GIULIANI AD FACTS “Not Endorsed”

AD FACT:

Voice Over: “Rudy Giuliani is not endorsed by The Tampa Tribune.”

BACKGROUND:

Tampa Tribune Said Giuliani Was “Too Tough For Our Tastes.” “Rudy Giuliani marched his way into America’s heart when he walked that dusty boulevard to the twin towers after the attacks of 9/11. He became a national hero that day, a leader in a time of crisis. Giuliani’s strong resume is attractive to conservatives. He investigated corruption as a U.S. attorney and tackled crime and code enforcement as New York’s mayor. His campaign to fight a culture of lawlessness by enforcing even minor laws – like fixing broken windows – is a case study in leadership. But despite his leadership after 9/11 and his turnaround of a crime-ridden city, Giuliani is not the person best positioned to lead America’s interests and ideals. … The mayor is a tough-talking New Yorker – a little too tough for our tastes. In a conversation with this editorial board, he said the way to end terrorism is: ‘You get rid of the nation states that support it,’ opening the door to a host of possibilities.” (Editorial, “Giuliani Stands For More Of The Same,” The Tampa Tribune, 1/11/08)

AD FACT:

Voice Over: “Not endorsed by the Orlando Sentinel.”

BACKGROUND:

Orlando Sentinel Opposes Giuliani’s Tax Cut Plan. “And Mr. Giuliani’s call for a massive new tax cut amid continuing deficits shows his commitment to fiscal responsibility isn’t as strong.” (Editorial, “Sentinel Endorsement: John McCain In GOP,” Orlando Sentinel, 1/20/08)

AD FACT:

Voice Over: “Not endorsed by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.”

BACKGROUND:

South Florida Sun-Sentinel Supported McCain Because He Goes Against Republican Party On Key Issues. “The South Florida Sun-Sentinel Editorial Board recommends Republican voters choose Arizona Sen. John McCain. McCain offers the right mix of experience and ideological autonomy that should strike a chord with restless voters. No, he’s not an outsider, having served in Congress since 1982, including the past 22 years in the U.S. Senate. During that time, however, he carved out a role as an individualist, having supported two pieces of legislation that angered his own party. One was the McCain-Feingold campaign fundraising law. The other was the sensible and practical McCain-Kennedy bill to reform immigration laws, which stalled due to congressional bickering.” (Editorial, “McCain The GOP Choice In Florida’s Presidential Preference Primary,” South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 1/27/08)

AD FACT:

Voice Over: “In fact, he’s not endorsed by any of the liberal newspapers.”

BACKGROUND:

Tampa Tribune Said Giuliani Was “Too Tough For Our Tastes.” “Rudy Giuliani marched his way into America’s heart when he walked that dusty boulevard to the twin towers after the attacks of 9/11. He became a national hero that day, a leader in a time of crisis. Giuliani’s strong resume is attractive to conservatives. He investigated corruption as a U.S. attorney and tackled crime and code enforcement as New York’s mayor. His campaign to fight a culture of lawlessness by enforcing even minor laws – like fixing broken windows – is a case study in leadership. But despite his leadership after 9/11 and his turnaround of a crime-ridden city, Giuliani is not the person best positioned to lead America’s interests and ideals. … The mayor is a tough-talking New Yorker – a little too tough for our tastes. In a conversation with this editorial board, he said the way to end terrorism is: ‘You get rid of the nation states that support it,’ opening the door to a host of possibilities.” (Editorial, “Giuliani Stands For More Of The Same,” The Tampa Tribune, 1/11/08)

Orlando Sentinel Opposes Giuliani’s Tax Cut Plan. “And Mr. Giuliani’s call for a massive new tax cut amid continuing deficits shows his commitment to fiscal responsibility isn’t as strong.” (Editorial, “Sentinel Endorsement: John McCain In GOP,” Orlando Sentinel, 1/20/08)

