Giuliani "Misspoke" About Ground Zero
Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani said Friday that he misspoke when he said he spent as much time, if not more, at ground zero exposed to the same health risks as workers combing the site after the Sept. 11 attacks.
"I think I could have said it better," he told nationally syndicated radio host Mike Gallagher. "You know, what I was saying was, 'I'm there with you."'
The former New York mayor upset some firefighters and police officers when he said Thursday in Cincinnati that he was at ground zero "as often, if not more, than most of the workers."
"I was there working with them. I was exposed to exactly the same things they were exposed to. So in that sense, I'm one of them," he told reporters at a Los Angeles Dodgers-Cincinnati Reds baseball game.
Fire and police officials responded angrily, saying Giuliani did not do the same work as those involved in the rescue, recovery and cleanup from the 2001 terrorist attacks, which left many workers sick and injured.
On Friday, Giuliani said he was trying to show his concern for the workers' health.
"What I was trying to say yesterday is that I empathize with them, because I feel like I have that same risk," he said.
"There were people there less than me, people on my staff, who already have had serious health consequences, and they weren't there as often as I was," Giuliani said, "but I wasn't trying to suggest a competition of any kind, which is the way it come across."
Giuliani's explanation further angered his ground zero critics, prompting several to issue a statement demanding an apology.
"He is such a liar, because the only time he was down there was for photo ops with celebrities, with politicians, with diplomats," said deputy fire chief Jimmy Riches, who spent months digging for his firefighter son.
"On 9/11 all he did was run. He got that soot on him, and I don't think he's taken a shower since."
Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, a union that fiercely opposes Giuliani, said he doubted Giuliani misspoke.
"I think he was simply showing what his true character is — a self-absorbed, self-deluded promoter who got caught and is now just simply trying to backtrack," Schaitberger said.
A former deputy mayor, Joe Lhota, said the critics are politically motivated and wrong.
"They're taking their anger out in the wrong direction," Lhota said. "He was literally there four and five times a day; he did anything but run away.
"They're losing sight of the fact that this country, and this city, was attacked on that day by terrorists; it's their fault. Rudy Giuliani coordinated efforts in this city like no one had ever seen before."
Also Friday, Giuliani named another former deputy mayor, Rudy Washington, chairman of his campaign in New York City. Washington played a role in ground zero operations for weeks after Sept. 11 and received medical coverage for debilitating asthma and other health complications.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "I think I could have said it better," he told nationally syndicated radio host Mike Gallagher. "You know, what I was saying was, 'I'm there with you."'
The former New York mayor upset some firefighters and police officers when he said Thursday in Cincinnati that he was at ground zero "as often, if not more, than most of the workers."
"I was there working with them. I was exposed to exactly the same things they were exposed to. So in that sense, I'm one of them," he told reporters at a Los Angeles Dodgers-Cincinnati Reds baseball game.
Fire and police officials responded angrily, saying Giuliani did not do the same work as those involved in the rescue, recovery and cleanup from the 2001 terrorist attacks, which left many workers sick and injured.
On Friday, Giuliani said he was trying to show his concern for the workers' health.
"What I was trying to say yesterday is that I empathize with them, because I feel like I have that same risk," he said.
"There were people there less than me, people on my staff, who already have had serious health consequences, and they weren't there as often as I was," Giuliani said, "but I wasn't trying to suggest a competition of any kind, which is the way it come across."
Giuliani's explanation further angered his ground zero critics, prompting several to issue a statement demanding an apology.
"He is such a liar, because the only time he was down there was for photo ops with celebrities, with politicians, with diplomats," said deputy fire chief Jimmy Riches, who spent months digging for his firefighter son.
"On 9/11 all he did was run. He got that soot on him, and I don't think he's taken a shower since."
Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, a union that fiercely opposes Giuliani, said he doubted Giuliani misspoke.
"I think he was simply showing what his true character is — a self-absorbed, self-deluded promoter who got caught and is now just simply trying to backtrack," Schaitberger said.
A former deputy mayor, Joe Lhota, said the critics are politically motivated and wrong.
"They're taking their anger out in the wrong direction," Lhota said. "He was literally there four and five times a day; he did anything but run away.
"They're losing sight of the fact that this country, and this city, was attacked on that day by terrorists; it's their fault. Rudy Giuliani coordinated efforts in this city like no one had ever seen before."
Also Friday, Giuliani named another former deputy mayor, Rudy Washington, chairman of his campaign in New York City. Washington played a role in ground zero operations for weeks after Sept. 11 and received medical coverage for debilitating asthma and other health complications.
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As usual. CBS is a day late and a dollar short in repoeting this momentous revelation. Where TF do they get there news from again?
I think we can have it again. I don't think extremists have to be in control of either party, but I'm having a hard enough time trying to convince other democrats to stick with the democratic party, so I hope some real republicans will do the same with their party. The there have been problem between the two parties always, in the end both usually wanted what was best for America first and then their party. that's changed under the guidance of Rove who believes in sharp divisions and outright hatred of the other party. He got his wish on that, we hate him and his ideas right back. It's a shame, but we have to defend our ideals from devise people like him before we can come back to working together again. He makes it a case of fight nasty or lose.
Posted by RandalDS
-SupeRudman with blue and red flying cape! Unfortunately he's been crippled by the hatred power of terrorists and could not prevent the twin towers from falling! Nonetheless he prevented the immediate fall of tower 7, that fell ''alone'' a couple of hours laters.
Thnx Randy, but again I'd recommand the bloggers community to watch this well done and deeply researched documentary. www.zeitgeistmovie.com
Posted by thgdriver at 11:32 AM : Aug 12, 2007"
... we would know the truth about 911 and Cheney and Giuliani would be in jail.
The cops and firefighters know he is a false prophet...a wolf in sheep's clothing, and out to whitewash all the slime he left behind his exit. He is a danger to any office he attempts to hold. He would be an embarrassment to himself if weren't so arrogant, self-absorbed and egotisical.
Political or monetary. Google Guliani and the NAFTA superhighway... And as far as his excellent preformance during 9-11?
xxxx
The fact is that the Mayor%u2019s switch to a scoop-and-dump coincided with the removal of tens of millions of dollars of gold, silver and other assets of the Bank of Nova Scotia that were buried beneath what was once the towers. Once the money was out, Giuliani sided with the developers that opposed a lengthy recovery effort, and ordered the scoop-and-dump operation so they could proceed with redevelopment.
Yesterday, Harold Schaitberger of the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) %u2014 the nation%u2019s largest firefighters organization, consisting of 280,000 members %u2014 assailed Giuliani, detailing how the mayor ditched body-recovery efforts only 24 hours after recovering the $230 million in gold. %u201CHe found the gold on October 31, and on November 1 is when he issued the order to remove the firefighters from their recovery mode.%u201D Watch it:
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/07/12/giuliani-firefighters-gold/