9/11 Firefighters and Family Members Plot Anti-Giuliani Ad Campaign [MUST READ]

ABC News ^ | Nov. 17, 2007 | TAHMAN BRADLEY

[perfect_rovian_storm]

A group of 9/11 firefighters and victims' family members with eyes on derailing Republican Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign is close to a decision on forming an entity that would run issue ads in key early nominating states.

"TV made him a hero, and we'll use TV to take him down," New York Fire Chief Jim Riches told ABC News.

The final decision about the formation of an outside entity will happen sometime within the next few weeks after the group finalizes its plans at a meeting scheduled for after Thanksgiving. So far, though, under Riches' leadership, the group has sought legal guidance and help from political consultants.

If the group decides to move forward, it would set up a 527 committee -- or something similar to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, which in 2004 helped sink Democratic Sen. John Kerry's White House bid.

This Monday, the firefighters and family members are holding a meeting at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire hoping to spread the word about what they say is Giuliani's "egregious" use of 9/11 for political gain.

The group also is considering additional trips to early presidential primary states Iowa, Florida and South Carolina.

Riches, who lost his firefighter son Jimmy in the World Trade Center's north tower, said, "We don't want him running on 9/11 or the bodies of all these dead people or my dead son saying that he did a great job that day."

He and other members of the anti-Giuliani group claim 9/11 first responders were given bad radios and that that prevented them from hearing evacuation orders when the World Trade Center buildings were about to collapse. They also contend Giuliani rushed cleanup work and misled people about air quality at Ground Zero, where recovery workers, including Riches, say they contracted illnesses.

Asked to comment for this story, the Giuliani campaign referred ABC News to a statement from Lee Ielpi, another firefighter whose son died on Sept. 11.

"I understand the emotion surrounding Sept. 11, but we cannot lose sight of the fact that it was the terrorists who attacked New York City," the statement said. "On that day and the days following, New Yorkers and the rest of the country were fortunate to have the steady and strong leadership of Mayor Rudy Giuliani."

[perfect_rovian_storm]

This is fantastic news. They're not waiting to see if he wins the general. They're trying to take him down in the primaries.

In other words, they don't want to help Hillary. They want to get rid of Rudy. Good on them!

[HerrBlucher]

Fantastic, go fire-fighters....take Rudy down NOW, that way we can crush both Rudy and the beast...yeeehawwwww!

[Sans-Culotte]

In other words, they don't want to help Hillary.

How do you know that? Most of the people who object to "using 9-11 for political purposes" are libs.

[tompster76]

This is disgusting. Rudy has many flaws and he should be challenged on those, not on this.

Everybody who lived through 9/11 remembers Rudy’s leadership. You can rewrite history and pretend otherwise (no doubt libs do it) but Rudy should forever be admired for his leadership and calm in the worst day of this country.

These unions are dem-controlled activist groups who hated Guliani because he didn’t cave in and hand out massive pensions and salary increases to them. Rudy wanted to keep taxes and debt low and carry out fiscally responsible policies economic policy.

According to pretty much every poll so far, Rudy is the strongest republican against Hillary and that’s why liberal activist groups try to take him down early on. I don’t support Rudy, but this is deplorable.

[Jacquerie]

I detect the stench of Soros and probably Harold Ickes behind this.

If you like and endorse cheap shots at your least favorite Republican during the primaries, stand by for what they have in store during the general campaign.

[Chuck Adkins]

You mean the same Rudy who had the Emergency Operations Center IN THE WORLD TRADE CENTER???

You mean him?

Please, the man’s an idiot and is trying to use 9/11 to get him elected President. He’s not even a real damn Conservative. He’s been married How many times? His own kids hate him.

[Tarpon]

Union thugs, I wonder who they contribute to?

[BallyBill]

Disgusting. Rudy gave them bad radios. He should have known better and personally tested every one under all possible circumstances.

