Draft Dodging Rudy Runs an Ad

by Taylor Marsh

This ad is rich coming from "Mr. 9/11", especially considering that it was Rudy blaming the troops while covering for Bush at the beginning of the war. Camp Clinton wasn't shocked:

"It's hardly surprising that Mayor Giuliani is running the first negative ad of the 08 campaign given his inability to justify his unqualified support for President Bush's failed Iraq strategy. Senator Clinton respects Gen Petraeus' service to our country. She knows the best way to honor our soldiers is to end the war in Iraq and bring them home."

But oh the hypocrisy of it. If only Republicans would have been so sanctimonious about soldiers when they were swiftboating Max Cleland or John Kerry, even John McCain. Rudy only squeals when he's got something to gain. Like when he blamed the troops to suck up to the boss.

"No matter how you try to blame it on the president, the actual responsibility for it really would be for the troops that were there," Giuliani said on NBC's "Today" show. "Did they search carefully enough? Didn't they search carefully enough?"

Democrats, especially vice presidential nominee John Edwards, seized on Giuliani's comments to claim that the Republicans were trying to shift blame away from President Bush. ... ..

Democrats try to turn Giuliani's weapons remark against Bush (2004)

"Mr. 9/11" doesn't care about the troops any more than he does first responders. (And don't even get Kristen Breitweiser started on Rudy.)

He just wants to use them to prop up his image, which has been taking hit after hit recently, starting when it was learned he'd rather raise money than find a solution for Iraq.

"Rudolph Giuliani's membership on an elite Iraq study panel came to an abrupt end last spring after he failed to show up for a single official meeting of the group, causing the panel's top Republican to give him a stark choice: either attend the meetings or quit, several sources said."

Rudy missing in action for Iraq panel

Then there is the prerequisite for Republicans who blame the troops one minute, then embrace them another. These opportunistic inspired inconsistencies always lead one place. People like Rudy didn't have the spine to serve themselves.

"During his years as an undergraduate at Manhattan College and then at New York University Law School, Giuliani qualified for a student deferment. Upon graduation from law school in 1968, he lost that temporary deferment and his draft status reverted to 1-A, the designation awarded to those most qualified for induction into the Army. At the same time, Giuliani won a clerkship with federal Judge Lloyd McMahon in the fabled Southern District of New York, where he would become the United States attorney. He naturally had no desire to trade his ticket on the legal profession's fast track for latrine duty in the jungle. So he quickly applied for another deferment based on his judicial clerkship. This time the Selective Service System denied his claim. That was when the desperate Giuliani prevailed upon his boss to write to the draft board, asking them to grant him a fresh deferment and reclassification as an "essential" civilian employee. As the great tabloid columnist Jimmy Breslin noted 20 years later, during the former prosecutor's first campaign for mayor: 'Giuliani did not attend the war in Vietnam because federal Judge Lloyd MacMahon [sic] wrote a letter to the draft board in 1969 and got him out. Giuliani was a law clerk for MacMahon, who at the time was hearing Selective Service cases. MacMahon's letter to Giuliani's draft board stated that Giuliani was so necessary as a law clerk that he could not be allowed to get shot at in Vietnam.'"

Rudy and Romney: Artful dodgers

So let's be honest, shall we? The ad campaign by "Mr. 9/11" is just another attack on Hillary by just another Republican using a soldier to get the job done (something Republicans have turned into an art form). As for Rudy's negative tactics this early, long before he even gets the nomination, well, his venom is legendary. So is his craven ambition, which like Bush, includes soldiers as stepping stones. Considering Sean Hannity's Rudy crush, it seems entirely fitting that Fox "News" is now joining in.

Comments

[Mock38]

Hey Orville, what's with the "Il Duce" bit?
Looks to be a cheap slur to me.

Rudy (like Bill Clinton et al) is a draft dodger.

Rudy is a chickenhawk.

etc. etc.

Arn't those tags enough?

[Robert59]

What was the question he was responding to, the hunt for WMDs? If he's blaming the troops for not finding WMDs it's because there weren't any to be found.

