Giuliani questions Obama's love of US; Democrats cry foul

[webfact]

Giuliani questions Obama's love of US; Democrats cry foul
By KEN THOMAS

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats on Thursday assailed former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani for questioning President Barack Obama's love of country, and urged the potential field of Republican presidential candidates to rebuke him for his comments.

Giuliani said at a New York City event on Wednesday night, "I know this is a horrible thing to say, but I do not believe that the president loves America."

"He doesn't love you. And he doesn't love me. He wasn't brought up the way you were brought up and I was brought up through love of this country," said Giuliani, who sought the 2008 GOP presidential nomination. His comments were reported by Politico and the New York Daily News.

Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz said it's time for Republican leaders to "stop this nonsense."

Several likely GOP candidates declined to get involved Thursday. Giuliani, meanwhile, softened his remarks somewhat in an interview, saying he didn't mean to question the president's patriotism.

His comments at the dinner brought to mind a familiar conservative criticism during Obama's 2008 and 2012 campaigns that he wasn't proud enough of the United States. During his presidency, a smaller segment falsely claimed that Obama was not born in the United States but rather in his father's native Kenya.

White House spokesman Eric Schultz said Giuliani "test drove this line of attack during his fleeting 2007 run for the presidency." Asked whether the comments were appropriate, Schultz said he would leave it to those at the event to make that assessment.

The private dinner was attended by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who is considering a 2016 campaign. Giuliani said that "with all our flaws we're the most exceptional country in the world. I'm looking for a presidential candidate who can express that, do that and carry it out."

"And if it's you, Scott, I'll endorse you," Giuliani said, addressing Walker. "And if it's somebody else, I'll support somebody else."

Walker, asked about the comments in an interview with CNBC, did not directly address whether he agreed with the former mayor.

"The mayor can speak for himself. I'm not going to comment on whether — what the president thinks or not. He can speak for himself as well," Walker said. "I'll tell you, I love America, and I think there are plenty of people, Democrat, Republican, independent, everywhere in between, who love this country."

Democrats said the incident reflected poorly on Walker, who has generated early presidential buzz among Republican activists in Iowa, the nation's first 2016 contest. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, said he heard a "deafening silence" from Walker and said the governor should "disassociate himself immediately" from the remarks.

Asked about Obama in an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Giuliani said he wasn't "questioning his patriotism. He's a patriot, I'm sure. What I'm saying is, in his rhetoric, I very rarely hear him say the things that I used to hear Ronald Reagan say, the things that I used to hear Bill Clinton say, about how much he loves America."

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, a potential presidential candidate, defended Giuliani, saying what Obama had "obviously demonstrated for everyone is that he is incapable of successfully executing his duties as our commander in chief."

Most Republican presidential hopefuls largely avoided the subject. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said he had "no doubt" that Obama loves the country, "but I just think his policies are bad for our nation."

Officials with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ted Cruz of Texas declined comment.

Wasserman Schultz, a Florida congresswoman, said she often disagreed with former President George W. Bush and Republicans in Congress but never questioned their patriotism. She noted that Arizona Sen. John McCain, during his 2008 presidential campaign, urged fellow Republicans not to question Obama's love of country.

"I would challenge my Republican colleagues and anyone in the Republican party to say, 'Enough.' They need to start leading," Wasserman Schultz said at the start of the DNC's winter meeting.
___

Associated Press writers Thomas Beaumont in Chicago; Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin; Kathleen Ronayne in Concord, New Hampshire; and Jonathan Lemire in New York contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-02-20

[Paulc01]

There isn't a whole lot I agree with Giuliani about. But he is smack dab on the money about the Alien-in-Chief ruling over America.

[daoyai]

Cue the rednecks and teabaggers, this thread should get interesting. ^

[Ulysses G.]

Don't forget the Obama-bots and apologists for the presidents failed left-wing policies. They will be out in force.

I don't know if Obama hates America, or not, but IMO his ideology is the real problem.

Edited February 20, 2015 by Ulysses G.

[NeverSure]

Cue the rednecks and teabaggers, this thread should get interesting. ^

Cue the handwringers and moaners and Islamic apologists. Oh wait. They are too busy writing invitation cards for those people to come and live at their houses.

[hanno]

Next: Obama is a Kenyan Muslim. Wait a minute; we have been there before

[thrilled]

You can kick me off of this site Obama isn't worth A - - - -.

[Publicus]

Rudy Giuliani has long since become a caricature of his manufactured image as America's mayor due to 9/11. No one has questioned Giuliani's patriotism but very many have questioned his honesty and his character.

