Obama Blasts Giuliani's Remarks

Democrat Says Republican Front-Runner Is Engaging In "Politics Of Fear"

(AP)  Democrat Barack Obama rebuked Republican White House rival Rudy Giuliani Wednesday for suggesting the United States could face another major terrorist attack if a Democrat is elected in 2008.

Obama, an Illinois senator, said the man who served as New York's mayor during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks should not be making the serious threat that faces the country into "the punch line of another political attack."

"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. "America's mayor should know that when it comes to 9/11 and fighting terrorists, America is united. 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."

Giuliani's comment Tuesday in New Hampshire 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."

In 2004, President Bush was re-elected after claiming that Democratic Sen. John Kerry would waver in the face of terrorist threats. Vice President Dick Cheney suggested a vote for Kerry would risk another terrorist attack.

In the 2006 election, Bush political strategist Karl Rove accused Democrats of clinging to a pre-Sept. 11 mind-set, but Democrats came out on top in the majority of midterm races.

[jolsonbear]

Terrorism - the use of violence and threats of violence to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes.

Bush, Cheney, Gulliani and how many other Rebuplicans have now threatened us that putting Democrats in office will result in attacks on America.

The war on terror will not be won until we remove the terrorists from office!

[luvny-2009]

didntinhale ---
by your remarks I think you did inhale LOL

[lilvinnyb]

I think Obama misses the point. The dems dont believe in any get tough tactics against terrorists. They hate gitmo, they dont like the patriot act, they dont believe in pro-active surveillance, they don't believe in striking our enemies first. Their entire posture has been to react once attacked.

Bill Clinton admitted in a speech that he did not take OBL when offered by Sudan because he had "No legal reason to hold him". Perhaps Obama should be asked about those statements.

If i may quote one of those "code pink" protesters, "If we just show love to them, they will show love back"....thats the left for you.

[irishbitch1]

didntinhale

I would venture to guess that by spelling Sen Obama's middle name in caps means he is somehow affiliated with saddam hussein? Mr bush and dead eye D_I_C_K are friends with the Saudi's where most of the 9/11 terrorists came from. There are even photos of the chimp holding hands with the prince, so who has ties with terrorists? My God you are a simpleton.

[ckcool192000]

Lets face it, Republicans have nothing going for them in the 08 electction. Take a look at the polls around the country and you will find that the vast majority of citizens are unsatisfied with how the republicans, namely Bush is running this country.

Giuliani along with every other republican presedential canidate knows this. This is why Giuliani and the others are trying to scare the American public into believing that if they are elected there would not be another attack.

The fact of the matter is, that if someone wants to attack the US, in a similar fashion to 9/11 bad enough, they will be able to do it no matter how hard the anyone in law enforcement tries to stop it.

It's just like somone breaking into your car, if somone wants to steal something from your car, no matter how many alarms and locks you have, if someone is determined enough they will still break in to your car and take what they want.

Sorry republicans the American citizens are smarter than what you all give them credit for.

[anon1978]

I would advise Sen. Obama to stop calling him "America's Mayor." That moniker represents a media-invented myth about Rudy Guiliani that is as incorrect as it is tired. Rudolph Guiliani is a partisan hack, was a terrible mayor, and would be an aweful president. Calling him "America's Mayor" gives him undue credit and perpetuates an untrue image of Guiliani that he is going to attempt to milk as much as possible. Luckily, I feel people are finally catching on to the republican lies.

[lilvinnyb]

Obama! It's time for some specifics from you. This free ride you have gotten from the media will eventually come to an end. I have not heard a single question asked about your extremely far-left voting record in the Illinois Senate, or the fact that you have not put forward ANY specific policy proposals since you have been in the U.S. Senate.

Your qlowing rhetoric makes everyons swoon but as one individual wrote below.."the American citizens are smarter than what you all give them credit for." :-).

[ckcool192000]

didntinhale,

If you know so well how this country should be ran...

Why don't you run for president?

Oh wait, I forgot you have to have money to run. In addition to a decent amount of people that agree and want to help you.

Guess you're out of luck.

[ckcool192000]

lilvinnyb, Just remember though, the elections are over a year away, none of the canidates have come to the table with specifics on how they are planning on running the country.

