Rudy Admits: He Is "Worst Nightmare" Of Some Americans

Usually, this column ignores outbreaks of Outrage Excema -- that is, when politicians and interest groups artifically puff up their collars and pretend to be horrifed at some piddling action or statement by another politician or interest group. So we thankfully missed the absurd back-and-forth over MoveOn's inflammatory but politically unremarkable New York Times ad about David Petreaus.

Still, it's rare when the frontrunner engages, and Rudy Giuliani, by in a radio ad released in Iowa today, does just that. Responding to MoveOn's ad on the same subject, a disembodied voice says:

Voiceover: MoveOn.org is the most powerful left wing group in the country. They spent millions electing anti-war liberals. And publicly brag how the Democratic Party is theirs - bought and paid for. Why is MoveOn attacking Rudy Giuliani? Because he’s their worst nightmare. They know Rudy is a Republican who can beat the Democrats. And they know, no matter what they say- Rudy will never, ever back down. Rudy Giuliani: I’m Rudy Giuliani, and I approve this message.

This is smart, albeit tin-can, politics. The more successfully Giuliani defines himself as the anti-liberal, the less Republicans will want to question his... liberal qualities. The more Republicans identify Giuliani as the only Republican who can beat Hillary Clinton and the Democrats, the less they'll ask about gun control in New York.

Comments

Oh goodness! I am so ignorant and easily fooled that I have just switched from Edwards to Rudy! Rudy is AMAZING!! He stands up to newspaper ads! Thanks for helping me make the switch!

...Jesus--if the GOP falls for this, they're dumber than their savior W.

Posted by Betty | September 18, 2007 12:07 PM

Yeah, Rudy, good luck getting the NRA to endorse you - you're just as hostile to the NRA as Hillary is.

Posted by Daniel | September 18, 2007 12:27 PM

Brilliant Rudy, just what the electorate needs, a politician who brags about how polarizing he really is. After 8 years of Bush, no less.

If you do get the nom, good luck surviving the onslaught that will include detailed revelations of your public affair with your mistress in front of your family...so brazen that your own daughter is on record supporting the opposition. Hey that's what happens when you notify your wife via news conference that you are divorcing her.

Something tells me that your 'base' won't quite understand how you moved in with your buddy and his gay partner while this was going on. They may not also get how you could have put the emergency command center in the twin towers after the first bombing, or why the city that you represented so despises you that, given a choice (in a recent poll), they picked Bloomberg over you in a landslide.

God, I hope you get the nomination. It will be a pleasure to watch you implode.

Posted by Scott | September 18, 2007 12:46 PM

Shorter Rudy: I am a divider not a uniter.

Posted by AJ | September 18, 2007 12:59 PM

Yes, Rudy will be the worst nightmare of Americans because:

Rudy is still employing his childhood friend and a priest, Monsignor Alan Placa, who is accused of Child Molestation in his law firm. Giuliani employs Placa as a consultant at Giuliani Partners despite a Suffolk County, NY, grand jury report that accuses Placa of sexually abusing children, as well as helping cover up the sexual abuse of children by other priests. Rudy is protecting a credibly accused child molester.

Rudy made a criminal like Bernie Kerik, once his personal driver, his police chief. He then recommend him for the post of Chief of Homeland Security.

Rudy is a chickenhawk. He dodged the draft.

He failed to show up at ALL the meetings of Iraq Study Group. Why earning $100K for a speech is more important than attending meetings of Iraq study Group? He was finally kicked out of Iraq Study Group by his republican colleagues like James Baker.

Rudy likes to dress up in women's clothes or in drag.

Posted by omg | September 18, 2007 2:55 PM

And yes America would love a thrice married cross-dressing loving serial adulterer who was married to his cousin and then used the emergency center at WTC to cheat on his wife #2.

Posted by yes | September 18, 2007 3:03 PM

Maybe Moveon should start pickin on Alan Keyes.

Posted by Max | September 18, 2007 4:37 PM

Rudy is ridiculous.

Mitt's got the answers. Go here for more: http://nyformitt.blogspot.com/

Posted by Willie | September 18, 2007 5:29 PM

Rudy is no enemy of liberals.

http:///www.newyorkforhuckabee.blogspot.com

Posted by Peter | September 18, 2007 8:53 PM