[Ceebass]

Some information on the author of the story.

http://newsbusters.org/node/11851

I sense these concerned citizens are the latest version of the “jersey girls.”

[Psychic Dice]

>>He and other members of the anti-Giuliani group claim 9/11 first responders were given bad radios and that that prevented them from hearing evacuation orders when the World Trade Center buildings were about to collapse.
I haven’t watched this story, so I might be wrong, but to blame Giuliani for bad radios within the fire department while he was the mayor sounds silly.

The purchasing decision about a few hundred (maybe up to a couple thousand) radios had to have been made several levels below him.

In an economy the size of New York’s, there is no way that the mayor could possibly have had the time to perform due diligence on every one of the line items.

Rudy was supposed to take time out each day to use his magnifying glass to read each one of the manufacturer’s warranties?

[svcw]

Fire fighters or unions?

[tompster76]

“You mean the same Rudy who had the Emergency Operations Center IN THE WORLD TRADE CENTER???”

Yeah, and that damn lib BUSH DID NOT HAVE FIGHTER JETS CIRCLING AROUND WTC ON 9/11!!!!
and Thompson DID NOT INTRODUCE A BILL TO DEMAND BETTER RADIOS FOR EVERY FIREFIGHTER IN THIS COUNTRY?

[Condor51]

****According to pretty much every poll so far, Rudy is the strongest republican against Hillary****

Bull, newbie troll.

According to FoxNews this morning Rudy is behind Nationally 45 to 41. AND he can't even carry his own state of NY. PLUS the lead he had in NJ is gone. So much for bringing Blue States in play. And FYI that FNC poll had McInsane leading Hillary.

Rooty is a loser and would be the EASIEST for Hillary to beat. He has more baggage than Samsonite.

BTW, I 'lived' through 9-11 and he didn't show me shiite except that he's a money grubbing, power hungry mutt using 9-11 and the DEAD for his next power grab, the WH.

[BOBTHENAILER]

In other words, they don't want to help Hillary. They want to get rid of Rudy. Good on them!

Don't kid yourselves, once Rudy is dust, they'll lovingly turn their support to the Golden Girl, born and raised in NY.

[pawdoggie]

This is fantastic news. They're not waiting to see if he wins the general. They're trying to take him down in the primaries. In other words, they don't want to help Hillary. They want to get rid of Rudy. Good on them!

Are you really as naive as you pretend to be, or are do you just hate Giuliani that much? This is coming straight from Clinton Central, Politics of Personal Destruction Division. And for that reason, if no other, we should all be opposed to it. If the Clinton machine and the Left can take away one of Giuliani's (few, in my book) solid accomplishments, they can and will do the same thing to any GOP nominee; and people like you will be their "useful idiots". BTW, how does it feel to be a dupe?

[tompster76]

McCain is doing also quote well against Hillary, but he has zero chance of winning the nominations and liberals know it. That’s why DailyKos/Soros (and apparently, some in this forum) work together and make cheap shots at Rudy.

BTW, according to the same Fox News Poll, Rudy is the only republican with fav numbers over 50% (51).

It is true that Hillary is leading Rudy (4.4% RCP AVG) but she has even bigger lead against other republicans (except McCain) so your argumentation does not make any sense.

Again, there are plenty of fair reasons to attack Rudy but 9/11 is certainly not one of them.

[HerrBlucher]

Don't kid yourselves, once Rudy is dust, they'll lovingly turn their support to the Golden Girl, born and raised in NY.

Could be, but so what? They will have crushed Rudy. Fred then takes the nomination crushes the beast.....exactly the scenario any conservative should support!

[ExTexasRedhead]

Where’s the organized group that exposes the Clintoon corruption including their numerous “room temperature” friends and associates like Vince Foster and Ron Brown? Where’s the organized group that exposes the Clintoon corruption going back to Arkansas? Everyone talks about it and no one investigates nor exposes the truth. It’s time the GOP got serious about fighting back; seven years of sucking it up needs to come to an end or the future of this country is doomed.