[anon1978]

The only thing that changed Guiliani from a drag-wearing, unpopular and incompetent political hack with little chance at a political future into supposed presidential material is a major terrorist attack that occurred under his watch and under the noses of his perpetually incompetent Republican party. If anything, 9/11 should make him LESS qualified to be president, and anyone who votes for him is shallow and uninformed. I sincerely hope there are enough idiots out there to drink the Guiliani kool-aid, but then again Bush Jr was somehow elected by these people so it%u2019s hard to have much faith in the electorate to make an intelligent and informed decision for president. I can see the bumper stickers now: %u201CWeak-minded Dimwits for Guiliani %u201908!%u201D

[getcentered]

"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.%u201D


Man, I like the way Barack Obama speaks.
Sounds like a uniter.
The polar opposite of GOP politics.

[anon1978]

If the worst thing you can come up with is pointing out that Sen. Obama's middle name is Hussein, then I'd say he's doing pretty well. Should be smooth sailing to the presidency once he gets the nomination and it will be 8 long years for slow dull-witted fools like you and all other pig republicans.

[ammianus]

The Sorrows of Young Dumus, Art. XVI (von Hausmann's translation):
When the appointment of G. W. Bush (Dumus) appeared inevitable, it is said the House of Saud complained to the House of Bush that, in their view, the US security agencies were harassing Saudi subjects. The Saudi asserted that in view of the intimate friendship between the two Houses and the anticipated electoral victory for which the Saudi had furnished a weighty contribution, the House of Bush should undertake, once the Presidency was secured, to discourage the attentions of the US intelligence services toward Saudi subjects belonging to Al Quaeda. In return, the Saudi pledged to moderate the fanaticism of their subjects, particularly the acolytes of ibn Laden. Journandes reports the agreement was memorialized by several forms of documentation to ensure the continuing fidelity of both parties. When Bush assumed office, the agreement on the side of the US was facilitated by the practice of compartmentalism. Each group within an intelligence agency assigned a specific task was alone permitted information relevant to its mission and was forbidden to share knowledge, including the bare facts of its own actions, with any other group. The G. W. Bush had but to direct a handful of overseers to practice deliberate inattention where Saudi subjects were involved. These servitors performed admirably in deflecting enquiries into the activities of Al Quaeda in Europe and America.

[getcentered]

didntinhale:

Are you angry?

People who vote for Republicans are very angry right now. They feel somewhat responsible for our brothers and sisters dying in Iraq, and they should, but that does not mean that because you voted for a warmonger in the last few elections that you have to continue to do so.

Republicans:
Stop feeling so bad and stop voting for GOP'er just because you keep hearing the word "team" associated with them. This is not Football, your votes can help decide whether our brothers and sisters fight and die for causes that all Americans believe in and support.

[ckcool192000]

didntinhale

How is it that you have the time to repost...repeatedly the same thing over and over and over again?

I personally think he is on a republican's payroll....Bush maybe?

[infidel_us]

WELLLLLLLL.....big shocker here. Wonder what's worse; Rudi offering an opinion, or Hillary putting on a fake souther accent in front of a group of blacks?

Hmmmmmm........

[anon1978]

he says the same thing over and over again because he's a little slow like most Bush supporters. It's hard to come up with new things to say... when you're not the sharpest tool in the shed.

[notblue]

Obama is typical of the democrat's denial regarding the threat and the war on terror. The Democrats even waisted the American taxpayers time by legislating away using the words war on terror. This idiotic denail of the greatest threat to face the free world in modern times is rationalized away all in the name of politics. Even though Al Qaeda is now in Iraq the Dems refuse to recognize this fact and keep caliing the conflict a civil war. The Iraq conflict has become a war of ideology that if we fail to win will increase the threat posed by already dangerous world we live in. I cannot understand how the Dems can deny this obvious threat to eveyones peril all in the name of twisted leftwing ideology and denial for politics sake.

[acctriangle]

didntinhale,

No matter what the discussion, you continue to post the most ignorant of all comments. You must have graduated from high school with the honor of the most likely to be ignorant and stupid.

And Guilani, what in the hell did he do that was so special and different than what any credible mayor would have done in the same situation. He is not America's mayor because I don't live in New York and I did not vote for him. So if Guilani was so great, then why was New York even attacked from the beginning.

