9/11 turns against Rudy Giuliani

Rudy Giuliani has not had a good month. He’s slipped in the polls, the wisdom of his multi-state strategy has been called into question, and he could use a decent showing in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary. But Saturday, a couple of men who were injured in the World Trade Center's collapse are hoping to undercut his Republican presidential bid.

The pair plan to show up at the GOP candidate debate at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., to protest what they say is the former New York City mayor's lack of concern for some of those who developed chronic illnesses as a result of breathing tainted air in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

Jon Sferazo, 53, a structural iron worker who spent a month digging through rubble, has diminished lung capacity and has trouble catching his breath when he speaks. Marvin Bethea, 48, a paramedic, suffered a stroke and developed asthma, among other ailments.

The men, both of whom say they are unaffiliated with any candidate or party, will be on the scene for a sidewalk screening of a video about their struggles by Robert Greenwald. The Los Angeles filmmaker has made two other anti-Giuliani videos as part of a series called "The Real Rudy." (Videos can be watched at www.bravenewfilms.org.)

Giuliani has made his response to the 2001 terrorist assault on New York the centerpiece of his campaign. But at least two other groups representing some of those involved in 9/11 rescue and cleanup efforts are working against him, claiming either that Giuliani’s mistakes contributed to the disaster or that he has used the tragedy to enrich himself.

One, 9/11 Firefighters and Families, is setting up a political committee to launch attacks and has already campaigned against him in New Hampshire. Another, the International Assn. of Firefighters, has made its own video urging members to oppose his candidacy.

-- Robin Abcarian

Comments

[Tannim]

This really isn't surprising. He was a one-trick pony anyway, and that horse has died from overexposure and general apathy.

[Kit]

Guiliani isn't the only one with blowback on 9-11. Hillary Clinton, having been resoundingly defeated given the money spent, is now sounding more like George Bush than George Bush with her comments today about terrorists still out there waiting to attack.

I can't imagine any scenario where this is a good idea - if you want to win, that is. Iowa said it pretty clearly, it's time to end the war not up the rhetoric.

9-11 was a tragedy, an unimaginable thing to have happen, but Bush, Giuilani, McCain and now Clinton seem to have no shame in spinning it for votes. Luckily, those in Iowa and I presume future caucus/primary voters will do the same.

[Daniel Kowkabany]

Why did Giuilani refuse the 911 money from the Saudi prince? I think he should have asked for more than the 10 million offered as it was terrorist from Saudi Arabia who were the primary culprits. (Ben Laudin)

[Alfred Akana]

Glad that the TRUTH WILL OUT!!

[Bill Leffler]

The understanding that there exists significant compulsion to diminish Western society is hardly rhetoric. How to address this reality is what will hopefully differentiate serious candidates. Considering it as spin will result in one's irrelevance.

[lsm]

Thank you Mr. Leffler, well said.

[Steve]

Who are we fooling, we won't elect anybody to the White House. It's all in the hands of the Electoral College

[MD]

Giuliani had to follow orders given by the feds. Remember this was a national emergency, not a local disaster. Giuliani was not the one in control, he was taking orders from Washington. The president was in hiding because no one knew the extent of the threat. They chose to put Giuliani in front of the cameras instead. What exactly did he do? How did he get this heroic reputation?

[Keith]

Well of course these kind of groups will come out, just like Swift Boat Veterans did.

They only have an impact though if people buy it. People have gotten used to the Michael Moore's and Swift Boat Veterans, it's old hat now.

[Joseph...]

I would never vote for a guy like "Giuliani"...He is a typical
sold-out to Wall Street...

He lacks compassion...As do most "Fiscal Conservatives"...

[Jim]

Rudy Giuliani is a great presidential candidate because he took a city that was in a bad financial position and brought it in the positive to the degree it was in the negative.

USA is headed in the same direction as NYC was when Rudy took office. He is the only candidate that I know of who has proven his place as the most fiscally responsible of all the candidates. He is tested. He has passed with flying colors. That is why Rudy Giuliani should be president of United States of America.

Humble Supporter of Rudy Giuliani ( Independent)

[Steve Holmes]

Who told Giuliani that the two towers were going to collapse before they actually did. He's on the record as saying that he 'knew' they were going to come down before they actually did.

It would have been nice if he told the firefighters and others in the buildings to evacuate also before they each disintegrated in around 10 seconds.

Why did Giuliani spend millons to build a bunker in Building 7 of the world trade centre complex only for it to be abandoned, and then that 47 (FORTY SEVEN) storey building also collapses miraculously in less than 7 seconds at 5.30pm too on 9/11?

Giuliani left NYC in better shape? Sure is that why the city is bankrupt and totally over looked for the olympic games for 2012?

Giuliani runs on a massive deception, his campaign is based on fear, loathing and paranoia. He hasn't actually got any support in the Republican party, look at his results in Iowa, where this guy polled "a massive 4%" finishing behind rank outsider and no hope candidate Ron Paul!