Where were all these chicken hawks during the Vietnam War? It shows just how narcissistic most politicians are. Rudy and Mitt and Sam and Mike and Boehner are incapble of seeing their hypocrisy.

That icon of the Republican party, not Reagan, but John Wayne, avoided service during World War 2. He never explained why, but he at least regretted it.

Giuliani lacks even that shred of decency.
I can picture him as president when Iraq truly goes to hell. He'll blame the troops for failure, not the failed strategy his predecessor crafted.

F--- him!

[abiodunaodeleye]

Do we still care about "Mr 9/11"? I tuned him out long ago.

[StrategicThinker]

If the other Democrats running aren't willing to attack Hillary Clinton, I'm perfectly fine with Giuliani going after her for once, even though he's just doing it to reinforce her image as the eventual nominee.

Republicans are in heaven right about now, since they are on the verge of getting the one candidate they have been planning for, for years.

I'm sick of this coronation, crap.

[wm1066]

I thought the plan was to get Jeb Bush?... but thats going to be a hard sell.

[dadw5boys]

So Rudy's blaming the TROOPS ON THE GROUND IN IRAQ for NOT LOOKING HARD ENOUGH FOR WMD'S is ok with you?
You must think thoes Troops who died without body armour or armour vechiles were not lloking hard enough?
Myabe THE HALIBOUTON COOKS WHO ARE PAID 4 TIMES WHAT THE SOLDIERS ARE should have been looking for WMD'S!

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Dear ST,

Given your moniker, perhaps you'd consider this:

The Repukes want to run against Hillary simply for the following two complementary reasons:

1) The know ragging on her is the best way to rile up their base; and

2) Per Karl Rove politics, hit 'em where they're strong.

The Repukes (those in control) are hardly "in heaven" -- they are getting the candidate they are most concerned will kick their bony crony asses.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

OOPS!

I meant to say, DON'T want to run against...

[Qbear]

Here's an ad which Hillary could use to kick Rudy right in the hard rubber bits

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-8/1210139/dragBetter.jpg

[harrisjb]

How DARE they attack Hillary over this!! This attempt by the Rudy/Faux News Network is so far beyond hypocritical, there isn't even a word to truly describe it. Are these people not the same Republicans who wore band-aids at their convention to make-fun of Senator Kerry's PURPLE HEART, awarded to him BY THE MILITARY for his heroic service in Vietnam??? Are these not the same Republicans who trashed a true war hero and multiple amputee, Max Cleland? These people make me sick, and everytime they dare mention their supposed "support" of the troops I just want to SCREAM.

I for one, cannot WAIT for Admiral Fallon's Iraq report. Let's see the chicken hawks try to defame him!

[ajax2]

Rudy the life long coward will now describe bravery and patriotism. Oh, sorry Rudy, I got a deferment from listening to pompous jack asses from the judge of decency.

[Halsey]

At first..I agreed with Kerry that the move on ad was in poor taste...but..THEN..I allowed myself to "think"..ergo "be"..
If a general is a mouthpiece for an incomptent..then yes..he has betrayed those who serve and die under his "command" (sic)..

Sen.Dodd, who, yes avoided the draft..but opted for the PEACE corps instead of a cushy job,..should point out, big time,..this insane hypocracy..I mean.why is it not FRONT and Center..well..because Obama too young to have served.. Hilary a "girl" wasn't eligible..and her husband didn't join up.. Gore and Kerry were the only two candidates who really knew war (and even Gore..from a plane)..
But once again..the republicans have given democratics candidates manna from heaven..so much material..and what do they do with it..
nothing!...I swear..it's like they want to lose. Calling Dr. Phil..someone psychoanalyze these people...

[woodsywizz]

Gore served on the ground, in Saigon, as an enlisted military journalist, for half a year. He voluntarily enlisted and did not seek to escape Vietname duty. Kerry, of course, volunteered for the most hazardous duty possible. Two different choices, two honorable servicemen.

[dadw5boys]

AND Gore went to the Supreme Court to get the VOTES OF VETERANS and OTHER AMERICANS in Florida counted only to WITNESS A COUP IN THE 2000 ELECTION!