And he oh!!! He uses good judgement...by trying to have his buddy nominated as the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security. And his buddy supposedly has mob ties. Hey, way to go Guiliani. You treat the American people like did your previous wives - insulting us all.

[acctriangle]

Infidel_US,

Your question is easy. What is worse is Guilani's comments. He challenges a person's patriotism but does not admit that the U.S. was attacked under his watch as a Republican mayor and with a Republican president in the U.S. We don't know if we will be attacked again and whether it will be a Republican or Democrat in office; however, we do know one thing, we were attacked with Republicans in office.

As a black man, Hillary can do whatever she wants with her accent. I think she is phony for many reasons. But there is no comparison what was worse in this case. I rather her fake an accent then to challenge someone's Americanism for a vote that divides.

Easy answer!

[ckcool192000]

didntinhale I challenge you to come up with one thing intelligent to say about this news story. Something other than trashing the Democrats. If you're even a real person...or something other than a poor sole that sits at his computer all day long, because they don't have a job and lives off of the government. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

I applaud Barack because as of yet, I don't know that he has personally attacked any of the other canidates. I think this is honorable. If I'm wrong correct me.

[notblue]

Acctriangle, The U.S. was attacked numerous times by Al Qaeda when Clinton was in office and nothing was done in response, in fact there were over a dozen attacks on U.S. interests prior to 911 andthe Bush presidency.

[acctriangle]

lilvinnyb,

What politician do you know. Let me re-phrase this. What politican do you know who runs for the presidency talks specifics?

Come on now. Please do not act so uninformed. They all are asked questions and the first thing they will say is "we need to"...

As Americans we know what we need to do, but the question is what specifically are they going to do.

[acctriangle]

notblue,

Okay, so my point was that the U.S. can be attacked while Republicans are in office as well. Why does Guiliani and other Republicans think the U.S. can not be attacked with a Republican president in office, when it happened 9/11/2001??? The last attack was with a Republican in office - correct? Oh let me guess, that was Clinton's fault right?? And let me guess again, the American lives that have been lost since MISSION ACCOMPLISHED were under Clinton's watch as well?? Everyone in the world fears Republican presidents???

[johnpatrick9]

Land of the Manipulated the and Home of the Fearful.....according to the new American fascists who are using the same tack which Hitler's Reichmarshall spoke of at Nuremburg (used to steer Germany into a disaster):"Tell the
people that there are enemies threatenning them from outside and that anyone who disagrees is an enemy within. Keep the people fearful and antagonistic towards any who dispute the need to be ready for war..it works every time and in every nation." And now it is our turn to hear this nonsense again. I for one as an American fear no one and no nation and will not waste my wealth or blood on vainglorious, manipulative policies of militarists who wish to use and abuse our nations people and wealth in absurd unending warfare. We are not facing NAZI GERMANY, Imperial Japan or Soviet Russia but we are facing internal fascists who will drain us of our blood, treasure and liberty. Guillani is just another dope along with McCain and Rommney and Bush and Cheney.

[freedomisnot]

Giuliani is correct in his analysis.A defensive posture does not work in a free society. Being offensive and taking the fight to the enemy is the only way to continue to prevent further attacks.

[acctriangle]

freedomisnot,

So are you ready to go in and attack Iran now as well? How about North Korea? Let's not have a defensive posture, let's drop bombs everywhere. Are you thirsty enough?

[huskerarmy]

"If the worst thing you can come up with is pointing out that Sen. Obama's middle name is Hussein, then I'd say he's doing pretty well."

Expect them to keep using subtle and not so subtle ways to remind us that Obama is black and not the conventional presidential candidate... not "presidential." They truely are a very basic lot.

[notblue]

acctriangle, no it was not Clintons fault it was radical Islams fault, remeber the BAD GUYS, that's the problem with the left in this country they forgot who the REAL enemy is, it's not America, it's not BUSh and the republicans, It's radical Islam and ther 6th century barbaristic violent ideology. The total denial of the threat from this insane organization by the dems will undoubtedlyy lead to another attack and massive loss of life. Sadly that's what it will take to unite this country once again. If one believes the threat posed by the militants is real, the left calls you a fascist or fear monger because admitting the threat would negate there argument for passifism.

