Rudy Giuliani Spokesman Clarifies Statement, Gets It Wrong Again

So, earlier this morning, an eye-popping moment on Good Morning America occurred when Rudy Giuliani appeared to forget that the September 11th Attacks occurred in the year 2001, during the Bush administration. How else to explain this statement: "We had no domestic attacks under Bush. We've had one under Obama."

That's what the Mayor's spokesperson is telling George Stephanopoulos, saying Giulani was "clearly talking post-9/11 with regards to Islamic terrorist attacks on our soil." As I pointed out, this, too, is incorrect. The Richard Reid "shoe-bombing" incident -- also a thwarted Christmastime attack on an airplane -- happened on December 22, 2001. Well, an eagle-eyed tipster points me to this past Wednesday's Larry King Live, featuring an interview with Giuliani that indicates that maybe he just doesn't know much about recent attacks on the homeland.

GIULIANI: I think the president has to make a major correction in the way he is dealing with terrorism because I think he has mishandled the situation. First of all, it was 10 days too late. This is something you react to immediately, not 10 days later after your vacation. The president of the United States, when there is a potential massive attack on this country, which is what this guy was going to do, should have been on top of this immediately, not 10 days later, 11 days later, 12 days later.

We should have had our response ready. After all, this is not an unexpected act. We are in the age of terrorism. We don't need 10 days to respond or figure out our response. All that does, I believe, is convince our enemies that we are not ready, that we are pondering too much and thinking too much. So, you know, there is -- you want to take some time. But this has been an extraordinarily long time given the magnitude of this kind of attack.

KING: President Bush took six days once in a similar incident.

GIULIANI: Well, six days is less than 10. And the reality is that President Bush was criticized for taking -- what was it, like 20 or 30 minutes in delaying his response to September 11th. And I believe that six days was before the September 11th attack.

King, like Stephanopoulos, didn't push back on this error, either. But he did at least, set the moment in amber:

KING: Bush waited six days on the shoe bomber.

GIULIANI: That's correct.

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Comments

[dutch163]

05:47 PM on 01/11/2010

"you are entitled to your own opinion. you are not entitled to your own facts"

either Rudy is misspeaking in his rush to make a point
or he is deliberately trying to deceive the ignorant
or he is among the ignorant

Bush waited 6 days to speak about shoe bomber
I don't care if they wait to get their facts straight

the wait that was unforgivable was Bush's inaction after Katrina
when help was needed ASAP

[not believing]

02:08 PM on 01/10/2010

Left, left keep marching left. No one, I repeat, no one ever criticize our president. This isn't a free country. Oh wait a minute, it is a free country and the fairness doctrine hasn't been fully implemented yet. The reason why Giuliani is on TV is because he is interesting and sells and the MSM is going broke because no one with half a brain watches it. You just want your opinion espoused because it is comfortable, no matter whether it is wrong or not. It must be pretty boring in your life to fill your life with simple lies so you can feel good. Well, I tell you, you won't feel comfortable when you see what is around the corner if we conservatives can't turn this tide, you are riding.

[cheesecat]

02:28 PM on 01/10/2010

Criticize all you want. Just be accurate. I don't think that's too much to ask, do you?

[Mabila]

03:42 PM on 01/10/2010

Why did you fight the wrong ebemy for 8 years. Each time you criticize, please remember that for 8 years you fought the wrong war!

[PAsteelers]

01:20 AM on 01/10/2010

The bigger question here is why does the major
media puts on the this pathetic liar? What is their
reasoning behind put repubs on to spread lies?

They are obviously not trying to expose them as liars,
so it must be diss the Pres at every opportunity whether
it is true or not. The media are definitely right wingers.

[dburbank]

11:52 AM on 01/10/2010

My take on this PAsteelers is that the more that Looney Rudy puts his foot in his mouth, the more likely someone will watch his next tv appearance so that they can see him do it again. He seldom disappoints.

