CNN: Will Rudy Be ‘Swiftboated’?

NewsBusters.org ^ | 11/21/2007 | Matthew Balan

[Pyro7480]

A report on Tuesday’s "The Situation Room," which highlighted the anti-Giuliani campaign of some family members of firefighters killed on 9/11, also tried to throw some retrospective doubt on the "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" who opposed John Kerry in 2004. CNN correspondent Deborah Feyerick proposed the following question about the campaign: "is this another 'Swift Boat' situation, in which unsubstantiated attacks against John Kerry's service in Vietnam, scuttled his presidential candidacy. These families say no."

In addition to this question, CNN played two sound bites, one from Sally Reganhard, a prominent member of this campaign, and the other from a Baruch College professor, which reenforced the "unsubstantiated" label used by CNN. Reganhard indirectly accused the "Swift Boat" veterans of using lies. "The difference between the 'Swift Boating' and this is that everything that we are saying is the truth." Also, a chyron during the report proclaimed that "9/11 Families Challenge Giuliani: Efforts Compared to ‘Swiftboating.’"

Host Wolf Blitzer introduced the report, which aired at the bottom of the 5 pm hour, by immediately bringing up the "Swift Boat" comparison. "It's the cornerstone of Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign, the 9/11 terror attacks. But now, an unlikely group is trying to undermine that with an effort that some are comparing to the 'Swift Boat' campaign against John Kerry." Neither Blitzer nor Feyerick mention who is making this comparison.

One thing that is mentioned is the campaign’s connection to the International Association of Firefighters, a union who endorsed John Kerry in 2004. As Feyerick put it, "over the summer, these firefighter families appeared in a scathing anti-Giuliani video made by the International Association of Firefighters." The union’s president, Harold A. Schaitberger, started a close relationship with Kerry early during his 2004 campaign. In August 2007, a CNN report quoted Kerry as saying, "I still keep a picture at home of Harold Schaitberger… standing by my side the night we won the New Hampshire primary."

Immediately after the three-minute report, Blitzer conducted a four-and-a-half minute interview of Jim Riches, a deputy chief for the Fire Department of New York City who is a member of the family members’ campaign against Giuliani. After a commercial break, Blitzer then interviewed Howard Safir, a former NYC fire and police commissioner and Giuliani supporter who accused the members of the campaign of "turning the terrorist attacks of September 11th into a political football."

The full transcript of the report from Tuesday’s "The Situation Room:"

WOLF BLITZER: It's the cornerstone of Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign, the 9/11 terror attacks. But now, an unlikely group is trying to undermine that with an effort that some are comparing to the 'Swift Boat' campaign against John Kerry. CNN's Deborah Feyerick is joining us now. She's watching all this unfold. So, who's challenging, Deb, Rudy Giuliani's 9/11 credentials?

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, this is not a new group. In fact, the faces, to many New Yorkers, are familiar. These are people who have repeatedly criticized Rudy Giuliani's handling of 9/11 and all the events before and after that day. The big question - can this small group gain momentum and, if so, what does that mean to the mayor's candidacy?

FEYERICK (voice-over): This is the image many Americans have of Rudy Giuliani -- the New York City mayor covered in dust moments after the World Trade Center towers collapsed. It is an image he has evoked in his run for the White House to spotlight his leadership on that tragic day. But Sally Regenhard and others are challenging that image.

SALLY REGENHARD, MOTHER OF 9/11 FIREFIGHTER: Rudy Giuliani is no hero of 9/11.

FEYERICK: Regenhard's son was one of 343 New York City firefighters to die when the towers fell. She is part of a small, determined group of firefighter families taking on the former mayor.

REGENHARD: We want to give people the opportunity to hear the true story and to make their own decisions.

FEYERICK: On Monday, the group traveled to New Hampshire, a crucial state where Mr. Giuliani recently began running these ads.

RUDY GIULIANI, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I believe I have been tested in a way in which the American people can look to me. They're not going to find perfection, but they're going to find somebody who's dealt with crisis.