[acctriangle]

notblue,

You and your Republican friends do not really believe that Democrats want the nation to be attacked and you know it. You use it as fear for those that are insecure and who can be scared easily - just to get a vote and for a nice pep rally.

I will agree we know who the real enemy is, just be sure that your Republican people know.

[huskerarmy]

"Being offensive and taking the fight to the enemy is the only way to continue to prevent further attacks."
Posted by freedomisnot

Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, had no Al Qaeda cells prior to the US invasion, did not posess WMD's and was a secular government and therefore opposed to the theocratic philosophy of the taliban. So freedomisnot, please define the "enemy" if you will.

[randalds]

didntinhale I challenge you to come up with one thing intelligent to say about this news story. Something other than trashing the Democrats. If you're even a real person...or something other than a poor sole that sits at his computer all day long, because they don't have a job and lives off of the government. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

I applaud Barack because as of yet, I don't know that he has personally attacked any of the other canidates. I think this is honorable. If I'm wrong correct me.


Posted by ckcool192000 at 03:06 PM : Apr 25, 2007

You could have stopped this whole statement after the word "say". lol! He hasn't ever even fulfilled that much yet! LOL!

These right wing trolls are all alike, twisting the words that others say to make a point, because to them everything that has happened to this nation is up one big game of one-up-manship. They dont give a dam*n about what's best for the country because to them scoring points for their side is more important then anything as mundane as helping America. They are the lowest of the low in America, simply blind spectators cheering for their "team" and to hell with what's right or wrong.

[notblue]

huskerarmy, you are probably right about the fact that Al Qaeda was not in Iraq at the time the conflict started and you are right by saying they are there now. Knowing that Al Qaeda is in Iraq NOW how do you justify retreat?

[huskerarmy]

"...that's the problem with the left in this country they forgot who the REAL enemy is, it's not America..."
Notblue, How was Iraq a threat to the US, a "real enemy," prior to the invasion?

[notblue]

Randalids, your rants are typical of someone who's argument has no facts to base it on. The name calling definitely does nothing to further your opinion or argument. Please explain how retreat from the war in Iraq will not embolden the enmy that's there now and in turn make America safer than actually fighting those that would destroy innocent civilian lives without conscience or regret using any and all means that they could get there hands on. Or is my statement untrue, just more fascist rightwing fear mongering.

[antoniof123]

Why is it when you speak to the right wing nuts all you get is a buch of insults about the Dems, Clinton. I have this to say, it tooks the Dems over 40 years to get completly out of touch with America, it took less then 12 years for the GOP to do it and they added so much corruption that we now can not stand them. What next GOP are you going to tell us that if we do not vote for you aliens will attack us.

Get a life!!

[notblue]

huskerarmy, you didn't answer the question, knowing Al Qaeda is in IRAQ NOW, today, presently, how do YOU and the left in this country justify retreat?????? Please enlighten me

[mudrose-2009]

The U.S. pullout directly led to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, since Osama bin Laden cited the Americans%u2019 alleged weakness and cowardice in Mogadishu as proof that we would not be willing or able to retaliate for those attacks. Oh, and guess who's joining the chorus? Why Osama - bin laden that is said he was directly behind the attack on Chenney in Afghanistan. Sees to be rooting for the Mules, too.
Posted by mudrose

[huskerarmy]

"Knowing that Al Qaeda is in Iraq NOW how do you justify retreat?"
Al Qaeda's beef is not with Iraqis. Conservative estimates are that Al Qaeda makes up as much as 15% of the insurgency. And they are there at the bequest of the insurgets. When they are no longer needed, they will no longer be welcome. In the interim, Iraq remains a "cause celeb" for recruiting terrorists and our presence serves to engorge the ranks of the terrorists and enhance the corresponding threat. The resources that are being squandered in Iraq, would be much better spent protecting the homeland.

[randalds]

Or is my statement untrue, just more fascist rightwing fear mongering.
Posted by notblue at 03:39 PM : Apr 25, 2007

Yep, you hit it on the head troll. You are not interested in an exchange of thoughts or ideas, you are what most of the right wingers on this site are, a cheerleader for the death of our troops. You are one of the people who are murdering them in vain. Everyone of our soldiers that has died in this debacle was killed by people like you just as surely as if you'd shot them yourself. The enemy we are fighting in Iraq is the Iraqi's. All they want is for us to leave and let them sort this mess out themselves. If you think Iraqi's are going to be "emboldened" and are going to invade our coasts by swimming over to attack us here, then you've been sniffing too much glue.

