For Immediate Release
November 18, 2009
 
Contact: DNC Press - (202) 863-8148
 
 
“REMEMBER THIS?” DNC RELEASES NEW VIDEO HITTING RUDY GIULIANI FOR PLAYING POLITICS WITH NATIONAL SECURITY
 
Video Shows Giuliani Flip-Flopping On Subjecting Suspected Terrorists To Trials In U.S. Courts For Political Gain
 
Watch “Remember This?” Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f6sQzD-Lr4
 
Washington, D.C. – The Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced a new web video today highlighting former NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’s politically-motivated flip-flop on whether suspected terrorists should stand trial in U.S. courts.  As recently as 2006, Giuliani supported such trials and argued that they demonstrate “to people what America is like… there’s the law, and we’re going to follow it.” But, this past weekend, and throughout the week, Giuliani has continued to ignore his long-held and oft-repeated support for such trials in his attempt to score political points for the Republican Party.  DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse released the following statement:
 
“The Republican Party – having seen their credibility on national security totally decimated by eight years of failed foreign policies which made our country less safe and nearly destroyed our image abroad - has now chosen as its spokesperson for this issue a man whose judgment is so distorted that he actually pleaded to have convicted felon Bernie Kerik put in charge of our nation’s security.  And, as if that were not bad enough, it’s clear from Giuliani’s long record of public statements on the topic that even he doesn’t support the position that he and the GOP are advocating for today.  The Republican Party’s insistence on saying NO to any position that the President supports is endangering this country’s security and reputation.  Rudy Giuliani knows that, and it’s time he admitted that his real motivation behind his sudden and total change of heart is politics - pure and simple.  We have one piece of advice for Mayor Giuliani - be careful - a flip-flop like this could fracture your spine. ”
 
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GIULIANI FLIP FLOP 11/18/09
 

SCRIPT

BACKUP

ON-SCREEN: DOES RUDY GIULIANI WANT TO PUT TERRORISTS ON TRIAL FOR THEIR HORRIFIC CRIMES?
 
ON-SCREEN: REMEMBER THIS?
 
GIULIANI: “America is dedicated to the rule of law. … And maybe, just maybe it will occur to some people that maybe have an open mind that we're not the demon that we're portrayed as in this radical world." [Fox News, “Hannity & Colmes,” 5/3/06]
 
ON-SCREEN: FLIP
 
FLOP
 
GIULIANI: “Basically, in this particular case, we are reaching out to give terrorists a benefit that is unnecessary.” [ABC, “This Week,” 11/15/09]

NOW - Giuliani: Basically, In This Particular Case, We Are Reaching Out To Give Terrorists A Benefit That Is Unnecessary.” Rudy Giuliani: “Basically, in this particular case, we are reaching out to give terrorists a benefit that is unnecessary.” [ABC, “This Week,” 11/15/09]
NOW – Giuliani Said “A Military Tribunal Is Certainly Fair” For The Five 9/11 Suspects. “Instead of bringing suspected mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other suspects to Manhattan federal court, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani says military tribunals are better suited to try those accused of terrorism. ‘A military tribunal is certainly fair,’ Giuliani said in an interview that aired Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union, ‘it’s a great example to the rest of the world. The tradition for over 150 years has been to use those military tribunals.’” [CNN, 11/15/09]
NOW – Giuliani Said He Favored Military Tribunals To Try The 9/11 Terrorists. “On the day Attorney General Eric Holder testified and defended his decision on Capitol Hill, Giuliani, on a conference call organized by the Republican National Committee called the move ‘unnecessary,’ because military tribunals are available as an alternative, it would be too much of a burden on New York City, the process would be ‘long’ and ‘drawn out’ and a trial would inflict pain on families of those affected by 9/11.” [MSNBC, “First Read,” 11/18/09]
 
THEN - Giuliani, After The Trial Of Zacarias Moussaoui, Said "What Comes Out Of It Is A Very, Very Dramatic Demonstration That America Is Dedicated To The Rule Of Law." Rudy Giuliani, on the Zacarias Moussaoui (otherwise known as the 20th hijacker) trial: "Well, I have a conflicted reaction to it. I mean, one part of me is disappointed, because I thought he deserved the death penalty. It seemed to me he knew about it, he lied about it. If he had told the truth about it, it's very possible all of these people would be alive who are now dead and all these children are growing up without fathers and mothers would have their fathers and mothers, and that seems to me a pretty heavy responsibility, for which I would think the death penalty is the right remedy. But I respect the jury; I mean, I respect the jury system. I think there is something good that comes out of this. What comes out of it is a very, very dramatic demonstration that America is dedicated to the rule of law. And that a lot of places where these terrorists come from, this is the kind of thing that's missing: They don't have the rule of law. And maybe, just maybe it will occur to some people that maybe have an open mind that we're not the demon that we're portrayed as in this radical world." [Fox News, “Hannity & Colmes,” 5/3/06]
 
THEN - Giuliani, After The Trial Of Zacarias Moussaoui, Said "I Respect The Judy System." Rudy Giuliani, on the Zacarias Moussaoui (otherwise known as the 20th hijacker) trial: "Well, I have a conflicted reaction to it. I mean, one part of me is disappointed, because I thought he deserved the death penalty. It seemed to me he knew about it, he lied about it. If he had told the truth about it, it's very possible all of these people would be alive who are now dead and all these children are growing up without fathers and mothers would have their fathers and mothers, and that seems to me a pretty heavy responsibility, for which I would think the death penalty is the right remedy. But I respect the jury; I mean, I respect the jury system. I think there is something good that comes out of this. What comes out of it is a very, very dramatic demonstration that America is dedicated to the rule of law. And that a lot of places where these terrorists come from, this is the kind of thing that's missing: They don't have the rule of law. And maybe, just maybe it will occur to some people that maybe have an open mind that we're not the demon that we're portrayed as in this radical world." [Fox News, “Hannity & Colmes,” 5/3/06]

ON-SCREEN: REMEMBER THIS?
 