FEYERICK: The families told a handful of people about some of the fire department radios that didn't work on 9/11, about the emergency command center to coordinate a response that, instead, literally collapsed, and about the lack of respirators provided to firefighters searching for colleagues in the toxic rubble.

Political scientist, Doug Muzzio says these issues are not new, at least not to New Yorkers.

DOUG MUZZIO, BARUCH COLLEGE: There is a lot of hyperbole in what Rudy Giuliani says about what he did prior to 9/11, on 9/11, and after 9/11. But the kernel of truth is that Rudy Giuliani had his finest hour on 9/11.

FEYERICK: The Giuliani campaign cited news reports praising Giuliani's efforts on behalf of firefighters, and touting the city's preparedness. A former fire commissioner, speaking on Giuliani's behalf, accused Regenhard's group of quote, 'turning the terrorist attacks of September 11th into a political football.' The question now -- is this another 'Swift Boat' situation, in which unsubstantiated attacks against John Kerry's service in Vietnam, scuttled his presidential candidacy. These families say no.

REGENHARD: The difference between the 'Swift Boating' and this is that everything that we are saying is the truth.

FEYERICK (on-camera): Now, over the summer, these firefighter families appeared in a scathing anti-Giuliani video made by the International Association of Firefighters. Giuliani's representative called the group highly partisan. It is endorsing Democrat Chris Dodd, but says it was not part of this particular New Hampshire trip. Still, that firefighters' union is meeting after Thanksgiving to consider a much larger campaign against the former mayor. Wolf?

BLITZER: Deb Feyerick in New York, thanks very much.

—Matthew Balan is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.

[SoConPubbie]

What is YOUR motive for tearing down a GOP contender?

Mariner,

All he is doing is posting his record.

How can that be construed as "tearing down a GOP contender".

I simply do not understand.

[SoConPubbie]

The Anti-Rudi posts here are worse and more distasteful than their DU counterparts on the democratic forum.

No they are not.

I have seen the posts on DU, the anti-posts, including mine don't even come close.

Most of the Anti-Rudy posts on this site include his record.

He is the most liberal Republican Candidate ever for President.

His past is awful.

He deserves everything he is getting on this site because of his own choices.

BTW, do you think Hillary will soft-shoe it with him?

You think conservatives discussing his past is bad, wait until a fellow liberal gets going and starts actually sliming him.

If by some miracle he is nominated, Hillary will take his record and use it like a club to beat him senseless.

[SoConPubbie]

"Really? What kind of BS statement is that? What mayor of MAJOR U.S. city would have done better that morning? Remember?" Any republican mayor would have done as well or better.

Yes, he did well, but it does not make him a saint, nor does it make him above criticism.

[billmor]

Thank you DakotaRed for your good definition of what ‘Swift Boating’ is. That’s the first time i have ever seen it defined like that.

As for Vietnam vets, i too was there and have many memories of the Central Highlands area where we were...also still have the memory of film clips showing JK testifying before Congress and his rotten lies about the troops in the RVN...If he wouldn’t back the troops, can you imagine how he would (and still does)betray the US in world affairs ?

[CTSeditor]

“If by some miracle he is nominated, Hillary will take his record and use it like a club to beat him senseless.”

Wrong on both accounts. First, Rudy will be nominated. Second, Hill’s record as pathetic as it is (is New York still paying her to tour the country on her behalf?) with her vote yes, then no, double talking (keep thinking voters), pub “mudslinging” rheotric along with false intentions and continued support and dependency on a “man” who lied to an entire nation under oath (Oh, forgot, that’s okay to those with no morals) and must also mention that she supported the removal of Saddam then dating back to the Bill days yet back peddled when complications arised. Yeah, Rudy is a sure loser!

[Fargo Rock]

[Chunga]

Rudy sure fits a democrat profile!

IT is for the murder of unborn babies!
IT is a big gun control nut!
IT covered for the invaders in ITS city!
IT surrounds ITself with queers and thugs!

Why does IT have an R by ITS name instead of a D?

I'll give you one of many evidences of Rudy's Republicanism, and maybe after you've read it you'll stop spamming the board with your ridiculous post:

If Duncan Hunter is the nominee, Rudy will support him and campaign for him.

