Rudy Giuliani: "he's no altar boy"

Rudy Giuliani in the Hot Seat

Chicago, IL - Rudy Giuliani will not be criticized. Since the tragedy on September 11, 2001 he hasn't been criticized. In the current political climate, it is almost "not PC" to offend or disagree with him. Although not officially a saint, Giuliani is a "Knight of the British Empire", an order dating back to 1917. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in February of 2002. It states in the US Constitution (Article I, Section 9, Clause 8) "No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state." Apparently Mr. Giuliani has sidestepped the Constitution on that ruling.

It is a long-standing element of Giuliani's character to quash criticism of him, real or imagined. In 1997, Giuliani took New York Magazine to court over bus advertisements that proclaimed the magazine to be, "possibly the only good thing in New York Rudy hasn't taken credit for." A federal judge rejected Mr. Giuliani's efforts to ban the advertisements, subsequently ordering the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to restore the ads.

This ruling was not as successful for Giuliani as was his earlier quarrel with Continental Airlines. During Giuliani's mayoral term in New York City, Continental Airlines ran an ad campaign encouraging travelers to use neighboring Newark, New Jersey's airport. A spot in this campaign that Guiliani took particular umbrage to featured a "city taxi announcement" of, "Welcome to New York. Now get out." Giuliani felt the campaign was damaging to Kennedy and LaGuardia airports and "disparaged the city's image". Before Continental Airlines relented and removed the ads, Giuliani suggested that New York City residents boycott Continental Airlines. He even considered running a counter-campaign against Continental and Newark Airport.

During Giuliani's two terms as Mayor of New York City, the New York Division of the American Civil Liberties Union ("NYCLU") took Rudy's administration to court on over twenty separate occasions in defense of first amendment rights. They prevailed on eighteen of the twenty cases in full or in part, with two cases having no decision. Giuliani, along with then New York City Police Chief Howard Safir, denounced musician Bruce Springsteen for his song "American Skin." This song was composed by Springsteen in reference to the NYPD killing of Amadou Diallo. The Diallo case involved many issues such as police brutality and racial profiling, with the officers in question eventually being acquitted, and Mr. Diallo's parents being granted the largest settlement under New York City's "wrongful death" law. Giuliani, downplaying Springsteen's statement, argued, "Despite the fact that they were acquitted ... there's still people trying to create the impression that the police officers are guilty." In fact, one of the most frequent criticisms of Giuliani has been his silencing of the critics.

Hopefully the American public will open its eyes during the debate process leading up to the 2008 Presidential election. The full character of Rudolph W. Giuliani needs to be dissected, scrutinized, and evaluated. Mr. Giuliani has a history of silencing critics: this behavior is not fitting for the office of President of the United States. Consider the entire man, and not just the debated "hero of 9/11". - Laura Schofield, May 22, 2007