[randalds]

Posted by didntinhale at 03:49 PM : Apr 25, 2007

Shoo troll, shoo. You're about as irritating as a gnat and have even less credibility. So shoo. Move on before someone shoots some Raid at you. Shoo.

Dam*n bugs. This place is getting infested with them just like with roaches or mice!

[notblue]

Huskerarmy, since as you stated iraq is a cause celeb for the radicals tell me again how retreat will signal the radicals that it will be time to make nice???? Oh and don't forget the twin towers came down before the iraq conflict started. What caused the radicals to attack New York since we weren't in Iraq yet??? I know you will be able to enlighten me.

[notblue]

Randalids, love your ignorant name calling and tired old leftwing blather, please keep it up, let everyone here at these CBS comment area truly know the depths of your intelligence or sadly the lack there of. Your great entertainment!

[randalds]

Borack HUSSEIN Obama a true American name for a true Anti terror American.

=)

Posted by didntinhale at 03:52 PM : Apr 25, 2007

See what I mean about trolls? Childish. This is something a 4th grader would have said. Not surprising, but still disappointing. Childish and stupid.

[randalds]

Randalids, love your ignorant name calling and tired old leftwing blather, please keep it up, let everyone here at these CBS comment area truly know the depths of your intelligence or sadly the lack there of. Your great entertainment!
Posted by notblue at 03:55 PM : Apr 25, 2007

See? No interest in an honest exchange of ideas. This one never has been. His goal is to get people to try to engage him in conversation so he can use his twisted circular logic to try to trip them up. It's not about real solutions to real problems to him, it's all about the game. Scoring points for his side, like he's on some sort of insane debate team. He is a spectator of death, cheering his side on no matter that real human beings are dying. He doesn't care because to him it's all about scoring points for his ideology, never about what's best for the troops their families or the nation as a whole. To him and the others like him here it's all just one big game.

[hhkeller]

The Republican Chickenhawks ran the White House during 911,, 3000 dead on that day and another 3600 dead in Iraq.
A Republican winning the White Houe in '08 ?
NOT A CHANCE

[huskerarmy]

"Borack HUSSEIN Obama a true American name for a true Anti terror American."
Posted by didntinhale
They are so desperate, they have to resort to all sorts of scar tactics. Be afraid people. Obama is black... His middle name is, well just "unAmerican." He must be an undercover terrorist. They are already beaten and they refuse to accept it...like an old fighter who, stuck on stubborn stupid, refuses to retire and ultimately humiliates himself. At the end of the day, Americans no longer support this phony war. Nothing is going to change that. They will have to find another way to redirect tax dollars to Halliburton. But the more they call the American majority "cowards," "traitors," "terrorists sympathizers," "undercover terrorists," the more ridiculous they look and the sooner they will become compeletely irrelevant.

[imprisonbush]

I disagree that Guiliani's comments mark a new low, as claimed by Obama. In fact, this Bush Administration has explored the depths of hypocrisy, deceit and unfairness at a level that has never before been observed or practiced. I think Guiliani is trying to follow in Bush's footsteps, but he has a long way to go before he ever trumps the master.

[randalds]

Borack HUSSEIN Obama a true American name for a true Anti terror American.

=)


Posted by didntinhale at 04:02 PM : Apr 25, 2007

Again, see what I mean? Childish and stupid. I mean what's next? Fa*rt jokes? How about the classic "I know you are but what am I!" or "I'm rubber and you're glue!". It's like trying to debate life and death with name calling 4th graders. This one should change his log on name to Pee Wee Herman, except that Pee Wee was actually funny and didn't kill anyone, unlike trolls like this.

[duhrer]

notblue, and others like you. I know you weren't paying attention when they announced it over and over again that there were no links between Iraq and 9/11. It's like speaking to politically retarded people. Pulling out of Iraq won't help fight terrorism, but neither will staying there, since terrorists against America would want to strike here. You think a war over in Iraq is preventing them from coming here? They don't need to. They just wait for our own home-grown terrorists to do the work for them. Americans are dying in Iraq for the slimmest reasons and forget about Afghanistan, we've just let them grow all over there.