President of the International Association of Firefighters on 9/11 and a NYFD Harold Schaitberger said, "Rudy has used the horrible events of September 11 to create a persona that is an elaborate fabrication. He is nothing more than a shameless self-promoter."

The IAFF declined to endorse Giuliani when he ran unsuccessfully for prez in 2008.

Giuliani needs to tend to his own false and cynical self-promotion which also involves trying to assail the character and integrity of Pres Obama.

[sdanielmcev]

I do question his patriotism. I do question his belief in America. And, until he or someone shows me different, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

[klauskunkel]

Obama's love of US Obama's love of country I do not believe that the president loves America He doesn't love you. And he doesn't love me I was brought up through love of this country I'll tell you, I love America who love this country how much he loves America Obama loves the country not to question Obama's love of country

Love, love, love

love, love, love

love is all you need, love is all you need

My fellow Americans, ask not if you love your country, ask if your country loves you!

[Loptr]

Cue the rednecks and teabaggers, this thread should get interesting. ^

Along with the left-wing chapter of the Obama fanboy club it appears...

[ggt]

IMHO...Barrack Hussein Obama has an identity crisis...his loyalty is split between the Muslim culture and Western culture...and he appears to have a problem identifying the Muslim aggressors who are running amuck in the ME...

[NeverSure]

IMHO...Barrack Hussein Obama has an identity crisis...his loyalty is split between the Muslim culture and Western culture...and he appears to have a problem identifying the Muslim aggressors who are running amuck in the ME...

"his loyalty is split between the Muslim culture and Western culture...and he appears to have a problem identifying the Muslim aggressors who are running amuck in the ME Whitehouse..."

[NeverSure]

Say Publicus, do you have any sense of humor today?

[hanno]

IMHO...Barrack Hussein Obama has an identity crisis...his loyalty is split between the Muslim culture and Western culture...and he appears to have a problem identifying the Muslim aggressors who are running amuck in the ME...

He is about as Muslim as apple pie, but let's not get facts in the way.

Is he an ineffective president? Sure, but the stereotyping that has been directed at him is ludicrous.

As for any politician loving his/her country: I have my doubts. I think one of the prerequisites of becoming a politician is to be a self-centered, conniving, lying, cheating SOB.

[landslide]

There isn't a whole lot I agree with Giuliani about. But he is smack dab on the money about the Alien-in-Chief ruling over America.

Actually, I believe it is Liar-in-Chief.

[Loptr]

Rudy Giuliani has long since become a caricature of his manufactured image as America's mayor due to 9/11. No one has questioned Giuliani's patriotism but very many have questioned his honesty and his character.

President of the International Association of Firefighters on 9/11 and a NYFD Harold Schaitberger said, "Rudy has used the horrible events of September 11 to create a persona that is an elaborate fabrication. He is nothing more than a shameless self-promoter."

The IAFF declined to endorse Giuliani when he ran unsuccessfully for prez in 2008.

Giuliani needs to tend to his own false and cynical self-promotion which also involves trying to assail the character and integrity of Pres Obama.

Right on queue with an attack on the messenger... A ploy used often and repeatedly by the leftists in the last 6 years... And if they can't silence the opposition, they are investigated by the IRS, or brought up on phony criminal charges, or they mysteriously die, or fade away or a bought off in some way...

Nice try Publicus, but no cigar as we're onto your tactics...

[Pinot]

The Fox News lemmings lick their lips when they see a post like this.

Obama's ratings continue to rise as his international and domestic policies bail America out after the failed and damaging policies of the previous administration.

Rudy has been trying to trade off his 15 minutes of fame since 9/11. Fame that has been so discredited, the only place he can work is Fox. The only news that's false 60% of the time. No one listens except the lemmings.

I look forward to more posts with the thoughts of Rudy, Trump and Rush.

[Publicus]

Rudy Giuliani has long since become a caricature of his manufactured image as America's mayor due to 9/11. No one has questioned Giuliani's patriotism but very many have questioned his honesty and his character.

President of the International Association of Firefighters on 9/11 and a NYFD Harold Schaitberger said, "Rudy has used the horrible events of September 11 to create a persona that is an elaborate fabrication. He is nothing more than a shameless self-promoter."

The IAFF declined to endorse Giuliani when he ran unsuccessfully for prez in 2008.

Giuliani needs to tend to his own false and cynical self-promotion which also involves trying to assail the character and integrity of Pres Obama.

