Civil Rights and Justice
Giuliani Now Says He’s Pro-Life: In early 2007, Giuliani said on Fox News: Where I stand on abortion is, I oppose it. I don't like it. I hate it.” His campaign told the Christian Broadcasting Network that he doesn’t want to allow federal funding of abortions. [1]
Conservatives Noted “Brazen” Flip-Flop: Conservative commentators are noting Giuliani’s recent flip-flop on choice, with one calling it “brazen.” Reports continue to surface showing that as a candidate for mayor and only a few years ago, Giuliani repeatedly described himself as pro-choice, and that his positions on public funding, parental notification and other issues has changed. [2]
Recent civil rights stories
Rep. King: There Are "Too Many Mosques"
There's simply no excuse a sitting member of Congress uses this type of bigoted language:
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Giuliani, Self-Professed Terrorism Expert, Can’t Give a Straight Answer On Torture
Although it sounds like a no-brainer, Rudy can't make up his mind on whether or not we should torture detainees:
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Giuliani's Credibility Crumbles as He Continues to Overstate Mayoral Record and Adoption Numbers
Rudy Giuliani continues to deflect questions about his inconsistent positions on abortion by outright exaggerating his record as New York City's mayor. Not only does Giuliani overstate the number of adoptions under his watch, The New York Times today reports that "little if anything in the public record suggests that he was promoting adoption as an alternative to abortion."
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Help, He’s Fallen And He Can’t Get Up
Rudy Giuliani's campaign is still stumbling over the abortion question:
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SC DEBATE: NYC ADOPTION FACTS
RHETORIC: Giuliani Said Adoptions Went Up 133%. Giuliani continues to use wrong numbers on adoptions when trying to explain his position on choice. Tonight he said adoptions “went up 133%” while he was mayor.
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Ethics
Giuliani “Stuck By” “Radioactive” Kerik: Even after Bernard Kerik’s bid – championed by Giuliani – to become Secretary of Homeland Security disintegrated with repeated revelations of ethical problems, Giuliani, who has been close to Kerik for years “has stuck by Mr. Kerik publicly” according to the New York Times. The Associated Press reported that “Kerik's close association with Giuliani became radioactive when Kerik pleaded guilty [in June 2006] to…accepting a gift from a company seeking city work.” Giuliani and Kerik have a fifteen year old relationship in which Giuliani promoted his bodyguard to police commissioner, employed him at his consulting firm and named a jail after him. [3]
Giuliani Hired Family Members for City Jobs: Only six months into his term, Giuliani already had at least four members of his family on the city payroll. Asked if he had any other relatives on the payroll, the mayor said, “Could be; I’d have to go check.” [4]
Recent ethics stories
SHOCKER!
Rudy exaggerated his record on his US Attorney service:
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Sounds Kind of Like My Dog Ate My Homework
Giuliani continues to offer questionable excuses on Judi security expenses:
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So Much For Full Disclosure
Giuliani won't release client list or cut ties with his firm.
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Rudy in State of Denial on Meet the Press
During his first appearance as a presidential candidate on NBC's Meet the Press this morning, Rudy Giuliani continued his refusal to fully disclose his business dealings and connections to shady figures.
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Advice to Rudy: Own Up to Your Shady Past
As he hunkers down with his advisers today and prepares for his appearance on NBC's Meet the Press, Rudy Giuliani should finally answer questions he has been dodging for months.
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Environment
Giuliani’s MC Mocked Global Warming: “At his first major fundraiser, Giuliani’s emcee Dennis Miller, got raunchy, calling Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi “a moron” and mocking global warming, saying, “Excuse me for not believing temperatures from 1906, when we were still s-ing in the woods.”” [5]
Giuliani Doesn’t Have A Plan To Combat Global Warming: “Giuliani said the country must ‘do something’ about global warming. But he showed little inclination to break with Bush or his Republican congressional allies, who have resisted new pollution restraints on industry. Asked about California's landmark law mandating carbon emission cuts to combat global warming, Giuliani said he was unfamiliar with it…Giuliani declined to say whether the U.S. should tighten automotive mileage standards.” [6]
Recent environment stories
Gas Prices and the Memorial Day Weekend
Sky-high gas prices are putting the squeeze on working families this Memorial Day weekend, when about 32.1 million travelers will be riding by motor vehicle.