If Fred Thompson is the nominee, Rudy will support him and campaign for him.

If Mitt Romney is the nominee, Rudy will support him and campaign for him.

Rudy will support and campaign for the Republican nominee, because Republicans support Republicans in general elections. Democrats do not support Republicans in general elections.

Got it?

[Liberty Valance]

I did not know that Rudy was in Viet Nam.

[Brimack34]

Rudy will be the nominee. Forget Iowa and New Hampshire. He will win enough states to advance. We will have to deal with it. I would rather have Fred or Duncan. But there will be Supreme Court openings to deal with.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Rudy campaigned for a democrat over a republican for the Governor of NY.

So that blows your statement out of the water.

[zeebee]

I believe Rudy would govern the country differently than he governed NY.

If he is the nominee, I hope all here will stand behind him and help him defeat the beast.

Even Ann Coulter said, “I’ll vote for whichever fool [the Republicans] put up there”

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

I do not trust either Rudy or Romney and The only people BJ Clinton’s baggage can beat are north east liberals.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

“I believe Rudy would govern the country differently than he governed NY.” LOL

I thought IT was the mayor of New York City.
When did IT govern NY?

[alloysteel]

Depends on the definition of “swiftboating”. The charges against John F. Kerry, that he performed poorly, or even as conduct unbecoming of an officer, while stationed in Viet Nam, were pretty largely based in fact and the recollections of those who served in close proximity with him.

No similar charges, with a verifiable factual basis, have been, or are likely to be, brought against Rudy Giuliani. While Rudy has been somewhat callous and even ruthless occasionally in his personal relationships, and may have made a bad judgment call a couple of times (Bernard Kerik comes to mind), still there are no open malfeasances of office that are substantiated. Giuliani has not traded upon his position for personal advantage, as have certain others formerly and currently seeking higher office.

Of course, nobody is specifically prohibited from making allegations. But proving them, or even making them seem plausible, is another matter altogether. In the case of John F. Kerry, the “swiftboating” seemed altogether believable, given his civilian record since. Plus those annoying corroborating statements by those who were there.

[stevem]

I will always look back fondly at the 2004 campaign. You had a few good men with a shoe string budget take on a hundred million dollar campaign assisted by the infinite budget of the MSM...and win.

The fact that CNN wants to remind the world day after day that they are losing power my the second is doubly gratifying.

I wonder how CNN and the rest of the MSM really felt about alien amnesty.

I don't think Guiliani is going to make it, but it won't be because of his 9/11 efforts.

[SJackson]

Hopefully, the concern being that the “exposers” have the credibility of the Swift Boat Vets. Without credibility it’s Borking.

[lolhelp]

In many ways Rudy is a most disgusting person, I would not vote for him for dogcatcher, but he is not a coward. He is like a bulldog, full speed ahead. He is a lier, a thief a manipulator, more liberal than most democrats, one of the gutsiest people ever and seems to think rules and laws do not apply to him, but again I repeat, not a coward.

[bray]

Rudy was strong during and after 911 and America knows that. To besmirch this is very short sighted. To pretend there was a “right” way to handle that crisis is absurd.

Pray for W and Our Victorious Troops

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

I could never ask our troops to salute Rudy Giuliani.

But, but, what about the Gaystapo???

[Interesting Times]

The leftists also used the tactic you describe to attack Clarence Thomas. During his confirmation hearings a solid majority of the public believed Thomas and thought Anita Hill's claims were lies. But after a few years of relentless MSM spin, polls indicated that most Americans now believed the Hill/DNC smear.

That's why The Shrew and I have spent most of the past two years writing the definitive book on what the Swift Vets and the other anti-Kerry veterans really said and did in 2004, and how the media first ignored and then misrepresented their charges. The book is titled, "To Set the Record Straight: How Swift Boat Veterans, POWs and the New Media Defeated John Kerry." John O'Neill was kind enough to provide the Foreword. The book should be available online in early December. I think you'll find it quite interesting.