[not believing]

01:58 PM on 01/10/2010

So then, I assume you are happy with Obama calling the underwear bomber a suspect and bringing him into civilian court, rather than the terrorist that he is. I guess if that was your family on that plane it wouldn't make a difference. Oh and the Ft Hood debacle that the WH has secretly admitted was a terrorist attack. I guess you feel good about that too. Yeah, lets hate Rudy for being upset.

[not believing]

01:42 PM on 01/10/2010

First of all honey, there is no argument that the media is clearly left, except fox. Secondly, take an english class to work on your grammar.

[PAsteelers]

04:31 PM on 01/10/2010

Talking about bad grammar, it's firstly, then secondly. dumbarse

I doubt if anyone, certainly not me is your honey, you are too bitter and ugly

[pepenero]

05:08 PM on 01/10/2010

The pot is calling the pan black? You're the one that needs grammar lessons.

[Gary Lloyd]

04:55 PM on 01/09/2010

Another draft dodger.

Rudy received three deferments during the Vietnam War, not as many as Cheney (6), but far more than you or I would have got.

[not believing]

01:44 PM on 01/10/2010

Its amazing that you never mentioned that Obama never served in the military, nor in fact ever really had a paying job. In fact, he has never paid for any of his education. So your point is?

[cheesecat]

02:34 PM on 01/10/2010

Did Obama dodge a draft and then make a career as a warmonger? Nope. But you've got Rudy, Cheney, Bush.....

[md914]

04:32 PM on 01/09/2010

From Giuliani's company's website:

Giuliani Security & Safety is a division of Giuliani Partners, focused on investigative, safety, security, and emergency consulting and analysis. Giuliani Security & Safety provides services related to threat and vulnerability assessment, crisis management . . .. Accountability, credibility, and leadership are at the core of Giuliani Security & Safety's services, solutions, and personnel."

Would anyone else agree about the ironic use of the words such as "accountability, credibility, assessment, etc."?

Plain and simple, Giuliani is a 9/11 profiteer and revisionist. Two planes destroy part of the city on his watch and he claims to be an expert on safety and security??? Can't wait to read his book on Family Values.

[not believing]

01:46 PM on 01/10/2010

Are you actually blaming 9/11 on Giuiliani? Now that's a new take on truthing.

[cheesecat]

02:39 PM on 01/10/2010

And you've got a new take on reading. Rudy has made his career on the back of 9/11, just like Bush did.

[SkuddGobang]

12:23 PM on 01/09/2010

Stephenopolis (or how ever you spell that) has proven himself to be an ineffective, absent-minded and amateur hack.

It's just humiliating that he grilled Barrack Obama more about wearing a Freaking Lapel Pin more than Rudy on his historical revisionism (which any 11th grade political science student could refute).

[not believing]

01:48 PM on 01/10/2010

Yeah, how dare anyone ask emperor obama anything without his teleprompter present? Bad taste indeed.

[cheesecat]

02:35 PM on 01/10/2010

Teleprompter, Hawaii, Kenya, Birth certificate. You've almost won Obama bingo. Congrats!

[SkuddGobang]

09:47 PM on 01/10/2010

Teleprompter, eh? That's all you got to defend Rudy? Ok.

[jaslyn]

12:09 PM on 01/09/2010

keep digging Rudy, with every shovel full of misinformation, you show yourself to be the stupid tool that you are.

[not believing]

01:51 PM on 01/10/2010

Simple, simple boy. It's sunday, Don't attempt to think. Just lay back and fire up that bong. You'll be much happier.

[lmab]

11:33 AM on 01/09/2010

If Rudy ever really becomes a security expert.......it will only be because he is learning from his mistakes. How many "mistakes" will it take? We know Rudy is a slow learner and his memory is obviously failing him.

[OldBro70]

07:14 AM on 01/10/2010

Wonder if his memory recalls Bernard Kerk?

