Posted on 03/12/2007 7:46:17 PM PDT by George W. Bush
FireFightingNews.com
Firefighters Blast Giuliani Over 9/11
March 9, 2007
New York -The International Association of Fire Fighters union accused Republican presidential contender Rudolph Giuliani of committing egregious acts against New York City firefighters after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. The union, which says it wants its 260,000 U.S. members to know the "real story" of the former New York mayor, said Giuliani sought to curtail search-and-recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site less than a month after the attacks that claimed the lives of 2,752 people, including 343 union firefighters.
"Mayor Giuliani's actions meant that firefighters and citizens who perished would either remain buried at ground zero forever, with no closure for families, or be removed like garbage and deposited at the Fresh Kills Landfill," said union President Harold Schaitberger in a draft letter to affiliates.
Giuliani, 62, leads the Republican presidential candidates in many polls and is favored in a matchup against Democratic frontrunner Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, a new poll of three swing states said.
"Many people consider Rudy Giuliani 'America's Mayor,' and many of our members who don't yet know the real story, may also have a positive view of him," Schaitberger said. We want "to make all of our members aware of the egregious acts Mayor Giuliani committed against our members, our fallen on 9/11, and our New York City union officers following that horrific day."
The head of two New York union chapters, Stephen Cassidy and Peter Gorman, also signed the letter.
In response, a Giuliani spokeswoman released a statement from Tim Brown, a former firefighter working with the campaign and head of "Firefighters for Rudy."
"We are honored by the support of so many first responders from across the country and are appreciative of their continued enthusiasm for Mayor Giuliani's candidacy," Brown said. "We look forward to future events and an ongoing conversation with America's firefighters."
The union said Giuliani decided on Nov. 2, 2001, to cut the number of firefighters who could search for the remains of their fallen brethren and other victims to no more 25 at one time, down from more than 300 involved in the search and recovery effort.
Before Giuliani's decision, 101 bodies or remains of firefighters had been recovered, according to the union.
Giuliani also began a "scoop-and-dump" operation to speed cleanup of the site as opposed to removing debris piece by piece "in hope of uncovering more remains," the union said.
The Washington-based union said that local union presidents tried to meet with Giuliani to stop the action, and the mayor refused to see them. It also said 15 protesting firefighters were arrested on Giuliani's orders. The union said public outrage ultimately compelled Giuliani to reverse his position.
"Our protests were later proven justified as more bodies were ultimately recovered and those families given a chance for some closure and a decent burial," the letter says.
The union says Giuliani was more concerned about the removal of gold, silver and other assets of the Bank of Nova Scotia that was buried beneath the rubble than he was of human remains.
"He valued the money and gold and wanted the site cleared before he left office at the end of 2001 more than he valued the lives and memories of those lost," the letter says.
Written by Deseret News
I notice Rudy has hired a former firefighter to pull some 9/11 schtick for him but it may be that the firefighters are going to swiftboat Rudy on what he did during 9/11. There are a lot more damaging statements out there from the firefighters.
Seen this yet? We can't post it here but I saw even more damaging statements by the first responders at other sites we can't post here. No doubt, the info will soon surface from more acceptable sources.
These statements are made by the head of the union, the same union that blasted George W. Bush and endorsed Kerry in 2004.
The vast rank-and-file support Rudy, unlike the union heads.
Where's your source that it's not?
All I have to do is go back to the 'Concert for New York' right after 9/11. Those rank-and-file cheered Rudy and booed Hillary when she came on the stage.
I don't think Giuliani tossed out the 9/11 victims like they were trash as you said.I saw great respect with him .
They're the same firefighters who crowded around and cheered when Bush came to Ground Zero.
Why didn't they say something a long time ago?
The union says Giuliani was more concerned about the removal of gold, silver and other assets of the Bank of Nova Scotia that was buried beneath the rubble than he was of human remains.
"He valued the money and gold and wanted the site cleared before he left office at the end of 2001 more than he valued the lives and memories of those lost," the letter says.
These statements should be easy enough to prove or disprove.
I'll withhold judgement until then.
that being said, i prefer fred thompson.
As a Firefighter I dont support Rudy,but 911 has nothing to do with it.
As a Firefighter,member of the IAFF for over 40 years I am also not surprised to se Shitberger denounce Rudy.
The Firefighters Union spit in the face of all republican conservative firefighters by backing Gore, then they chose Kerry,with no input from rank and file. It comes as no surprise they attack Rudy, Stand by and you will see that any other republican will receive similar treatment. If they decide to back Obama or Hillary,as I know they will , I will get a pay raise this year,after 40 years I will no longer be paying Union Dues.
As the daughter of a fire fighter who was a lifelong member of AFL-CIO, I can say first hand there is a big difference between what the union says and how firefighters feel about it.
Truly sickening claims.
Cute. You believe the rank-and-file hate Rudy for what happened on 9/11. Back that up with a source.
The complaint has nothing to do with what happened RIGHT AFTER 9-11, it is about repeated failures to do what was right by the firefighters and their families over the long haul.
Yes, the same complaint leveled at Bush back in 2004 and the rank-and-file supported him over Kerry -- just like Rudy.
But, hey, if you want to believe a union leader.
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