Right on queue with an attack on the messenger... A ploy used often and repeatedly by the leftists in the last 6 years... And if they can't silence the opposition, they are investigated by the IRS, or brought up on phony criminal charges, or they mysteriously die, or fade away or a bought off in some way...

Nice try Publicus, but no cigar as we're onto your tactics...

Right on queue with an attack on the messenger

Giuliani is a propagandist not a messenger, and Giuliani is a fraud extraordinaire...a cheap political hack.

Giuliani is still suffering from pen president envy.

[lifeincnx]

Sad statement coming from the man, who as Mayor of New York, doomed the firefighters trapped in the 9/11 Towers. Earlier in his tenure he repeatedly failed to approve the much-needed budget requests to upgrade walkie talkies and other communications systems for first responders on aligned frequencies. You can't get more un-American than that.

[cup-O-coffee]

Obama... the man of mystery. His cloudy past is beyond question. The slightest peep of his mysterious and highly questionable past brings on a tidal wave of affront and all out attack from his vanguard. I do not recall anyone, holding any position of such power and magnitude, to have ever escaped having his or her past detailed and scrutinized severely as this man has been allowed to escape.

Name just about anyone else in the world, and Obama seems to be the only one who simply popped out of a fairly tale story to save the blacks and Muslims and illegal immigrants whilst destroying the very fabric of the constitution. He has done more to hurt the USA (division, economy, American-haters, loss of respect to the office, etc. etc.) than all other presidents combined. I do not need to detail anything. Those of you who disagree are only disagreeing with my view, and that is a waste of your time.

The USA has fallen to a new low with this, and I do not believe it is by err. One does not have to hate something even when one uses that something as a means to an end. Being in a position above question makes things even worse, though.

Until his past is scrutinized, then his election to the presidency is about as sound and logical as a "no-questions asked" impulse purchase; moreover, to mitigate everything he does is about as sound and logical as smiling and doting and tinkering every time the "no-questions asked" impulse purchase breaks down every day, at any given time.

Giuliani may be this or that, but he certainly hit the nail on the head. I do however disrespect him, and he disgusts me that he backed down. He should have rammed this down everyone's throat and stuck to his guns.

Obama... WHO IS THIS MAN?

[boike]

Think what u want of the man but the ppl on the right have disrespected the office he holds time and time again while they claim to be patriotic and law abiding. Ppl forget when that azzhole shouted you lie during the state of the union.

Sent from my S4 LTE

[Ulysses G.]

That was when Obama was trying to sell Obamacare. That guy that yelled might have been right.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2013/dec/12/lie-year-if-you-like-your-health-care-plan-keep-it/

Edited February 20, 2015 by Ulysses G.

[Cats4ever]

I don't want to meddle in US politics, however - George Bernard Shaw (an undoubted soft cock, left wing liberal) observed in the early 1900s that " It is always the Conservatives who are the first to stop acting like gentlemen".

[cup-O-coffee]

Think what u want of the man but the ppl on the right have disrespected the office he holds time and time again while they claim to be patriotic and law abiding. Ppl forget when that azzhole shouted you lie during the state of the union.

Sent from my S4 LTE

PERIOD!

[Steely Dan]

IMHO...Barrack Hussein Obama has an identity crisis...his loyalty is split between the Muslim culture and Western culture...and he appears to have a problem identifying the Muslim aggressors who are running amuck in the ME...

I suspect he can identify them all too well, it's covering for them that he understandably is having difficulty with.

[Publicus]

Cue the rednecks and teabaggers, this thread should get interesting. ^

Along with the left-wing chapter of the Obama fanboy club it appears...

There are a number of my fellow Americans who can use a respectable dose of self-examination, and it is excellent that they should get it from our own twice elected president.

[Srikcir]

Guiliani has a love of war. It's no wonder he dislikes Obama.

2008 GOP debate, Boca Raton, Florida , Jan 24, 2008:

Q: Was the [iraq] war a good idea and worth the price in blood and treasure?

A: I was for it when six out of 10 were for it; I’m for it when six out of 10 are against it. I’m for it not because of polls but because America is in a war, an Islamic terrorist war against us. America has to succeed in Iraq. And the goal in Iraq is an Iraq that’s stable and an ally of the US. To be president of the US, you have to be able to read polls, but you can’t have them push you around.

[Wat dee]

I would question any ones patriotism who puts god before country.

[Ulysses G.]

Guiliani has a love of war.

Wanting to stop radical Islam is not a love of war, but it might take one to do the job.