Amid Heckles, Giuliani Defends 9/11 Response To Panel

NBC30.com(Conn.) ^ | 5/19/04

[Dane]

...Twice during questioning, Giuliani was jeered and heckled by members of the audience (pictured, right), many of whom are family members of some of the 2,700 victims of the Manhattan phase of the Sept. 11 attacks. It echoed a similar scene during Kerik and Von Essen's testimony.

A longtime critic jumped out of his seat, yelling "Three-thousand people are dead!" As guards escorted him out, he continued: "They were not killed because he's a great leader" and "Let's ask some real questions!"

"One-sided!" shouted one woman, who said her son died in the attacks. Others joined her in shouting protests of "Put us on the panel!" before panel director Thomas Kean spoke to quiet them.

Some wanted to change the subject to failure of Fire Department communications equipment, and shouted "Talk about the radios!"...

[Dane]

The face of the democrat leftist blame America first crowd.

[Clock King]

I wish I could have attended to yell BACK people like that!

[familyop]

New York is back to her old self again, eh?

[Husker24]

"They were not killed because he's a great leader"

The fact that they were killed in the first place has nothing to do with Giulinani. Its not like New York City has its own Air Force to scramble. The guy that was yelling this crap had one of those Marxist/Leninist/Anarchits, pony tails. I can spot one of them a mile away.

[sharktrager]

This is going to sound very cold, but why did anyone need the police or fire department to tell them to get out of a burning skyscraper that had been hit by an airliner?

The fact is, people were going to die. Nothing the FDNY or NYPD was going to do could change that. Could their communications systems have been better? Probably. But all of this finger pointing and name calling isn't going to improve things. It isn't going to bring those people back. The families won't miss those they lost any less.

Those public servants acted better than could be expected in a situation no-one could truly be prepared for. I am, frankly, sick of the attacks on men and women who did the best they could.

[macamadamia]

Does anybody know whether these people heckled Clinton or any other democrat? Or is their grief a strictly party line kind of thing?

[OldFriend]

These bigmouths were allowed to carry on for far too long before they were admonished.

Seemingly, the circus continues with a new ring at each venue.

[CWOJackson]

"Giuliani was jeered and heckled by members of the audience..."

Leftist plants there for a purpose.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Others joined her in shouting protests of "Put us on the panel!"

Where was their outrage in '93?

[nopardons]

IIRC,the hecklers ONLY scream at GOPers.

[Miss Marple]

I am convinced that the photo of one demonstrator I saw was Media Benjamin, of Cod Pink, with her hair dyed brunette.

I also think these people are funded by Soros.

[colorado tanker]

The Jersey Girls have pretty well destroyed the false image the lamestream media so carefully built for them. Attacking Guiliani and the NYPD and NYFD will pretty well finish off their image as representing "the families." Their just lefty partisan trash trying to take political advantage of 9-11.

[CWOJackson]

I wouldn't doubt Soros is funding them. The left knows how very important this election and the War on Terror are. They are commited to defeating the President.

Our foreign enemies cannot defeat our military, our domestics ones can defeat the nation.

[pepperhead]

"Put us on the panel!"

Why don't they just give one of these Clymer's Gorelicks spot. Not like they can be anymore partisan.

[Thebaddog]

I will never forget Rudy's heroism at that horrible time. He will always be a hero to me, and I'm a Chicago guy saying that about a NewYacker. He's the man.

[CWOJackson]

The panel, regardless of their charter, had no business making such disgraceful public comments. The city of New York has never denied that they weren't FULLY prepared for what happened. Pre-9/11 what city would make plans that would include airlines with full fuel loads flying into buildings which would eventually result in total structural collapse. Even bin Laden and his people didn't expect that to happen.

The panel is a disgrace and should issue a public apology.

[macamadamia]

"IIRC,the hecklers ONLY scream at GOPers."

Then they are beyond contempt. And I feel an added pain for their loved ones lost on 911 because now it appears as if they've been abandoned by these people. Grief has been replaced with hate.

[isthisnickcool]

Everyone at this meeting today will eventually die. Sad but true. So will all their families and everyone they have all ever met. Even people like you will have the same fate! All will pass from this life. And die die die.

And Rudy Giuliani and George W. Bush stand by and do nothing! Not a thing!

[jammer]

Right. My response throughout the article was, "Huh?"

[ladyinred]

This is going to sound very cold, but why did anyone need the police or fire department to tell them to get out of a burning skyscraper that had been hit by an airliner?

Not cold at all, just using logic. I have often thought the same thing. No intercom system on earth telling me to return to my office would have kept me from trying to get out!