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Dems rebuke Giuliani over attack comment
Appears Rudy has struck a nerve...WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidates on Wednesday rebuked Republican rival Rudy Giuliani for suggesting that the United States could face another major terrorist attack if a Democrat is elected in 2008. The former New York mayor did not back down. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama said Giuliani, who was in office on Sept. 11, 2001, should not be making the terrorist threat into "the punchline of another political attack." Were you standing under those buildings when they came down, Barak? Unlike yourself, I don't think Guiliani considers terrorism a "punchline". "Rudy Giuliani today has taken the politics of fear to a new low and I believe Americans are ready to reject those kind of politics," Obama said in a statement. It says so right here in my talking points cliche book that my staff received from the DNC... Former North Carolina Sen.John Edwards said Giuliani knows better than to suggest there is a "superior Republican way to fight terrorism." What do you suggest, Johnny? Spray Osama in the eyes with hairspray? Oooooh, I'll bet that would really sting... Sen.Hillary Rodham Clinton said protecting the country from terrorism "shouldn't be a political football." Unless, of course, she's the one making it one... "It should be a solemn responsibility that all of us pledge to fulfill regardless of what party we're in," she said when asked about her fellow New Yorker's comment at a Capitol Hill news conference. ...or at least make it look like it. Giuliani stood by his comments Wednesday, saying Democrats don't understand the threat posed by terrorists."They do not seem to get the fact that there are people, terrorists in this world, really dangerous people that want to come here and kill us," Giuliani said on "The Sean Hannity Show," according to a transcript distributed by his campaign. "They want to take us back to not being as alert which to me will just extend this war much, much longer." He was defending his remark Tuesday in New Hampshire, where he echoed sentiments expressed by other Republicans in election time. The former mayor said if a Democrat is elected, "it sounds to me like we're going on defense. We're going to wave the white flag there." But, he said, if a Republican wins, "we will remain on offense" trying to anticipate what the terrorists are going to do and "trying to stop them before they do it." GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney told reporters in Salem, N.H., Wednesday night that he agrees with Giuliani. "There's no question in my mind that Republican values ... keep America safer," Romney said. "America's mayor should know that when it comes to 9-11 and fighting terrorists, America is united," Obama said. "We know we can win this war based on shared purpose, not the same divisive politics that question your patriotism if you dare to question failed policies that have made us less secure." They want another hit here so bad before 2008 that they can taste it. How many dead Americans on US soil do you think they'd be willing to accept for maybe 10 percentage points in the polls? Edwards, the 2004 vice presidential nominee making a second run for the White House, said it's wrong to suggest Republicans are better at fighting terror. "The current Republican administration led us into a war in Iraq that has made us less safe and undermined the fight against al-Qaida," Edwards said in a statement. "If that's the Republican way to fight terror, Giuliani should know that the American people are looking for a better plan." So what is it, pretty boy? Care to let us in on it? Of course you don't. Cuz you don't have one. Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut, a Democratic presidential candidate, said Republican candidates are continuing "the smear tactics and fearmongering of the current administration. Americans want real solutions to the many problems our nation faces, not divisive and false rhetoric," Dodd said in a statement. "We need a president who has the experience and ability to unite America, move us forward and make us safer together, and that means leading with hope, not fear." Well, I guess that leaves him out then. He would be one of my two picks for the Waitress Sandwich Olympics though... The Democratic National Committee accused Giuliani of failing to prepare for the World Trade Center attacks, among other criticisms of his record. "So far Rudy's rhetoric sounds like more of the same failed policies, incompetence and arrogance we've had to suffer for the past six years," said DNC spokeswoman Karen Finney. Quick question, Karen... Have we been hit again yet? A short answer will suffice. New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who succeeded Giuliani and also is a potential presidential candidate, said he doesn't see terrorism as a partisan issue."There are some people I think who would do a better job fighting terrorism than others, but I don't think there's any party affiliations, no partisanship in that," Bloomberg said. Why don't you stick to protecting the nation from the evils of trans fats, okay, Mike? Posted by: tu3031 2007-04-27 |
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