[pawdoggie]

"Don't kid yourselves, once Rudy is dust, they'll lovingly turn their support to the Golden Girl, born and raised in NY".

Could be, but so what? They will have crushed Rudy. Fred then takes the nomination crushes the beast.....exactly the scenario any conservative should support!

From one Fred supporter to another: funny you should say that! Fred's getting hammered with the "laziness" smear by the NYT, the DBM and all the other organs of Clinton Central, and by all appearances, it's working. And, sadly enough, there are plenty of useful idiots right here at FR who are happy to help spread the word.

[Reagan Man]

>>>>>Everybody who lived through 9/11 remembers Rudy’s leadership.

After the WTC towers came came down, Rooty ran from mic to mic, from camera to camera and was seen by Americans from coast to coast. He attended many funerals and made many speeches. Is that how you define leadership? When it suits Rooty he exploits the 9-11 events to benefit his run for POTUS. He's running on a lying liberal-RINO agenda.

Btw. When conservatives see a liberal in trouble, they should stand up and cheer. Nothing deplorable about that. Anything that helps to take down this authoritarian and opportunist, is okay with me.

>>>>>Rudy wanted to keep taxes and debt low and carry out fiscally responsible policies economic policy.

When Rooty left office, NYCity was still the highest taxed big city in America, with a pre-9-11 deficit of $2.0-billion dollars and an escalating debt total of $42-billion. Rooty was no fiscal conservative.

[Reagan Man]

>>>>>That’s why DailyKos/Soros (and apparently, some in this forum) work together and make cheap shots at Rudy.
Again, there are plenty of fair reasons to attack Rudy but 9/11 is certainly not one of them.

Conservatives are working to take down a ruthless scumbag abortionist liberal and you call that taking cheap shots. You're on the wrong political forum, newbie!

FRee Republic exists to advance conservatism. This website opposes ALL forms of liberalism.

[HerrBlucher]

And, sadly enough, there are plenty of useful idiots right here at FR who are happy to help spread the word.

and even more sad, some of them are Hunter supporters.....I don't get that at all. Conservatives should support conservatives not tear them down.

[HerrBlucher]

LOL! Great cartoon and going into the collection, thanks!

[tompster76]

Somehow I feel that any arguments are useless in case of pure hatred.

Yes, Rudy’s calm TV presence was crucial leadership on 9/11. Going from mic to mic was exactly the right thing to do then.
Bush and Cheney were then hiding somewhere and Bush looked frightened and unsure when he finally emerged. During Katrina you had opportunity to see different kind of mayor showing his non-leadership.

As for taxes, this is another thing every conservative should thank Rudy. He slashed taxes and made the city business-friendly again. Yes, taxes are still higher than in most other cities (he wasn’t dictator, you know. City council is about 90-100% dem controlled).

[DemEater]

“You mean the same Rudy who had the Emergency Operations Center IN THE WORLD TRADE CENTER???”

It wasn’t bad judgment (vis a vis terrorism) that lead to that decision, it was him need a love nest near city hall so he wouldn’t have to travel to Brooklyn to cheat on his wife.

Cut the guy some slack /sarcams

[MarkDel]

You Anti-Rudy people are simply unhinged at this point...

Look, I happen to think that Fred Thompson is a lethargic, half-wit.

I happen to think that Mitt Romney is an insincere flip-flopper who can’t be trusted.

I happen to think that John McCain is the closest thing we have seen to the REAL Manchurian Candidate.

I happen to think that Ron Paul should be placed in a Rubber Room away from sharp objects.

BUT...you will NEVER see me cheering for one of them to be taken down because it hurts the GOOD GUYS. And in case you forgot, the good guys are anyone who can prevent the Democratic Party from holding office.

So if any of the CLOWNS I mentioned above happen to win the Republican Nomination, you’ll see me RUNNING to the polls to vote for them over Hillary or whatever VERMIN the Democratic Party nominates.