GIULIANI: “I think there is value in demonstrating to people what America is like. That we can have these kinds of emotional agreements but then there’s the law and we are going to follow it.” [MSNBC, “Hardball,” 5/3/06]
 
ON-SCREEN: FLIP
 
FLOP
 
GIULIANI: “There seems to be an over-concern with the rights of terrorists.” [Fox News Sunday, 11/15/09]
 

NOW - Giuliani: “There Seems To Be An Over-Concern With The Rights Of Terrorists.” Rudy Giuliani: “There seems to be an over-concern with the rights of terrorists.” [Fox News Sunday, 11/15/09]
NOW – Giuliani Said “A Military Tribunal Is Certainly Fair” For The Five 9/11 Suspects. “Instead of bringing suspected mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other suspects to Manhattan federal court, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani says military tribunals are better suited to try those accused of terrorism. ‘A military tribunal is certainly fair,’ Giuliani said in an interview that aired Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union, ‘it’s a great example to the rest of the world. The tradition for over 150 years has been to use those military tribunals.’” [CNN, 11/15/09]
NOW – Giuliani Said He Favored Military Tribunals To Try The 9/11 Terrorists. “On the day Attorney General Eric Holder testified and defended his decision on Capitol Hill, Giuliani, on a conference call organized by the Republican National Committee called the move ‘unnecessary,’ because military tribunals are available as an alternative, it would be too much of a burden on New York City, the process would be ‘long’ and ‘drawn out’ and a trial would inflict pain on families of those affected by 9/11.” [MSNBC, “First Read,” 11/18/09]
 
THEN - Giuliani Said That The Moussaoui Verdict Demonstrated That “I Think There Is Value In Demonstrating To People What America Is Like. That We Can Have These Kinds Of Emotional Agreements But Then There’s The Law And We Are Going To Follow It.” Rudy Giuliani: “I do think there is a value to this. I think the greater value would have been if he had been executed, but I think there is value in demonstrating to people what America is like. We can have these kind of emotional disagreements, then there’s the law and we’re going to follow it.” [MSNBC, "Hardball," 5/3/06]
 
 

ON-SCREEN: REMEMBER THIS?
 
GIULIANI: “This is the system we have for justice.” [MSNBC, “Hardball,” 5/3/06]
 
 
ON-SCREEN: FLIP
 
FLOP
 
GIULIANI: “We generally don’t bring people back to the scene of the crime for justice.” [Fox News Sunday, 11/15/09]
 
ON-SCREEN: RUDY GIULIANI: PLAYING POLITICS WITH NATIONAL SECURITY

NOW - Giuliani: “We Generally Don’t Bring People Back To The Scene Of The Crime For Justice.” Rudy Giuliani: “We generally don’t bring people back to the scene of the crime for justice.” [Fox News Sunday, 11/15/09]
NOW – Giuliani Said “A Military Tribunal Is Certainly Fair” For The Five 9/11 Suspects. “Instead of bringing suspected mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other suspects to Manhattan federal court, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani says military tribunals are better suited to try those accused of terrorism. ‘A military tribunal is certainly fair,’ Giuliani said in an interview that aired Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union, ‘it’s a great example to the rest of the world. The tradition for over 150 years has been to use those military tribunals.’” [CNN, 11/15/09]
NOW – Giuliani Said He Favored Military Tribunals To Try The 9/11 Terrorists. “On the day Attorney General Eric Holder testified and defended his decision on Capitol Hill, Giuliani, on a conference call organized by the Republican National Committee called the move ‘unnecessary,’ because military tribunals are available as an alternative, it would be too much of a burden on New York City, the process would be ‘long’ and ‘drawn out’ and a trial would inflict pain on families of those affected by 9/11.” [MSNBC, “First Read,” 11/18/09]
 
THEN - Giuliani, After The Trial Of Zacarias Moussaoui, Said "This Is The System We Have For Justice." Rudy Giuliani: “Justice was done. Sure. I mean, this is the system that we have for justice. It was a trial. It seemed like it was a fair trial. I think the judge was fair. I think the jurors were fair. It’s just not the result that I would have come to.” [Fox News, “Hannity & Colmes,” 5/3/06]
 
THEN - Giuliani Praised The Prosecution Of The 1993 World Trade Center Bombers, Which Happened In New York. “‘It should show that our legal system is the most mature legal system in the history of the world,’ he [Giuliani] said, ‘that it works well, that that is the place to seek vindication if you feel your rights have been violated.’” [New York Times, 3/5/94]
 
THEN - Giuliani Praised The Prosecution Of The 1993 World Trade Center Bombers, Which Happened In New York, And Our Legal Systems Capacity To Prosecute Terrorists. “I think it shows you put terrorism on one side, you put our legal system on the other, and our legal system comes out ahead,” said Giuliani. [CBS Evening News, 3/5/94]
 
 
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