Giuliani Estranged From His Children

CBS News ^ | 3/5/2007 | staff

[George W. Bush]

Updated:2007-03-05 14:55:26

Giuliani Estranged From His Children

Some Say Personal Problems May Hurt Prospects

CBS News

NEW YORK (March 5) -- It doesn't look like Rudy Giuliani's two children will have a role in his presidential campaign. According to press reports, the GOP frontrunner's third marriage has alienated his son, Andrew, 21, and daughter, Caroline, 18, from their father.

Giuliani's 21-year-old son, Andrew, told the New York Times that he would be too busy working on his golf game to participate in his father's presidential campaign.

"There's obviously a little problem that exists between me and his wife," the younger Giuliani told the newspaper. "And we're trying to figure that out. But as of right now it's not working as well as we would like."

Giuliani's marriage to his third wife, Judith Nathan, followed his divorce from Donna Hanover, the mother of Andrew and Caroline.

In 2000, Giuliani announced during a live TV interview that he planned to divorce Hanover. She responded by publicly accusing Giuliani of adultery.

Caroline Giuliani has not spoken publicly, but the Times and New York's tabloid newspapers reported that she was also alienated from her father as a result of his marriage to Nathan.

The New York Daily News reported that Giuliani rarely spends time with his children and that he had failed to attend many important events in their lives, including Andrew's golf tournaments and Caroline's school plays.

Andrew Giuliani is a sophomore at Duke and a member of the school's golf team. Caroline attends a private Catholic school in Manhattan. She will attend Harvard University in the fall. Giuliani has had no comment on his relationship with his children.

Giuliani holds a huge lead in the polls over GOP presidential rival John McCain, but some political analysts believe the former New York Mayor's estrangement from his children and other personal problems is bound to inflict political damage.

Political analyst Charles Cook told Newsday that the latest twist would hurt Giuliani with the GOP's conservative voters.

"This is just going to be one of a thousand cuts," Cook told the newspaper. "This will just sort of fit into a whole constellation of issues that work against someone winning a conservative party's nomination, a party that thinks of itself as a pro-family party. This just makes it really hard."

Copyright 2006, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

[JRochelle]

Jane divorced Ron.

Ron was devastated.

[psjones]

Who has abandoned his kids? You think Giuliani has? Why, because he divorced his wife?

[D-Chivas]

Rudys personal life is really biting him in the ass.

And when was the last time that Hillary and Bill did the wild thing?

[mylife]

That danged BBQ must be wearing off on me ;0)

[goodnesswins]

I'd say Rudy has a history of picking "bad" women....especially the 2nd one....who decided acting out in the Vagina Monologues (while her children were still living at home, and her husband was Mayor) was a good thing....sheesh. I'll bet there's enough blame to go around EVERYWHERE.....including the kid, who has probably been brainwashed by Mommy Dear.

[mylife]

I really dont want to know!

[Peach]

I'm sorry about your cousin, Palladin. I didn't know.

There is a humanity about Rudy we don't often see in public officials. And what I like about him is he doesn't change his opinions or policies to suit public opinion. What you see is what you get.

I've been an admirer since the early 90's. He's not perfect and he'll do things we won't like, but that goes for any president. He doesn't back down from anyone and I admire that more than anything.

[BonnieJ]

They are doing the same thing they always do to President Bush, find the worst picture possible and include it with the hit pieces.

[Et in Arcadia Ego]

Bottom line is, Andrew and Caroline notwithstanding, Rudy is electable and Hillary and Obama are not, especially if they continue to cannibalize each other's base.

However, if a surprise entry such as Al Gore were to enter the fray, the mix would be different and unpredictable. We would have to poll like crazy to determine the effect. Just IMHO...

[Et in Arcadia Ego]

Bottom line is, Andrew and Caroline notwithstanding, Rudy is electable and Hillary and Obama are not, especially if they continue to cannibalize each other's base.

However, if a surprise entry such as Al Gore were to enter the fray, the mix would be different and unpredictable. We would have to poll like crazy to determine the effect. Just IMHO...

[BurtSB]

Gee , the lefties at Newsday are working overtime for the Clinton machine with this swear piece.
I wonder if the DNC and Clintonite are giving out bonuses and finders fees for these non stop smear stories .
The trolls and DU are working overtime to peddle this garbage on the web involving a candidates children.
A new low even for the Leftday Clinonites !

[Palladin]

I am very sorry that your husband didn't get more time.

My 80 year-old brother has survived 10 years since his treatment (fingers crossed that he will get 10 more). He's still in great shape and engaging in a very busy schedule. He even has lady friends who clamor for his attention (but only in the nicest way.)!

[JRochelle]

Didn't attend his son's high school graduation, doesn't go to his sporting events, doesn't go to his daughter's events.

Rarely sees them. Yeah thats what I'd call it.

Unless there was some court order that prohibiting his attendance he should have been there.

Americans won't understand that.

[mylife]

Al Gore will change nothing. Didnt you see that just last week he was exposed as a fraud and a charlatan?

[psjones]

How many anti HIllary has the media put out there for us to see? Looks like we'll be hearing a lot about Giuliani's personal life, without any specifics as to the whys. They'll go after Romney's religion, Giuliani's relationship with his kids (after all, they can't portray him as being stupid) all to help prop up the queen B.

[The South Texan]

Cook lost his soul as objective political observer thanks to the limelight on the cable shows. When he was just known by those of us that would stop on CSPAN once and awhile to see what's happening, he was far more objective. Now he is no more objective than say Chris Matthews or name your favorite Bush and/or Republican hater.

[Seruzawa]

You know you've entered the Twilight Zone when supposed conservatives try to make Rudy look better then Reagan. It's just as detatched from reality as the last 6 years of self-delusional conservatives trying to find reasons why Dubya is really conservative beneath all that liberal over-spending and illegal immigrant coddling. Oh, yeah.. and the nation-bankrupting "free drugs for the elderly" payoff for all that campaign money from the pharmaceutial industry.

If soemone doesn't act conservative then they ain't. No matter how many ways the various operatives try to spin it.

[jamese777]

"I'd say Rudy has a history of picking "bad" women....especially the 2nd one....who decided acting out in the Vagina Monologues (while her children were still living at home, and her husband was Mayor) was a good thing....sheesh. I'll bet there's enough blame to go around EVERYWHERE.....including the kid, who has probably been brainwashed by Mommy Dear."

Its never a good move to have sex with your mistress in the home you share with your wife and kids. The kids are bound to resent the mistress, even if you end up marrying her(which Rudy eventually did).
Remember that Rudy's second wife got an injunction to stop him from having sex with his mistress in the New York City Mayor's residence while the kids were there.

[JRochelle]

I totally disagree.

Rudy will tear the party in two. There are many of us who will go third party. And there will be a conservative third party guy who will run just to counter Rudy.

[BonnieJ]

President Bush is a great father and husband, so they made up stories about cocaine and AWOL in the military and portrayed him as a stupid failure....MBA from Harvard and all. I don't believe all the crap printed about candidates and esp. if they happen to be a Republican. And if these things are true, so what...Families have problems, show me one without them. And maybe he didn't attend these few events for a very legitimate reason.