South Florida Sun Sentinel Said Iraq Surge Was Not Working. “The White House has again called for patience, but time is running out on the surge. If Iraq remains chaotic 53 months after U.S. troops first arrived, why should Americans believe that the next three or six months will change anything? The Bush administration would do itself a favor by preparing a postsurge strategy that incorporates more Iraq Study Group recommendations. … Bottom Line: Time’s running out. Prepare Plan B based on the Iraq Study Group.” (Editorial, “A Sagging Surge,” South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 7/7/07)

AD FACT:

Voice Over: “When you’re responsible for cutting people’s taxes by an incredible seventeen percent …”

Chyron: “Rudy cut taxes 17%”

BACKGROUND:

By End Of Giuliani’s Term, New Yorkers’ Tax Burden Was Reduced 17% – Its Lowest Level In Three Decades. (City Of New York Office Of Management And Budget, City Of New York Executive Budget Fiscal Year 2002 Budget Summary, pp. 8, 11)

AD FACT:

Voice Over: “… and announce a plan to give Americans the biggest tax cuts in history …”

Chyron: “Announced plan to give biggest tax cut in history”

BACKGROUND:

Americans For Tax Reform President Grover Norquist: Giuliani’s Tax Cut Is “The Largest In History.” (Americans For Tax Reform, “Rudy Giuliani Tax Cut Plan,” Press Release, 1/9/08)

Americans For Tax Reform: “This package is the most pro-growth tax cut of any GOP presidential candidate.” (Americans For Tax Reform, “Rudy Giuliani Tax Cut Plan,” Press Release, http://www.atr.org/content/pdf/2008/jan/010908pr-rudyplus.pdf, 1/9/08)

Steve Forbes: “This Is The Most Significant Move To Tax Simplification In Over 20 Years.” (Fox Business Network’s “Fox Business,” 1/9/08)

Townhall.Com’s Matt Lewis: “According To One Economic Expert I Talked To: ‘[Giuliani’s] Plan Would Be Huge. It Would Be 4% Of GDP. By Comparison, GWB Tax Cut Was 1.3% Of GDP. Reagan’s Was 1.9% Of GDP.’” (Matt Lewis, “Rudy’s New Tax Plan Unveiled,” Townhall.com, http://townhall.com/blog/g/4478b4ef-1344-42e8-8fc6-4c519e681a9a, 1/9/08, Accessed 1/9/08)

U.S. News & World Report’s James Pethokoukis: Giuliani’s Tax Plan “Would Be The Largest Tax Cut In The History Of The American Republic. Actually, Of Any Republic—Ours, Rome’s, Greece’s. Just Huge…” (James Pethokoukis, “Giuliani’s Shock-and-Awe Tax Plan,” U.S. News & World Report’s “Capital Commerce” Blog, http://www.usnews.com/blogs/capital-commerce/2008/1/10/giulianis-shock-and-awe-tax-plan.html, 1/10/08, Accessed 1/10/08)

Mayor Giuliani’s Plan To Cut Taxes Includes Making The Bush Tax Cuts Permanent, Eliminating The Death Tax, Indexing The Alternative Minimum Tax To Inflation With The Goal Of Eliminating It. (Giuliani For President, “Rudy Giuliani Is The Real Fiscal Conservative Running For President,” Press Release, 1/9/08)

According To The Congressional Budget Office, Permanently Extending The Bush Tax Cuts Would Save Taxpayers $3.1 Trillion. (“The Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Year 2008 To 2017,” Congressional Budget Office, 1/07, p. 107)

According To The Congressional Budget Office, Eliminating The Death Tax Would Save Taxpayers $480 Billion. (“The Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Year 2008 To 2017,” Congressional Budget Office, 1/07, p. 81)

According To The Congressional Budget Office, Indexing The Alternative Minimum Tax To Inflation Would Save Taxpayers $1.1 Trillion. (“The Budget and Economic Outlook: An Update,” Congressional Budget Office, 8/07, p. 20-21.)