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Giuliani Reaps Financial Benefits From Energy Industry
Rudy Giuliani is raising money hand-over-fist in Texas--partly as a result of his Houston law firm, Bracewell & Giuliani, one of the most high-profile lobbyists for the oil, gas and energy industries. From the New York Times: The firm is...
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More of the Same Failed Energy Policy from Rudy Giuliani
Despite Rudy Giuliani's desperate attempts to distance himself from his ties to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez yesterday, the truth is the Giuliani that Americans do not yet know is beholden to energy special interests. Not only has Giuliani profited from Chavez controlled Citgo Petroleum Company, but he also has showed incompetence when dealing with air quality standards following 9/11.
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Rudy Blasts Chavez, But Defends His Work for Citgo
Rudy Giuliani yesterday called Hugo Chavez, leader of oil-rich Venezuela, a dangerous foe of the United States--even though Giuliani's law firm lobbies for the U.S. branch of an oil company controlled by Chavez.
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Health Care
Supporting Bush Health Care Plan: After the 2007 State of the Union, Giuliani praised Bush’s health care plan and said the Democrats’ plans were “socialist.” [7]
Giuliani Consulted For Drug Companies, Supported Their Opposition to Drug Re-importation: After landing a multi-million consulting contract with the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), Giuliani’s consulting firm provided an “independent” report to support the drug companies’ opposition to re-importing prescription drugs to lower costs for Americans. [8]
Recent health care stories
Rudy Shows Again He's Out-of-Touch with America's Priorities
After diverting his private plane to seek emergency medical care last week, Rudy Giuliani showed just how out of touch he is with the needs of average Americans when he told the Tampa Tribune editorial board that Republican voters are not concerned about health care "maybe because Republicans have health care."
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Health Care Group Tells Giuliani To Pull Misleading Ad
From the Concord Monitor:
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Rudy's "Non-Plan"
From the always-insightful Ezra Klein:
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Rudy's "Commitment" To Comprehensive Health Care Coverage Laughable: Heath Care Plan Guided by Failed Mayoral Record and Drug Industry Ties
If his mayoral record and ties to the pharmaceutical industry are any indication, Rudy Giuliani will not offer a health care plan that provides comprehensive coverage to all Americans.
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Giuliani Faces An Uphill Battle Tonight
"Planned Parenthood is planning a rally outside tonight's debate site at the University of South Carolina, and although the group said it hopes to press the Republican candidates into 'the mainstream,'"
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Immigration
"Oldest" Giuliani Took Hardline On Immigration. In the 1980’s, while Giuliani was at the Justice Department and had “chief responsibility over…the Immigration and Nationalization Service,” Giuliani took a hardline against immigration and enacted more stringent rules to detain illegal aliens. He advocated making the hiring of illegal immigrants illegal and proposed fines of $500 to $1,000 for the offense in testimony before a House Judiciary subcommittee. [9]
"Old" Giuliani Said ‘Most Immigrants Are Coming…For Jobs”. “On illegal immigration, the United States must have much more security on its borders to understand who is coming in, he said. The country also must recognize most immigrants are coming into this country for jobs, he said. ‘And that you’re not going to stop,’ Giuliani said. ‘So you’ve got to recognize it, identify the people, find out who they are, get taxes from them, fingerprint them, understand where they are. ... But you can’t try to reject that process. If you do, you’re going to make the problem so big that you’re not going to be able to solve it.’“ [10]
"Old" Giuliani Criticized Plans To Ban Social Security And Welfare For Legal Immigrants. “Mayor Giuliani has broken with most Republicans and denounced the assault on benefits for legal aliens. The city estimates that the ban on Social Security payments for resident alien New Yorkers would total $ 100 million. Restrictions on welfare for immigrants could shift another $ 100 million of the burden onto the city and state. Immigrant advocates are worried over how Gov. Pataki will respond if it’s left to the state to decide whether legal aliens could still get Medicaid and welfare.” [11]
"Old" Giuliani Called Proposition 187 “Inhumane.” Giuliani used the label of “inhumane” to refer to Proposition 187, the California ballot measure to end benefits for illegal immigrants that Governor Pete Wilson supported during his reelection campaign. [12]
"Old" Giuliani Opposed “Personal Responsibility And Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996” And the “Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.” The New York Times reported that Giuliani “received widespread attention for his outspoken positions in favor of immigration and against parts of the new Federal welfare law. [13]
