9/11 Image Drives Giuliani's Campaign

(CBS)  This story was written by CBS News reporter Ryan Corsaro.

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On the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani recounted the "strength and resilience" of fallen rescuers at a ceremony in lower Manhattan. His appearance and praise for the fallen served as a stark reminder of his performance on 9/11 -- an image that is driving his presidential campaign.

Some of Giuliani's fellow presidential candidates, including Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, attended the event but didn't speak.

Giuliani is best known for his leadership during the World Trade Center attacks, when he was mayor of New York City. In a new CBS News/New York Times poll, 78 percent of registered voters say he handled the 9/11 attacks well. Giuliani tops most national polls among the Republican presidential contenders, though the official candidacy of Fred Thompson has hurt him in the polls.

But Giuliani continues to be criticized for making 9/11 part of his campaign. The Democratic National Committee sent out a petition last spring demanding that Giuliani "stop politicizing 9/11" in response to an attack he made on Democrats at a New Hampshire debate. Some families of victims in the World Trade Center collapse asked that he not speak today, arguing that his presidential aspirations put the event in a political context.

Campaigning in Florida and Texas last weekend, Giuliani mentioned today's anniversary at every stop -- including a 9/11 remembrance luncheon attended by local fire, police, and rescue workers in Orlando. When asked on Saturday whether his evocation of the Sept. 11 tragedy while campaigning was questionable, Giuliani answered a reporter firmly.

"You have to talk about it," he said. "Sept. 11, along with the many other things that it is, it is political. It was an attack on America. That would be like saying after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Americans shouldn't talk about it."

And he is certainly talking about it -- the subject even came up while he was discussing the weather with a family in Houston over coffee. "I'll always remember that Sept. 11, it was one of the most beautiful days of the year," Giuliani said, talking about the hours before the city skyline was filled with thick smoke and ash. "Rarely does it rain two days in a row in New York in September."

While Giuliani stresses that 9/11 is woven into the political discussion of America's future, he says attending the memorial ceremony today is altogether different for him.

"That's personal," he says. "I was there when it happened, and I've been there every year since then. If I didn't, it would be extremely unusual."

Giuliani delivered a reading this morning just after 9:59 a.m., when a moment of silence was held to mark the falling of the South Tower. He had no public appearances scheduled for the rest of the day.

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[pilgrimsway-2009]

Dear Everyone,
Where was God on Sept 11th? He was glued to the TV set to the horror that was unfolding. His heart was breaking to the scenes that where taking place. He was unable to force what man should do in his decisions. He is open to the hearts that respond to the truth that they are loved. He is opened to the people wanting His will. There are some who want there own will and you see where that gets us a 911!

[dmgenet]

Oviously, Guiliani''s campaign feels that the same scare tactics that Bush used will galvanize the middle of the electorateas. I am hopeing that the electorate are much brighter than that.

Running for office and connecting to the 9/11 tradgedy is lame politics at it''s best. At its worst it is sinful and shows low disregard for human suffering. I don''t care if Guilianin was there when it happened. He was not a hero, he was a leader that was expected to do what he did. No more, no less. The heroes are deceased and scarred by the trauma. Guiliani is an opportunist and narcissist.

[likeitis5050]

Rudy just wants to pick and choose the parts he likes to use and even then he''s busy editing for maximum impact. He needs to stop.

[bareemperor]

Mr. Guiliani had an office complex in this building...

For those of you who didn''''t realize WTC7 also fell on 9/11, here is an interesting link. The BBC was broadcasting about the destruction of the Salomon Brothers Building(WTC7) 20 minutes before it was demolished! The reporter moves her head, and there is the building, standing tall.
Was she reading a bad script, or was it bad timing? The 9/11 Commission never saw the film, I will bet...

Really worth your time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
C7SwOT29gbc&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Epris
onplanet%2Ecom%2Farticles%2Ffebruary2007
%2F260207building7%2Ehtm

[pepperp1]

Victimhood can destroy our country at the core and your well being without planes. Tell Rudys his 10 mins is over move on, respect and remember but move on reclaim your power.




You are being lied to again by Bush and his lackeys, Bush is not listening to the Generals, that is false, he is listening to one who agrees and parrots his words his political agenda.

A separate internal report is being prepared by a Pentagon working group will %u201Cdiffer substantially%u201D from Petraeus%u2019s recommendations,


The Pentagon will %u201Crecommend a very rapid reduction in American forces: as much as two-thirds of the existing force very quickly, while keeping the remainder there.%u201D The strategy will involve unwinding the still large U.S. presence in big forward operation bases and putting smaller teams in outposts.




Do not be distracted the facts are simple the math just as simple, if 17 Republican Senators switch their vote for America and our Troops the mission will be chnaged.



CHOOSE LIFE FOR OUR TROOPS call your Senator and tell him 5 years later, 4,000 dead, 34,000 wounded, tens of thousands of Iraqi dead, and 2 Trillion is too much CHANGE THE MISSION.



28 Soldiers dead in 6 days since Bush declared we are kicking arse in IRAQ. Are soldiers are not to be sacrificed for there political stunts.

[phone] for the Senate, and [phone] for the House

[briannorwood]

Asked to comment on the state of health care in the United States, Giuliani responded, "9/11"