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.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By tien mao in News on December 17, 2007 9:39 AM

Comments [rss]

S.D.

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?

S.D.

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?

virgil

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?

S.D.

Oh! He meant John Kerry! Got it...

Um, What year is this again?

S.D.

Rolltide23, I'm dying to know: Who did not receive an Honorable Discharge??

JacqueMehoff

see what you started Tm?

JacqueMehoff

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.

mgdu

@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?

nonumentalart

awesome. kick some butt

tien

actually, i was just using what the post used. it ain't my phrase.

virgil

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.

Tim N.

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."

Dirk

Agreed with above. He can't be swift-boated when the critics are telling the truth...

brmck9

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.

yakatori

His campaign shouldn't have lasted this long to begin with.

freddyhere

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...