawk empty suits. You do the work and shed the blood, we'll hog the credit and savage anyone who thinks this deal sucks.
August 12, 2007 5:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Guiliani's performance on 9/11 and the days that immediately after was very helpful and stellar. This is true mainly because George Bush did a disappearing act and Guiliani, along with Karen Hughes in the White House, stepped forward. Had we a president on those days no one would have really noticed Guiliani.
Secondly, Guiliani was always something of a bully. From the days of taking non-violent offenders off in handcuffs in front of TV camera to beating on various NYC communities Guiliani has always liked the sole spotlight and taken a dim view of anyone who criticizes him.
Daniel A. Greenbaum
August 13, 2007 8:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, he is running away in the sense that he refuses to talk about the bad health effects many of the first responders who worked on the pile are now experiencing.
August 13, 2007 5:51 PM | Reply | Permalink