Giuliani’s Tax Plan Will Simplify The Tax Code By Introducing Optional FAST Form. “Mayor Giuliani plans to simplify the tax code by introducing the Fair and Simple Tax (FAST) form. The FAST form gives American taxpayers the option of filling out their taxes on a single page, while cutting the current six brackets in half and preserving the major deductions that Americans depend upon – mortgage interest, charity, state & local taxes, the child tax credit, the personal exemption and the new health care exclusion.” (Giuliani For President, “Rudy Giuliani Outlines Plan To Cut Taxes And Reform The Tax Code,” Press Release, 1/9/08)

“Rudy’s Plan Also Cuts The Corporate Tax Rate From 35% To 25% To Keep America Competitive In The Global Economy.” (Giuliani For President, “Rudy Giuliani Outlines Plan To Cut Taxes And Reform The Tax Code,” Press Release, 1/9/08)

“In Addition, The Mayor Proposes … Cutting The Capital Gains Tax From 15% To 10% …” (Giuliani For President, “Rudy Giuliani Outlines Plan To Cut Taxes And Reform The Tax Code,” Press Release, 1/9/08)

“In Addition, The Mayor’s Proposal Eliminates The Double-Taxation Of Personal Saving Accounts, Reinstates The Research And Development Tax Credit And Makes The Current Bush Tax Cuts Permanent.” (Giuliani For President, “Rudy Giuliani Outlines Plan To Cut Taxes And Reform The Tax Code,” Press Release, 1/9/08)

AD FACT:

Voice Over: “… when you fight to appoint conservative federal judges …”

Chyron: “Fought for Conservative Judges”

BACKGROUND:

GIULIANI FOUGHT FOR CONSERVATIVE JUDGES IN REAGAN ADMINISTRATION

Giuliani Was A Member Of The Department Of Justice Judicial Selection Working Group. The group reviewed vacant seats and judicial candidates for the federal courts. In addition, the group dealt with issues such as efforts to obtain names of qualified women candidates for judicial vacancies. (Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Rose, Memo To Department Of Justice Judicial Selection Working Group, 2/1/82; Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Rose, Memo To Department of Justice Judicial Selection Working Group, 4/12/82)

Former Reagan Administration Assistant Attorney General Ted Olson Said Reagan Appointed Judges Like Scalia “On The Recommendation Of Rudy.” Olson: “The best indicator is when Rudy was a part of the federal system in the United States Department of Justice in the early 1980’s in the Reagan administration. And the people that President Reagan appointed with…on the recommendation of Rudy, among others, were the people like Bob Bork and Justice Scalia, then Judge Scalia, and so forth.” (Hugh Hewitt Show, 3/1/07)

Olson Said That Giuliani Made Sure Reagan’s Judicial Nominees Respected The Constitution. Olson: “Rudy and I became very, very close, part of that process was the selection of persons to recommend to President Reagan to appoint to judicial positions, including the Supreme Court, the Federal Courts of Appeals, the Federal District Courts. And one of the things we did was concentrate on the character and integrity of the individuals that we wanted to appoint to the judiciary. People would respect the constitution, laws passed by Congress and the limited role of judges.” (Ted Olson, Press Conference, Washington, D.C., 7/17/07)

Giuliani Attended Weekly Meetings Devoted To Judicial Selections And Nominations, Would Share His Views On Nominees. “Numerous senior officials who served with him confirm that in addition to daily senior-management meetings with the attorney general, which covered pending nominations, Giuliani attended the Tuesday meetings devoted to judicial selections and nominations. He would present his recommendations for U.S. Attorneys and Marshals but also offer his views on judges.” (Jennifer Rubin, “Rudy As Prosecutor,” National Review, 4/30/07)

Former Federal Prosecutor Randy Mastro: “Mayor Giuliani Has Said That He Wants To Appoint Judges Who Will Interpret The Law And Who Will Make Policy. He Had Experience Doing That As The Number Three Official In Ronald Reagan’s Department.” (Randy Mastro, Press Conference, Washington, D.C., 7/17/07)