And if you guys REALLY think that Rudy would be as bas as Hillary for this country, then maybe we can find you some comfy space next to Ron Paul....

[Elyse]

These unions are dem-controlled activist groups who hated Guliani because he didn’t cave in and hand out massive pensions and salary increases to them

The NYC chapter of the firefighter's union endorsed Bush in 2004. This has nothing to do with their political stance.

[Reagan Man]

>>>>>Somehow I feel that any arguments are useless in case of pure hatred.

Look newbie, if you think opposing Giuliani is based on hatred, you're no conservative and you're definitely on the wrong political forum.

Free Republic promotes conservative candidates, not liberal candidates. We promote the Constitution. Rooty has trampled on the Constitution for years and continues to do so.

FReepers have been making the case against Rooty for the last year and a half. Rooty is persona non grata around this forum. When you get some free time, check out this thread: Will FR embrace socialism to make way for Rudy Giuliani as a Republican presidential candidate?

[steve8714]

GUys, lower your blood pressure. I’m not aa Rudy person for a lot of reasons, but the candidate is going to need all the runners-up campaigning for him if he is to beat the Anointed One. Rudy is one hell of a speaker, able to evoke strong emotions in a lot of people. He’s wrong on many of the issues and not my guy at all, bu =t we’ll need him and his people later, or they’ll need us. Remember that we observe not a world of black and white in the elections, but a scope of probabilities. The likelihood was that GWB would be a much better president than Gore, and then Kerry. Even several big mistakes and an unbelievable tone deafness have not swayed me from that conclusion. My liberal friends tell me he is the worst President in our lifetimes, ignoring Carter, Johnson and Nixon. The potential harm of Hillary Clinton with 4 SC nominations and her hands on classified info is astronomical. Let’s keep our eyes on the real prize, the defense and maintenance of our Nation.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

For your reading pleasure, sir. :)

hehehe...this one really drew out the trolls...lol

[2ndClassCitizen]

The name of the game is to trash every republican who has any reputation at all.

No matter what I think about Rudy, the democrats have trashed the commander in chief in time of war.

Therefore are directly responsible for treasonous behavior and they have taken dollars from islamofascist terrorists.

Sic Semper Tyrannus.

[KKing]

Thanks for saying what I hope many of us believe.

[Elyse]

Bush and Cheney were then hiding somewhere and Bush looked frightened and unsure when he finally emerged.

What a load of crap!

[steve8714]

Part of leadership IS making those speeches, and “raising the flag”, much like a salesman with an unhappy or mistreated customer might do. I disagree with Rudy on many substantive issues, but name calling and making fun of his given name will never persuade anyone here on FR.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

When conservatives see a liberal in trouble, they should stand up and cheer. Nothing deplorable about that. Anything that helps to take down this authoritarian and opportunist, is okay with me.

Bears repeating. The hyperbole from these Rooty Tooters is humorous on this thread. An attack like this BEFORE the general is exactly what we want from these guys. They could just as easily sit around and wait to see if he's nominated and THEN attack him. But, they're not advocating for Hillary, they're working AGAINST Rudy. Just like we are. Good on them.

[DocH]

Bush and Cheney were then hiding somewhere and Bush looked frightened and unsure when he finally emerged.

Hey troll, what are you doing on a CONSERVATIVE site spreading LEFT-WING propaganda/revisionist history?

The LEADER of the FREE WORLD was following security protocals set up for our President, ANY U.S. President, by the security experts - the Secret Service.

[Chunga]

Unionists wnating to derail Republican candidates! Who knew?

Knock me over with an effing feather.

[Chunga]

When conservatives see a liberal in trouble, they should stand up and cheer.

I have never, ever seen you stand up and cheer when Giuliani takes a bite out of Hillary's hide in the national press.

Why is that?

[DocH]

Good for them.

STOP LIBERALISM IN IT'S TRACKS - whether or not it rears it's ugly head as a demonRAT, OR...

