November 05, 2007
A Noun, a Verb and Ronald Reagan
Rudy Giuliani spoke at length today in Manchester about his experiences at the Justice Department and as U.S. attorney, an effort at broadening his appeal beyond his leadership of New York after the 9/11 attacks.
"I know how to get big tasks accomplished," Giuliani said during a town hall meeting. "Look at what I did about organized crime as the United States attorney. Look at what we did about political corruption in New York City. Go back and look at what we did about drugs when I was in the Reagan administration. And go look at what I did when I was mayor of New York City. I did things of that scope."
NBC/NJ's Matthew Berger reports that Giuliani, when asked who he would pick as a running mate, spoke of being in the Reagan Justice Department the day the president was shot.
"My mother used to have this picture ... of me shaking hands with Ronald Reagan; it was the day that (John) Hinckley attempted to assassinate him," Giuliani said, noting he had to handle logistics for Hinckley's arraignment as acting associate attorney general. "I've lived through that, so I am very aware of the fact that any president, like any of us, could be gone at any minute, so you better have a vice president who can step in and take over."
The focus on Giuliani's pre-mayoral days was supposed to coincide with the release of a new online video, but campaign officials said are holding it for a day. In it, the campaign is expected to tout his experience as the youngest associate attorney general, including his fight against violent crime and terrorism.
A press release highlighting Giuliani's Reagan administration stint, released Monday, also noted that he was "directly involved" in the selection process that helped nominate Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. It was, in short, a shout out to those doubters on the far right who question Giuliani's more moderate views on social issues.
But it was a different hiring decision that drew questions yesterday of the former mayor. Giuliani was asked anew about his association with Bernard Kerik in an Associated Press interview. He admitted a mistake, but stressed his overall record.
"I should have done a better job of checking him out," Giuliani said at Caesario's Pizza later in the day. "I didn't, and I've apologized for that.
"But when you look at the combination of the mistakes I made and the correct decisions I made, I think if I made the same balance of those as president of the United States, the country would be in great shape."
Giuliani was joined on the campaign trail Monday by Judith Giuliani for the first time in weeks. She is expected to speak Tuesday at Dartmouth College about breast cancer research. Her husband, however, is not likely to attend.
Posted at 05:42 PM
Comments
Rudy's response that he takes responsibility and that they should have done a better job of vetting Kerik is nonsense. He testified to the grand jury in the Bronx regarding Kerik's state charges that Kerik had been investigated by DOI and that DOI met with Giuliani to brief him about their investigation. The truth is that Giuliani ignored Kerik's problems because he was one of his guys. There is plenty of evidence to support this in reviewing Kerik's promotions to Correction Commissioner and Police Commissioner while he had "legal/ethical problems" and didn't have a college education. He was just another of Giuliani's loyal crew who got into trouble, google Fred Patrick (did federal jail time), Anthony Serra (did federal jail time), John Picciano (forced out from Giuliani partners along with Kerik) and William Fraser (forced out as Correction Commissioner after the Kerik/Serra scandal). Each of these Giuliani appointees ran into trouble as Rudy looked the other way. Let's not forget that the good guys, Ray Kelly and Bill Bratton, two of the country's best police commissioners were both fired by Rudy.
And these would be good decisions for the country?
John M. | 11.06.07 01:16 PM
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