AND PUSHED FOR PRESIDENT BUSH’S STRICT CONSTRUCTIONIST NOMINEES

Giuliani Called John Roberts “Remarkable Candidate” With “Superb Qualifications For The Supreme Court.” GIULIANI: “[John Roberts is] a remarkable candidate. I mean, there is nothing in his background that doesn’t say ‘superb qualifications for the Supreme Court.’ His education, his academic performance, the extraordinary fact that he’s argued 39 times before the Supreme Court.” (Fox News’ “Hannity & Colmes,” 7/20/05)

Giuliani Said Democrats Would “Really Lose Credibility” If They Forcefully Opposed Roberts’ Nomination. GIULIANI: “[I] think, if they do an all-out opposition to John Roberts, they’re going to really lose credibility, because he is precisely what they’ve been talking about, someone who is extremely well-qualified, someone who’s – because he hasn’t been on the court for a long time, someone whose opinions you don’t really know completely, but you kind of get a sense of his general philosophy.” (Fox News’ “Hannity & Colmes,” 7/20/05)

Giuliani “Joined A Group Of Former U.S. Attorneys In Backing” Alito’s Nomination. “Rudy Giuliani, a potential 2008 White House contender, joined a group of former U.S. Attorneys in backing fellow Italian-American Alito for the high court. ‘He’s a decent human being possessing both the intellect and the temperament to serve on the highest court in the land. He’ll make a terrific Supreme Court Justice,’ said … Giuliani via spokeswoman Sunny Mindel.” (Deborah Orin, “Here Come Da Grudge,” New York Post, 1/10/06)

AD FACT:

Voice Over: “… want to grow America’s military to make sure our families are protected …”

Chyron: “Wants to Expand the Military”

BACKGROUND:

AS PRESIDENT, GIULIANI WILL WORK TO ACHIEVE

PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH

Mayor Giuliani Believes American Needs To Achieve Peace Through Strength By Remaining On Offense In Terrorists War Against Us And Expanding The Military. Giuliani: “We need to stay on offense in this Terrorist War against Us, achieving peace through strength, that’s the only way you achieve peace, through great strength, by being on offense, by being strong, by being confident, by having a military that we expand, not contract.” (Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Remarks, Tampa, FL, 12/15/07)

Mayor Giuliani: “A Realistic Peace Can Only Be Achieved Through Strength.” (Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Op-Ed, “Toward A Realistic Peace,” Foreign Affairs, 9/07)

As Part Of His 12 Commitments To The American People, Rudy Has Promised He “Will Keep America On The Offense In The Terrorists’ War On Us.” (Rudy Giuliani For President Website, http://www.joinrudy2008.com/commitment/, Accessed 12/18/07)

As President Rudy Giuliani’s Goal Will Be To Kill Or Capture The Al-Qaeda Leadership, Destroy The Capabilities Of The Group, And Discredit Its Radical Ideology. (Rudy Giuliani For President Website, http://www.joinrudy2008.com/commitment/indepth/4, Accessed 12/18/07)

A Giuliani Administration Will Support Important Tools Like The PATRIOT ACT And FISA, And Will Work Together With Congress To Improve Our Ability To Stop Terrorists At Home – Without Compromising The Rights Of U.S. Citizens. (Rudy Giuliani For President Website, http://www.joinrudy2008.com/commitment/indepth/4, Accessed 12/18/07)

As President, Rudy Giuliani Will Ensure That Our Military Has All The Forces, Tools, Skills, And Technologies It Needs To Defeat The Terrorists And Address Other Future Threats. He will add at least 10 new combat brigades to the Army and will expand our Navy to more than 300 ships. He will ensure that the Air Force has the new refueling tankers it needs, and will build a new long range bomber to replace the B-52. (Rudy Giuliani For President Website, http://www.joinrudy2008.com/commitment/indepth/4, Accessed 12/18/07)