An f'ing RINO like RINO-rudy.

[KKing]

“hehehe...this one really drew out the trolls...lol”

and don’t forget the suck-ups.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

You Anti-Rudy people are simply unhinged at this point...

...you will NEVER see me cheering for one of them to be taken down because it hurts the GOOD GUYS.

LOL! The 'good guys'. Who's that? Gungrabbing, abortion supporting, open borders liberals?

And in case you forgot, the good guys are anyone who can prevent the Democratic Party from holding office.

Apparently, even if they espouse the same belief system as the Democratic Party? Even if they're gungrabbing, abortion supporting, open border, liberals? I guess so...

So if any of the CLOWNS I mentioned above happen to win the Republican Nomination, you’ll see me RUNNING to the polls to vote for them over Hillary or whatever VERMIN the Democratic Party nominates.

So, you have no principles. Good for you. Since you'll vote for anyone running against Hillary, you should leave the choosing of the nominee to those of us who have a bit more grounding in conservative principles.

And if you guys REALLY think that Rudy would be as bas as Hillary for this country, then maybe we can find you some comfy space next to Ron Paul....

Heh...and you're accusing US of being unhinged...

Thanks for the laughs!

[Elyse]

Unionists wnating to derail Republican candidates! Who knew?

Get the facts straight about the NYC firefighter's union - they endorsed BUSH in 2004. This is not just an attack on a Republican candidate because of his party affiliation.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

Heh...if that moronic hyperbole that you agreed with above passes for your ‘belief system’, you should probably be looking for a more suitable forum to express it. You’ve been here a while. You should damn well know that this is a conservative forum.

[Reagan Man]

>>>>>GUys, lower your blood pressure. I’m not aa Rudy person for a lot of reasons, but the candidate is going to need all the runners-up campaigning for him if he is to beat the Anointed One.

Stop RudyBoostering. Conservatives aren't about to roll over and play dead. Not on your life! Giuliani isn't the savior of the GOP. Truth is, he'd be the worst candidate for GOP to nominate. NO liberals, NO RINO`s, NO Giuliani, NO thanks.

>>>>> ... name calling and making fun of his given name will never persuade anyone here on FR.

Read the top of FR`s homepage. We conservatives always have fun!

Free Republic is the premier online gathering place for independent, grass-roots conservatism on the web. We're working to roll back decades of governmental largesse, to root out political fraud and corruption, and to champion causes which further conservatism in America. And we always have fun doing it. Hoo-yah!

[perfect_rovian_storm]

That’s right. And if it were, they would be waiting to see if Rudy got the nomination before striking. This isn’t about bringing a Republican down. It’s about bringing Rudy down. And on the issue of stopping Rudy from getting the nomination, I stand with them.

[Chunga]

Get the facts straight about the NYC firefighter's union - they endorsed BUSH in 2004.

Their support for Bush was steeped in a desire to appear patriotic in the face of terrorism and a popular war. Now that the political winds have blown cover in their direction, they're back to their anti-Republican stances.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

Maybe because his shots are rather lame for the most part?

I don’t think you’re correct though. I’ll give Rudy credit when it’s due. I think RM will too. Most of us liked the Move On ad and I don’t remember for sure, but I believe RM posted in favor of that.

I want to stop his candidacy, but that doesn’t mean that I hate everything he does all the time.

Stop painting with such a broad brush. If one didn’t know better, one would think you were just trying to start an argument. :)

[perfect_rovian_storm]

BS! NY firefighers are largely Republican.

They want to stop Rudy, not any generic Republican.

[Reagan Man]

>>>>>I have never, ever seen you stand up and cheer when Giuliani takes a bite out of Hillary's hide in the national press. Why is that?

Obviously. Rooty is no conservative. One liberal attacking another liberal is fun to watch, but its not something that interests me on any level.

[KKing]

Exactly what I love about this place... someone like you telling me to look elsewhere.