[Qbear]

Hannity and Giuliani also share the characteristic of being BOTH whiney and bullies.

Both traits should have been corrected in their toddler years, with a NAUGHTY CHAIR, and a take no-sh*t nanny.

[swift goat pet for truth]

Guilani has no morals, ethics or sense of decency.

May I introduce to America, their next president?

[VOTER]

Which wife of the Rude One will be First Lady?

And how is he going to handle NONE of his children
coming to WH Thanksgiving dinners?

And what about his clothing selections? Two closests?

And his military record is BLANK. Mine, isn't.

And I have enough "common sense" to not have put the major communications center back into the World Trade Center after the first attack. Rudi didn't.

And I would have refused any personal monetary benefits offered to keep the center in the World Trade Center. Rudi didn't.

Firefighters hate the Rude One. Ouch!
First Responders hate the Rude One. Ouch!
Police hate the Rude One. Ouch!

Rudi has made hundreds of thousands of dollars talking about 9/11 and he has kept the money for himself. TRIPLE OUCH!!!

I agree with you his is a top choice for the GOP.

After all, Rudi is a Bush Loyalist.

Yes, you made a very important comment.

The Rude One could indeed be our next President.

After Bush, he qualifies. And, don't ALL mayors

of American cities assume that they too will one

day become President of the USA.

MR. 9/11 MONEY PANTS PRESIDENT

[OrvilleHLarson]

No surprise that Sean Hannity has a hard-on for
Il Duce Giuliani. They're both chickenshit chickenhawks who'll fight to the last drop of YOUR blood.

[Kansas Evans]

If the Dems were as bold with the truth as the Repubs are with lies, I think this may be a better world.

I wonder how the Repubs who comment on this site will respond to this. Or, if.

[NYDamien]

Like most democrats you still don't get it. Limbaugh, Hannity, and all the other traitors are paid hundreds of millions of dollars to seek out the noses of the brain dead, slip the hooks in, and lead them to their own slaughter. They don't care what you do or what you did. It's what you say....., over and over and over. The media isn't interested in facts and won't report them They want a food fight and loud screaming.
Rudy's, Mitt's, and the other Chickenhawks' campaigns would be over in a second if a Democrat would stand up and scream what these chickenshits are. The days of winning by gaining debating points are over.
Ask Al and John.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

If MacMahon's letter hadn't worked, Giuliani could have sought a permanent deferment by saying that he likes to wear dresses.

It's true, isn't it?

[Buddhamonkeydevil]

It didn't work for Cpl. Klinger on M*A*S*H*...

[Rescisco]

"But oh the hypocrisy of it." That hypocrisy is just good old Republilcan "patriotism." And Republicans using soldiers for political gain is the very thing that makes them such great war leaders. Yup, these guys have it nailed when it comes to national security. What a putzy nation.

[RogerHWerner]

I happen to detest Republican hypocrisy as much as the next progressive liberal and I'm for exposing it whenever found. I would however remind that not all Republicans dodged the draft and not all Democrats served in war. Not all of our political leaders are like Eisenhower or JFK OR George H. W. Bush--honest to goodness war heroes--and even honest war heroes don't always make brilliant political leaders (look at John Kerry).

It's unfortunate that a desire to avoid service in Vietnam through any means is today used as political fodder without bothering to understanding the motivations of the avoider. Regardless, what's more unfortunate is that some of those who chose not to serve now parade around as hawks, thump their chests like brave men, and expect others to do what they couldn't or wouldn't. While there were many honorable reasons one sought to avoid military service during Vietnam, there can be no justification for the blatant hypocrisy of Cheney, Bush, Giuliani, and any other chicken hawks beyond personal ambition and the need to win at any cost. Such men should be exposed and ridiculed.

The New Hampshire Gazette (http://www.nhgazette.com) created the original chicken hawk database but they no longer have it on line. They have promised to re-post it so check back with the Gazette as they provide a full list of brave war promoters complete with their deferments and reasons. I found it the list sadly hilarious.