Giuliani Hits McCain
THE VILLAGES, Fla. - For weeks, Rudy Giuliani said he was living by Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment to not go after his GOP rivals. This evening, he came close.
"I supported the Bush tax cuts," Giuliani said at a rally here as results were being announced in NV and SC. "John McCain voted with the Democrats against the Bush tax cuts - twice. And Mitt Romney did not, clearly, support the Bush tax cuts."
Giuliani has long stressed his friendship with McCain, so the attack on him was more surprising. He has been loathed to speak ill of McCain, even when provoked, and has only said that McCain has never run anything. Giuliani and Romney have been butting heads for months over issues like the line-item veto.
But Giuliani had all but vetoed going after his GOP rivals, frequently evoking Reagan's commandment, "thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican." He has said the only exception is when he is attacked first.
Giuliani and his aides said they were not breaking the commandment 1/19, but emphasizing contrast.
"You mean contrast?" he said at a media availability after the speech. "No, I just pointed out where there were differences. The differences are, in the case of the Bush tax cuts, which are now getting a lot of attention because of the new stimulus program, I supported the Bush tax cut. John McCain voted with the Democrats against the Bush tax cuts and Mitt Romney was equivocal in his support.
"Now, why was I so strong in my support of the Bush tax cuts?" he said. "Because I did the same thing. I have a history of cutting taxes and having it work for me."
Giuliani was joined at the event by his wife, Judith, actor Jon Voight and state AG Bill McCollum, who expanded on the contrasts with McCain and Romney at The Villages Lincoln Day Dinner after the rally.
"I admire him," McCollum said of McCain. "He's a war hero. He's a friend. But he's no Rudy Giuliani."
McCollum said he also admired Romney, but Romney did not accomplish as much with a Dem legislature in Massachusetts as Giuliani did in NYC.
Giuliani continued to stress the importance of the FLprimary.
"Whoever wins in Florida will be the next nominee," he said [MATT BERGER].
Saying McCain is no Rudy Giuliani is the understatement of the year. Shall we see a few examples of why McCain is no Conservative Republican?
1. Against the Bush Tax Cuts (twice)
2. Driving force behind Campaign Finance Reform to protect incumbents.
3. Thought about being JOHN KERRY's VP
4. Behind the Gang of 14 to get in the way of the Senate's advise and consent -- who made McCain king?
5. Supports Global Warming theory with Lieberman and is against drilling in ANWR
6. Sponsored Patients Bill of Rights with Ted Kennedy and John Edwards?