December 17, 2007
Families to Start Anti-Giuliani "Swift Boat" Campaign
What is Rudy Giuliani getting for the new year? It looks like he's in for some campaign tactics from families representing firefighters that died on 9/11 that The Post is calling "Swift Boat" like. James Riches, a deputy fire chief who's son James Jr., a firefighter who died at Ground Zero, is organizing the campaign against the former mayor. Riches told The Post that things should be "up and running" for January 1st and that "the purpose is going to be to set the record straight about 9/11. Rudy Giuliani is not a hero."
When Gothamist talked to Riches this September, we asked him if his group was going to do anything to let the rest of America know about Giuliani's actions on 9/11. Riches said:
We will protest around the states to let everyone know the Rudy failed to prepare for the WTC attacks. He failed miserably before, during and after 9/11. No drills at WTC from 1993 to 9/11/01. Radios failed in 1993 and again in 2001. Command center at 7 WTC. No unified command, No interoperable radios FD and PD. 911 operators telling people in South Tower to stay put even before plane hit South Tower, yet FD commanders at scene were calling for its evacuation. Lying about quality of air, and not obtaining proper face fitted respirators until Nov 2001 leading to 70% of 1st responders with 9/11 illnesses while Rudy was too busy to lift a finger to help them because he was making tens of millions of dollars capitalizing off 9/11. His legacy will be thousands of sick and dying first responders.In the past, Riches also said, "If somebody can tell me what he did on 9/11 that was so good, I’d love to hear it. All he did was give information on the TV. He did nothing. He stood there with a TV reporter and told everyone what was going on. And he got it from everybody else down at the site." Riches was also upset that Giuliani was reading names at Ground Zero.
An official announcement from the group could come as early as tomorrow. In addition to a website, the group hopes to raise up to $1 million to fund mailings and advertising. These firefighters aren't the only ones that are anti-Guiliani, a police union is also against NYC's former mayor.
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With his PR firm - Fox News - already giving him the cold shoulder, this should put the final nail on the coffin that is his presidential campaign...
His campaign shouldn't have lasted this long to begin with.
By using the term "swift boat" it implies that James Riches is distorting Giuliani's record like the "Swift Boaters" distorted John Kerry's military record. Mr. Riches appears to be using facts and historical record to tell the real story. He's not lying or defaming.
Agreed with above. He can't be swift-boated when the critics are telling the truth...
Thanks, #3. I had mistakenly referred to the "swift-boating" of the 9/11 Whore in an earlier post and someone corrected me as well, so I've been trying to pass along the correction.
IOW, to paraphrase Hank Aaron, "It ain't swift-boatin' if it's the truth."
Tien;
Using that phrase to describe this effort makes the average reader automatically think "underhanded, lying, smear campaign". Unless you thought that the Swift Boaters were sincerely trying to set the record straight. Is there anyone left who actually believes that, outside of the 30% who truly believe that Saddam ordered 9/11, and that we found WMDs?
I know it's a quick and easy way to describe it, and if you really think it's the same thing, well, that's your call, but if it's not your intention to equate the two morally, then you might want to rephrase.
actually, i was just using what the post used. it ain't my phrase.
awesome. kick some butt
@tien: that's no excuse. when you headline a story like this, without challenging the phrase, you make it your own, and create a totally misleading news bite.
how could you have failed to chastise the post's obviously deceitful spin in your piece?
I too, would like to know what exactly did he do on 9/11 that was good? while they're at it, bring in Todd whitman in there too.
Take a tally of the NYPD and FDNY members, who they vote for, not the union leaders, actual cops and firefighters, it wont even be close.
I guess all those guys were all making it up. There is a reason why he hasnt released all his records. It is b/c he received a less than honorable discharge. There are three discharges from the Defense Dept, Honorable, General, Dishonorable. If you recieve anything but an honorable discharge you did something bad. He did not recieve an honorable discharge.
see what you started Tm?
Rolltide23, I'm dying to know: Who did not receive an Honorable Discharge??
Oh! He meant John Kerry! Got it...
Um, What year is this again?
Wasnt me who talked about swiftboating. I actually call it 'lying about your military service'. He was less than honorably discharged in 1975, under a Title 10, which deals with involuntary separation. After he met with the NVA and VC in Paris in 71, admittedly, there was FBI surveillance of him. He couldnt get into law school in the late 70's, and in 1978 was changed to an honorable discharge at 'the direction of the President', new elected Jimmy Carter, who granted amnesty to all draft dodgers and others within an hour of taking office. His discharge date, on the DD-214, is Feb 16, 1978, six years after his committment ended in 1972. He still hasnt signed a SF 180 for all release.
rolltide23,
military correctness seems to be important to you. Would you like to share with us your research into W's texas nat'l guard service as well? I assume that is equally important, if not more so, since it involves a man actively avoiding service through powerful connections, and then lying about it, as opposed to a man who voluntarily entered combat, led other men in combat, and was wounded in combat.
Or did the kerning decoy successfully convince you there was no story there?
Well, they tried that. The only problem was, Dan
'Courage' Rather went on the air with forged documents. If you wanna get the goods, at least actually have them.
Yeah Virgil! And Besides GW made an "Arrangement", Right "Rolltide23"?
Also, "changed to an honorable discharge"? Could you provide a link?
So, Still living in the 2004 election?
Also, supporting GW and the Republicans is sooooo much better than supporting a man who actually served in Combat for the US, Isn't it?