A Giuliani Administration Will Revitalize And Refocus The Intelligence Community To Produce Solid Human Intelligence On Terrorist Groups And Activities. (Rudy Giuliani For President Website, http://www.joinrudy2008.com/commitment/indepth/4, Accessed 12/18/07)

AD FACT:

Voice Over: “… demand that new citizens learn to read, write and speak English …”

Chyron: “New Citizens must Read, Write, and Speak English”

BACKGROUND:

As Part Of His “12 Commitments To The American People,” Giuliani Will Require That All Immigrants Read, Write And Speak English. “Require All Immigrants to Truly Read, Write & Speak English: Rudy believes immigration and Americanization go hand-in-hand. As President, he will propose that all immigrants who want to become citizens must truly read, write, and speak English and learn American civics. For the American experiment to succeed, we need a common language.” (Rudy Giuliani For President Website, http://www.joinrudy2008.com/issues/view/15, Accessed 1/27/08)

Mayor Giuliani: “And Also A Country Whose Arms Are Wide Open To People Who Come Here, People Who Come Here Legally And Openly. We Want Them, We Need Them, We Will Accept Them, And What We Want Them To Do, If They Want To Become Citizens, Is Meet All The Requirements And Then Be Able To Read English, Write English, And Speak English.” (Mayor Giuliani, Remarks, Tampa, FL, 11/15/07)

AD FACT:

Voice Over: “… and that welfare recipients work for the benefits …”

Chyron: “Required Welfare Recipients to Work for Benefits”

BACKGROUND:

Newt Gingrich Called Giuliani An “Absolute Revolutionary” On Welfare Reform. “[O]ur moral critique — if anything, I feel, in retrospect, I was not bold enough in Washington, DC. Our moral critique of the welfare state is going to accelerate, and the place it’s happening is at the state and local governments. I mean, Giuliani, in his real reform of welfare, is in fact, behaving as an absolute revolutionary.” (Newt Gingrich, Remarks At Progress And Freedom Foundation Conference, Washington, DC, 1/22/96)

While Washington Was Held Back By Endless Discussion, Giuliani “Raced Ahead” To Create Nation’s Most Successful Welfare-To-Work Program. “The Giuliani administration, which created the nation’s largest and most successful workfare program among single adults in the Home Relief program, is now extending the work requirement to recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children i.e., single mothers. The program continues the city’s ambitious efforts at reform, one based on action. While Washington and Albany talk endlessly … Mayor Giuliani has raced ahead by going back to basics: work.” (Editorial, “The Four-Letter Fix For Welfare,” Daily News, 3/23/96)

Giuliani Cut Over 640,000 People From City Welfare Rolls To The Lowest Number Since 1966. (City Of New York Human Resources Administration, January 1999 HRA/DSS Fact Sheet; City Of New York Human Resources Administration, December 2001 HRA/DSS Fact Sheet; City Of New York Office Of Operations, Reengineering Municipal Services 1994-2001, p. 111)

58.37% Decrease In Number Of Welfare Recipients, From 1.1 Million In January 1994 To 462,595 In December 2001. (City Of New York Human Resources Administration, January 1999 HRA/DSS Fact Sheet; City Of New York Human Resources Administration, December 2001 HRA/DSS Fact Sheet)

Giuliani Turned Welfare Offices Into Job Centers, Which Made 151,376 Placements In FY 2001. (City Of New York Office Of Operations, Reengineering Municipal Services 1994-2001, p. 111)

New York City’s Workfare Program Required 20 Hours/Week Of Able-Bodied Recipients. (City Of New York Office Of Operations, Reengineering Municipal Services 1994-2001, p. 103)

Over 250,000 Total Work Experience Program (WEP) Participants. (City Of New York Office Of Operations, Reengineering Municipal Services 1994-2001, p. 103)

35,599 WEP Participants At Program’s Peak In 1999. (Independent Budget Office Of The City Of New York, “Welfare And Work,” http://www.ibo.nyc.ny.us/newsfax/nws61welfareandwork.html, 2/14/05)

AD FACT:

Voice Over: “… you’re the last person on earth to be endorsed by the liberal New York Times. Rudy Giuliani. Tested. Ready. Now.”

