Giuliani says Saddam paying for offenses ("You sure wouldn't want to be where [he] is")

Associated Press ^ | May 4, 2007

[presidio9]

Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani said Friday that former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein is paying an eternal and deserved punishment for his brutal life's work.

"You sure wouldn't want to be where Saddam Hussein is, where we helped put him," Giuliani said during a campaign stop in eastern Iowa in which he praised President Bush's war on terrorism but acknowledged that mistakes have been made in Iraq.

During a town-hall meeting with some 100 people, the former New York city mayor was asked to compare what Saddam and former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld did in the war. Giuliani paused before answering.

"Where is Donald Rumsfeld?" Giuliani said. "He's alive, writing a book and living the good life with his family."

He compared that to Saddam, who was hanged.

"I have a pretty good idea of where he is not. I have a better idea of where he is," Giuliani said to cheers and applause. His comments focused on the war and conservative fiscal views, mostly avoiding his more liberal views on issues such as gun control and abortion.

Giuliani, who has a record of favoring abortion rights, was the only Republican candidate who said at the debate Thursday night that "it would be OK" if the Supreme Court upholds the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling.

"It would be OK to repeal it. It would be OK also if a strict constructionist viewed it as precedent," he said.

In Iowa, Giuliani's campaign staff made it clear there would be no chance for media to question the candidate and stood between him and reporters.

Though President Bush's approval ratings are low and most polls show the war remains unpopular, Giuliani rushed to the president's defense. He argued that Bush has successfully staved off another round of terror attacks.

"He deserves credit for that," Giuliani said. He conceded that there have been mistakes in Iraq, but argued that's far from unique in the prosecution of a war.

"There isn't a war you can find where we didn't make mistakes. The question is do you learn from them and build on them, not declare retreat and run away," he said.

Giuliani appeared at a family owned business to tout his push for the elimination of the inheritance tax. That's an issue in Iowa, where farmers face big hurdles passing a farm along to the next generation.

"The government takes more than your heirs get," Giuliani said. "It's a regressive tax and it should be done away with. The death tax should get the death penalty."

Giuliani, who said he cut taxes about 24 percent while leading New York City, said he would bring his tax-cutting skills to Washington if elected president.

"I ran the most fiscally conservative government in America," Giuliani said.

[The Blitherer]

I’m not a Rudy fan but I’m impressed with this.

[Irish Rose]

During a town-hall meeting with some 100 people, the former New York city mayor was asked to compare what Saddam and former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld did in the war.

What a weird question. You can't blame Guiliani for comparing where they are now instead. Somehow, I can't see Guiliani getting in trouble with any normal person for saying that Saddam Hussein is in hell.

I want to read that book Rumsfeld is writing, by the way.

[dirtboy]

"I ran the most fiscally conservative government in America," Giuliani said.

For one term. And then ya made up for it in your second term:

[DrDeb]

I applaud Rudy for defending both President Bush and Don Rumsfeld!

[showme_the_Glory]

Thursday night that "it would be OK" if the Supreme Court upholds the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling.

He won a lot baby killer votes with that one, eh?

[oakcon]

Same thing, when RINOs start talking about Saddam’s eternal reward and chasing Osama to the gates of that place, then even they sound good.

[presidio9]

He won a lot baby killer votes with that one, eh?

If Saddam Hussein was still alive, but Roe vs. Wade was reversed, that would be just fine with me.

[Señor Zorro]

What a weird question. You can't blame Guiliani for comparing where they are now instead.

It's the kind you hear all the time from the left. Like the juror for Libby who, after the trial, asked why Rove (or was it Cheney? or both?) wasn't there. I heard a lot of that kind of stuff on the campus of the college I was going to when the war started. The most egregious one I heard while on my way to class and a "peace protester" stood up with a bull horn and shouted out "we are hoping for the triumph of the Iraqi people over the American army!".

[TheShadows]

I will not vote for Giuliani

[jwpjr]

This is what happens when you let Joe Average Guy ask the questions! Reminds me of a Netflix commercial where they ask questions that have no discernible answer, like “Three men enter a bar. Which one had the monkey?”

[PackerBronco]

I'll get flamed for this, but even though I'm pro-life and will rejoice on the day that Roe v. Wade gets thrown out, I was impressed by Rudy's honest answer. There was the whole row of candidates saying: "yes, it'd be great, terrefic, wonderful, I'd rejoice, ..." and then Rudy says, "it'd be okay". I may not vote for Rudy but I can appreciate a candidate who states his position and doesn't spin it to fit the audience.

[George W. Bush]

"I have a pretty good idea of where he is not. I have a better idea of where he is," Giuliani said to cheers and applause. His comments focused on the war and conservative fiscal views, mostly avoiding his more liberal views on issues such as gun control and abortion.

If Rudi doesn't know yet, he will before too long.

There's a special place in hell for brutal dictators and NARAL Champions Of Choice™ like the leftwing mayor.

Rudi and his NARAL handlers make Saddam look like an amateur.

[HoustonTech]

I applaud Rudy for defending both President Bush and Don Rumsfeld!

Amen! In this way he bests McCain and many of the other candidates who are running from Bush. He's not my first or even my second, or third choice, but I wish all Republicans would take a clue from Giuliani in this regard. It doesn't hurt to defend your friends.

[rogue yam]

Rudy is in freefall. Celebrity is a fickle thing and Rudy has somehow lost his primary appeal which was his presumption of competance. He now has to try to be something he simply isn't, a conservative Republican, and it just isn't working.

[California Patriot]

God, that comment is embarrassing. You should have kept it to yourself.

[California Patriot]

Yes.

[George W. Bush]

God, that comment is embarrassing. You should have kept it to yourself.

Really? I've got plenty more. I was probably too mild.

When Rudy walks hand-in-hand with NARAL, parties with them, gets campaign money from them at a rate four times that of Hitlery herself, when he praises the genocidal and Nazi-connected Margaret Sanger, exactly how do you find fault with the accuracy of my statement.

To have competed with the grisly success of0 America's abortion mills, Saddam would have had to kill every person in Iraq.

Twice.

Gee, I hope that didn't embarrass you or something.

[California Patriot]

Yeah, go ahead and stop being “too mild.” See where it gets you. You’re embarrassing your cause.

[George W. Bush]

You’re embarrassing your cause.

FR is not a home to pro-abortion elements. There are plenty of liberal boards for the advocacy of the unlimited murder of the unborn and the helpless. That's not what FR stands for.

I assume when you say "your cause", you are indicating you're pro-abortion?