[dinah Hatton]

As a resident of NYC during the latter years of the mayoralty of Ed Koch, all of David Dinkins and most of Rudy Giuliani I can say with my own personal assurance that Giuliani cleaned up that fantastic city. From the day he got rid of the 'squeegie men' who intimidated drivers leaving Manhattan on its East side bridges to 'breaking' the mafia at the Fulton Fish Market, he kicked butt. He tried things and some worked, some didn't. A population of independent-minded New Yorkers are not the kind of people you can push around and he didn't. An autocrat by nature, he learned to do what needed to be done...however. He wasn't out to be popular and lots of people hated him. One of the things he did in the city, which the world saw after 9/11 was BE THERE and BE VISIBLE and GIVE COMFORT. Whenever something went wrong in NYC, there he was in his baseball cap saying whatever people wanted to hear. That's not a bad thing. He was the perfect mayor for the time. The city became much more livable. Would I vote for him, for President of the US? No. He's not the perfect man for that but don't short change him for what he did right.

[Trout]

Giuliani is part of the massive 9-11 fraud designed to establish corporate facism in America and by extension it's vassal states, Canada and Mexico.
Anybody with the ability or motivation to do an hour of homework on the subject knows this.
Change is Loose.

[Bill]

Giuliani has mercilessly milked 9/11 for his personal gain, and that alone is reason enough *not* to vote for him.

When you actually take a step back and ask what he *did* after the attacks it amounts to "Listen to Washington, and say he felt really bad about the whole thing." Amazing, I don't think any other political figure could have done that. In the post-attack shock and despair we as a country were so desperately looking for a positive figure or two to look up at with reverence, that we thoughtlessly elevated this man to heights he never reached through his own work.

I think that anyone - irrespective of their political affiliation - should do their best to temporarily forget what political party Giuliani is a member of, and consider how the man is a shameless opportunist, building his political career on the ashes of the dead.

If you need any more convincing to vote for any other candidate go rent "Giuliani Time".

[John Reece]

Re: Holmes: "...Who told Giuliani that the two towers were going to collapse before they actually did. He's on the record as saying that he 'knew' they were going to come down before they actually did..." He didn't have to be told. He might well have 'known' , as did many observers, from looking at the buildings and the size of the holes in them and in consideration of the fact that each had been impacted by jumbo jet going around 450mph. There's also nothing unusual about a 47-story building collapsing in 'only' 7 seconds...buildings collapse at about the same speed as an object dropped from the top. So if you think Guiliani was in on the conspiracy as well please explain why the conspirators would have included a mayor???? 9/11 Trutherism = moronism.

[Doug Garr]

As a lifelong New Yorker, I can say that Rudy was a very good mayor, even excellent at times. He will make a terrible, terrible president -- a smart version of W. He will be dangerous. People outside of New York forget that he pulled an Al Haig after the 9/11 attacks. He would have put off the mayoral elections (I'm in charge!) if the public outcry wasn't quick and loud. He had grown tired of the job of running the city -- his approval rating had reached a very low point just prior to the attacks. The Saudi terrorists saved his cookies. And the guy who said he shouldn't have given the $10 million check back was correct. He should have demanded $1 billion. Just because someone can run a city doesn't mean he can run a country.

[paintergeist]

I think the former mayor of NYC would be a disaster as president.
The heroes who went to the rescue at Ground Zero deserve
at least the best care our government can give them.
But why not sue the EPA, whose director has admitted to
giving instructions to her subordinates to misinform the public
(LIE) as to the dangerous condition of the air around The World
Trade Center after the terrorists struck New York?

Paintergeist

[buckwheat]

Thank You all for comments. I am not sure how to eliminate political scum from the whitehouse.
It truely saddens me that the likes of leaders who have built there careers on the ashes of the dead from 9-11.
Hillary took her buyout from AMA, we will continue to be the only civilized culture without proper medical care
Bush, hundreds of thousands of attempts should be made on your life every day.
Guliani should be held at gunpoint to serve the heros from 9-11 untill he dies.

The terrorists we should fear most are our own political leaders.

Are any political leaders really voted in, or do they buy themselves in like an illegal alien party store owner?

[Steve Walker]

Rudy is a major playor in the 911 cover up. Anyone who spends one hour to research the overwhelming evidence of controlled demolition of the 3 high rises on September 11th, will agree it was an inside job. HUndreds of scholars, scientists, architects, engineers, and family members have joined Patriots Question 911 and their statements are documented regarding the events of 911. This is the biggest story of the century. Before you say it is not possible and put you stake in the ground, please, please research for yourself.

[shane martin]

Are the American people aware of the gnarlier aspects of Giuliani's tenure as NYC Mayor? When hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers were exposed to the highly toxic dust and fumes, Giuliani's office was actively involved in covering up the danger, pressurizing the media to squash the story. One of the few courageous journalists covering this aspect of the disaster, Juan Gonzales (of the New York Daily News), was taken off the story after his paper received "tough talk" from Giuliani's office; Gonzales had to pursue the topic independently, publishing the excellent book, "Fallout".
Both Giuliani and the EPA, which doctored its analysis of the dust on the orders of the White House, were directly responsible for endangering the health of some 400,000 New Yorkers, who were exposed and subsequently lied to that "the air was safe to breathe". Thousands now suffer debilitating sicknesses, hundreds have already died, and medical personnel have warned of a future epidemic of fatal mesothelial cancers in NYC.

There is a great feature documentary on the 9/11 toxic dust issue which goes into depth on this awful subject, and is currently making the rounds. See

http://www.911dust.org

[Jim Betz]

Who killed 3000 Americans on 9-11? Our own military!!!!!!!!! Jesus Christ!, why isn't this you main blog! Did you see the interview on Vancouver TV? www.ae911truth.org!