"New" Giuliani Favors Tougher Border Security And Earned Citizenship. Reporters asked Giuliani about immigration. He said he favors tougher border security as well as a way for illegal immigrants already here to earn citizenship. He said they also must show they've tried to assimilate by learning English. [14]
"New" Giuliani Did A Flip-Flop-Flip On Immigration. In the late 1990’s, Giuliani reversed his position, placing barriers on non-English speakers seeking public assistance and proposing shortening bilingual education. His proposed FY 2001 budget called for a cut in immigration services. In 2006, Giuliani reversed his position for a third time, advocating that current illegal aliens must be offered a path to citizen and criticizing the house bill which would make a being an illegal immigrant a felony. Giuliani also supported Bush’s guest worker program. [15]
Recent immigration stories
The Immigration Run Around
Mitt and Rudy's ever-evolving positions:
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Giuliani vs. Giuliani on Immigration
While Rudy Giuliani promises to be tough on immigration, his record as Mayor of New York City shows a different picture, and raises questions about the Republican candidate's swing to the far right on the issue.
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No Sanctuary for Rudy on Immigration in Granite State Today
Rudy Giuliani, under attack from rivals who claim he presided over a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants as Mayor, is unlikely to find any sanctuary himself as he tours New Hampshire today given his blatant reversal on the issue.
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Rudy Again Misstates His Mayoral Record. . . This Time on Immigration
As he campaigns in South Carolina today, Rudy Giuliani again will mislead voters about his record as New York City's mayor. While Giuliani says he is "committed" to ending illegal immigration, as mayor he said "we want to protect" undocumented workers and he "pushed policies" for illegal immigrants by saying, "The reality is that they are here, and they're going to remain here." [The New York Times, 4/22/07]
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Rudy’s Western Front: Staff Gone Wild
Giuliani's team goes wild in the West.
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Iraq
Giuliani Denounced Troop Withdrawal Deadline: Giuliani called Democrats plans “a terrible mistake” and called on the President to veto the Democratic legislation, which contains a war spending appropriation. [16]
Giuliani Said Bush’s Goals in Iraq Were of “Profound Importance:” Giuliani said what the Bush administration is trying to achieve is of “profound importance” to the United States. [17]
Giuliani Resigned From Iraq Study Group: Rudy Giuliani resigned from the Iraq Study Group in May of 2006, then criticized its findings. When he quit, he said he didn’t have the time. Moreover, according to Newsday, “It's not clear that he attended a single meeting. Two of the group's top advisers said they didn't even know he had been a member.” [18]
Recent Iraq stories
Rudy on Foreign Policy: A Profile in Arrogance
Despite the fact that he has not acknowledged the dire realities on the ground in Iraq and he has displayed a lack of foreign policy expertise, Rudy Giuliani plans to deliver his first major foreign policy address in Michigan today. One day after the International Association of Firefighters publicly questioned Giuliani's leadership credentials in the aftermath of 9/11, his speech today will likely prove to be another one of his displays of arrogance.
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Giuliani Ignores Iraq On Campaign Trail
Rudy bills himself as the "national security candidate." So why won't he discuss Iraq?
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Rudy Giuliani Chose Money and Politics over Leadership on Iraq
For Rudy Giuliani, money and political ambition take precedent over finding a solution to the Iraq War. In Iowa yesterday, Giuliani claimed that he did not show up for a single meeting of the Iraq Study Group because he was going to run for president and...
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No Love For Rudy In Iowa
Rudy made a quick stop in Iowa yesterday to talk about his "commitments," but was drowned out by reporters asking about the real story: Rudy's no-show at the Iraq Study Group.
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Giuliani’s New Plan For Success in Iraq?
Super-Surge!
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Social Security
Giuliani Supported Privatization: Giuliani “favors allowing some investment in private accounts,” which would gut the guaranteed benefits American workers depend on in their retirement. [19]
Recent Social Security stories
Another Week, Another Chance for the Republican Presidential Field to Duck Hard Questions
Tonight, the AARP will be hosting a forum for the Republican candidates in Iowa to address issues important to America's seniors but only one of the Republican frontrunners will attend as the others cited "scheduling conflicts."