Chyron: “Tested. Ready. Now.”

Mayor Giuliani: “I’m Rudy Giuliani and I approved this message.”

BACKGROUND:

NEW YORK TIMES TAKES VERY LIBERAL POSITIONS

The New York Times Opposed The Iraq War Troop Surge Last Year. “President Bush told Americans last night that failure in Iraq would be a disaster. The disaster is Mr. Bush’s war, and he has already failed. Last night was his chance to stop offering more fog and be honest with the nation, and he did not take it. … Mr. Bush did acknowledge that some of his previous tactics had failed. But even then, the president sounded as if he were an accidental tourist in Iraq. He described the failure of last year’s effort to pacify Baghdad as if the White House and the Pentagon bore no responsibility. … Mr. Bush did announce his plan for 20,000 more troops, and the White House trumpeted a $1 billion contribution to reconstruction efforts. Congress will debate these as if they are the real issues. But they are not. Talk of a ‘surge’ ignores the other 132,000 American troops trapped by a failed strategy. … This war has reached the point that merely prolonging it could make a bad ending even worse. Without a real plan to bring it to a close, there is no point in talking about jobs programs and military offensives. There is nothing ahead but even greater disaster in Iraq.” (Editorial, “The Real Disaster,” The New York Times, 1/11/07)

The New York Times Now Rejects The Success Of The Troop Surge. “We wish [McCain] could now see as clearly past the temporary victories produced by Mr. Bush’s unsustainable escalation, which have not led to any change in Iraq’s murderous political calculus.” (Editorial, “Primary Choices: John McCain,” The New York Times, 1/25/08)

The New York Times Criticized Republicans For Opposing “Amnesty” And Offering Border Security Legislation. “Congressional leaders and President Bush insisted for months that they were serious about fixing the immigration system. They weren’t, and the more talk you hear about border security, about building walls and getting tough this time, the clearer it will be that hopes for effective immigration reform this year are past saving, pinned down by strong arms in the Republican-controlled House and kicked until dead. … One of the many signs of the hysteria accompanying this election season is the way their moderate approach to immigration has been tarred as wholesale ‘amnesty’ for lawbreakers. Like the summer hearings, the latest G.O.P. legislation is an empty vessel, a sham product aimed at the November elections that sells the test-marketed concept of ‘security’ with little to back it up. By decreeing that a 700-mile fence should be the nation’s top immigration priority while rabidly opposing a path to legal status for illegal immigrants, the House Republicans are hotly pursing a failed strategy. What satisfies the talk-radio appetite for justice — wall ‘em out and deport the rest — is not just needlessly cruel. It also won’t work.” (Editorial, “Immigration’s Lost Year,” The New York Times, 9/19/06)

The New York Times Praised Passage Of Campaign Finance Reform Legislation, Calling It “A Victory For All Americans.” “When the moment finally arrived yesterday for the Senate to consider the bill known alternately as Shays-Meehan and McCain-Feingold, it passed so easily you would hardly know what the fuss had been about. Yet approval of the biggest election reform in a generation, by a vote to 60 to 40, had just overcome what seemed only six months ago to be impossible odds. Congratulations were heard, and merited, all across the Capitol. … Senators McCain and Feingold joined yesterday with Representatives Christopher Shays and Martin Meehan to rejoice in victory. But they also made a welcome vow to keep fighting for reform, a cause that was awfully lonely seven years ago and has seen its obituary written many times since then. They and their allies savored a great victory yesterday. It was a victory for all Americans.” (Editorial, “An Extraordinary Victory,” The New York Times, 3/21/02)