[RDAM]

10:50 AM on 01/09/2010

The worst part is that none of the media that reaches the people who support Rudy or other GOPers will ever mention these "mistakes." Never will the base be encouraged to question such faulty assertions and, so, they will become the facts that these voters use to oppose Dems (or independents) and blindly follow the GOP...
In some ways, that's a form of "journalistic/information terrorism," with the victims being the men and women sent i harms way because Rudy demands action while spewing falsities and influencing the support of the very people whose sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, fathers, husbands, wives will die in defense of Rudy's worldview.

[johndab]

10:47 AM on 01/09/2010

RUDY.................GET YOUR SH** TOGETHER!

IF YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE ATTACKS, MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.
THATS A GOOD ENOUGH REASON TO DELAY A STATEMENT REGARDING A POSSOBLE ATTACK.
THE ADMINISTRATION KNEW AT THAT TIME THAT THIS TERRIOST DID NOT SET THE BOMB OFF . THEY WAITED UNTIL THEY HAD SOME INFORMATION TO GO BEFORE THE PUBLIC........NOT LIKE THE PAST ADMINISTRATION THAT PUT FEAR INTO THE MINDS OF CITIZENS.

[KidHollywood]

10:35 AM on 01/09/2010

From lgrowing up in New York I can tell you one thing. Gulliani would npt be in politics today if it wasn't for his mob connections. And I have no idea why noone has ever exposed that

[KidHollywood]

10:50 AM on 01/09/2010

You can read about Rudy's skeletons here:

http://www.realchange.org/giuliani.htm

[Leigh49]

10:12 AM on 01/09/2010

Is "pondering" the new Republican word of the day? So not thinking things through before speaking is a bad thing? This guy is your typical GOP stooge. How can these people win in 2010?

[visiblewoman]

12:07 PM on 01/09/2010

Because facts do not matter to their base. This is the third (or is it fourth?) time in recent weeks that someone has been on television saying that there were no terror attacks during the Bush administration. I don't believe for a second that this is an accident - this is a deliberate attempt to skew Obama as soft on terror in the next presidential election by building their own facts. When the journalists interviewing these people fail to point out that they are wrong, it becomes a talking point. If you say anything enough, there are a shocking number of people who will believe it.

[iceage7]

09:27 AM on 01/09/2010

also i am sick and tired when the MSM claims both sides are attacking each other. Its always always the rethugs always making outlandish statements and accusations and when the dems respond they are lumped togather with republicans as being negative.

[Roger]

10:01 AM on 01/09/2010

Amen. That is so true. The right poisons the water and that water is then carried dutifully by their media t00ls.

[iceage7]

09:23 AM on 01/09/2010

Wrong again. Obama responded within 3 days and not 10 and king never corrected him again. why do the MSM always always let these rethugs slide with facts. I bet u if it were a dem steph and king would have their facts and counter anything a dem has to say

[dswagz]

10:44 AM on 01/09/2010

"...why do the MSM always always let these rethugs slide with facts..."
Maybe because....
Corporations have shareholders to appease.
Corporations don't want any regulations or oversight.
The repug's get that B.S. pass constantly and the Dem's are held to a different standard (and truth and facts are represented so poorly) because these oversights and regulations that Dems' generally stand for may effect the corporations bottom line...and that doesn't make the shareholders (or the fat-cat republican boardrooms and owners) happy.

The repub's get that pass because of the parasitic relationship that benefits both the liar and the corporation.

Facts and Honest Discourse are The Last Thing these people need or want to represent in their dialogue, unless it suits/benefits them to be honest.

[Intelligentia]

12:26 PM on 01/09/2010

They are all on the same team! Do not let them pool the wool over your eyes! These people are still holding grudges over Obama's Presidential triumph.

[gumbo1049]

09:21 AM on 01/09/2010

These networks knowingly let the right wing liars say their bull crap just to start some completely false controversy for ratings.Mr. 911 Rudy forgot himself that he moved NYC security offices in the Trade Center after the first try in 1993 to drop the building. Great move Rudy just like Georgie's failure to follow up on Bin Laden threat in August of 2001.On these to things alone they should have been fired for total incompetence.Oh how I wish we could have fired these people constitutionally.
As much as i can't stand GWB at least he has kept his mouth shut for the most part.