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Taxes/Deficit
Giuliani Supported Bush Tax Cuts: Giuliani said that “I think the tax cuts the president did are stimulating that economy. I feel very, very bad he didn't get the credit for that that he deserved.” [20]
New York City’s Debt Skyrocketed Under Giuliani: Under Giuliani, New York City’s debt increase by 52%, by $14.8 billion. [21]
Recent taxes/deficit stories
Tax Cut Math
Bondad over at the Huffington Post takes a look at Giuliani's tax cut claims at the debate, where he tried to claim that his cuts would pay for themselves.
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Broken Record Alert
Giuliani, once again, exaggerates NYC fiscal record:
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South Carolinians Know Giuliani's Numbers Just Don't Add Up
Rudy Giuliani is in South Carolina today, where he will likely continue to exaggerate his fiscal record as Mayor of New York City to score political points as he did earlier this week at the CNBC Debate.
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Giuliani Again Exaggerates Fiscal Record, Evades Questions During CNBC Debate
Once again Rudy Giuliani resorted to exaggerating his own fiscal record as mayor of New York City in order to score political points.
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SC DEBATE: GIULIANI INCREASED NYC SPENDING
Rhetoric: It Was Inflation. Tonight Giuliani said he increased spending less then inflation and defended his record increasing spending in New York City while claiming to be a fiscal conservative.
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Veterans
Giuliani Said Troops were Responsible for Not Finding Missing Explosives in Iraq: Giuliani said, “The president was cautious, the president was prudent, the president did what a commander in chief should do. And no matter how you try to blame it on the president, the actual responsibility for it really would be for the troops that were there. Did they search carefully enough? Didn’t they search carefully enough?” [22]
Footnotes
[Hannity and Colmes, Fox News Network, 2/5/07; Brody File, CBNNews.com, 3/28/07]
[Brody File, CBN News, 3/28/07 and 3/28/07; NationalReview.com, 3/29/07]
[The Bismarck Tribune, 7/1/06; AP, 3/24/07; Herald News (Passaic County, NJ), 2/15/07; Newsweek, 12/27/04; New York Times, 11/16/05, 9/28/06]
[The Record (AP), 6/8/94]
[New York Post, 3/15/07]
[Los Angeles Times, 2/14/07]
[Live Event: State of the Union Analysis, Fox News Network, 1/23/07]
[Chain Drug Review, 4/26/04; National Journal, 3/13/04; Associated Press, 6/18/04]
[Washington Post, 7/24/82; New York Times, 3/10/83; United Press International, 10/22/81; New York Times, 9/26/96; Baltimore Sun, 2/12/07; New York Times, 10/28/99; Daily News, 2/17/00; Giuliani State of the City Address, 1/14/98; The Frontrunner, 5/3/06; Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, 5/2/06; The Hotline, 4/5/06, Chicago Sun-Times, 4/5/06; New York Sun, 4/27/06; New York Times, 7/6/06]
[Knight Ridder, 3/25/06]
[Daily News, 12/1/95]
[Los Angeles Times, 3/30/95]
[New York Times, 9/26/96; New York Times, 8/23/95]
[Charlotte Observer, 5/16/06]
[Washington Post, 7/24/82; New York Times, 3/10/83; United Press International, 10/22/81; New York Times, 9/26/96; Baltimore Sun, 2/12/07; New York Times, 10/28/99; Daily News, 2/17/00; Giuliani State of the City Address, 1/14/98; The Frontrunner, 5/3/06; Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, 5/2/06; The Hotline, 4/5/06, Chicago Sun-Times, 4/5/06; New York Sun, 4/27/06; New York Times, 7/6/06]
[AP, 3/28/07]
[AP, 1/14/07]
[Washington Post, 6/1/06, 12/19/06; Newsday (New York), 11/17/06]
[Providence Journal (Rhode Island), 1/28/07]
[CNBC’s Kudlow and Cramer, 3/26/07]
[New York City Comptroller’s Office, “Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,” FY 1994-1999]
[Today Show, 10/28/04]
