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Giuliani: Clinton Spewing 'Political Venom' on Iraq

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September 12, 2007 2:49 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis, Jan Simmonds, Jennifer Parker, and Sunlen Miller Report:

One day after Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., sharply questioned the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Rudy Giuliani blasted his Democratic presidential rival, accusing her of spewing "political venom" in the Iraq war debate.

"I don't know what she's trying to say when she's accusing a general of the ‘willing suspension of disbelief,;" Giuliani said Wednesday on the "Randy and Spiff" show, a radio program which airs in Atlanta. The former New York mayor repeated his criticism of the Democratic frontrunner for president later in the day Wednesday during a media availability in Akron, Ohio.

When Army Gen. David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker came before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, Clinton said that their claims of progress in Iraq require a "willing suspension of disbelief."

"Despite what I view is your rather extraordinary efforts in your testimony both yesterday and today," said Clinton, "I think that the reports that you provide to us really require a willing suspension of disbelief."

Giuliani accused Clinton of "playing into" a MoveOn.org ad that ran in the New York Times Monday that read: "General Petraeus or General Betray Us?"

After co-host Spiff Carner said, "She's trying to tell us that she knows more about the whole situation than he does," Giuliani shot back by saying, “Doesn’t it also sound like she’s also saying that he isn’t telling the truth?"

"I really do think to accuse a general of the ‘willing suspension of disbelief,’ particular in the atmosphere that Moveon.org has created with these terrible attacks, I don’t know, I mean I think that’s not the way in a responsible way to go about , you know, forging the foreign policy of the United States and the military policy of the United States," said Giuliani. "I think this name calling, you know, saying to people, ‘willing suspension of disbelief,' and then saying the horrible thing they said about betrayal -- that is the last thing we need right now."

"What we need right now," he added, "is a reasoned account, we need statesmanship not political venom."

The Clinton campaign responded to Giuliani's charge that the former first lady is spewing "political venom" by suggesting that the national Republican frontrunner is oblivious to the real situation in Iraq.

"Mayor Giuliani might be content to bury his head in the sand when it comes to ending the war in Iraq," said Clinton spokesman Phil Singer, "but Senator Clinton will continue to ask the hard questions in an effort to get our troops home."

September 12, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (604)

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if you aint first your last!.... we can't afford to be last. stop tucking your tail and running you panty-wasted libs. grow a pair and fight for what is right. all this PC bull crap will go away once we get hit again.

Posted by: Jereme Wilson | Sep 12, 2007 4:18:16 PM

So what's new? Hillary always was and is an anti-American Marxist. Why should we be surprised that she is trashing this selfless patriot?

Posted by: rplat | Sep 12, 2007 4:19:10 PM

OK now, why is it that an ABC news blog is all full of right wing rhetoric-ticians. This is a silly mockery of commentary. Go back and really examine the "left-wing media bias", as presented to you by:

Hannity
O'Reilly
Larry Elder
Rush Limbaugh
Michael Church
Michael Reagan
Neil Cavuto
Brit Hume
Glenn Beck
Tim Russert
Spencer Hughes
Tucker Carlson

Now tell me again, how exactly is is that the media is tilted firmly to the left wing establishment? Pull your heads out of the sand and realize news/editorial is presented to you by these gentlemen above. This IS the media, and they sure as hell aren't lefties.

As for Rudy, go ahead and follow the same strategy administered by the Neo-Conservative movement, divide and conquer. Don't really talk about issues, just say Hillary this, Hillary that, Democrats this, Democrats that. Look people, these politicians, including the Clintons, are trying to divide and conquer us. Don't let them get away with it. Demand a more sensible and reasonable debate. We are ALL Americans, whether we support the GOP or Democrats.

Posted by: Matt | Sep 12, 2007 4:19:34 PM


@betrayed:

Couldn't agree with you more. Republicans are lying to themselves more and more. So they sound more like Ann Coulter more and more. "Dems support terrorism and al Quida."

No, genius. The War in Iraq does that. Even Petraeus admitted he doesn't think the war's made us safer.

How much evidence does it take to admit your side, with the White House and the Congress, royally screwed up. Never? Well then, big surprise.

Guess that's why the majority of Americans still support you...oh yeah, that's right...they don't.

Posted by: TadAllagash | Sep 12, 2007 4:20:17 PM

Bill Clinton fooled her about Monica.

G.W. Bush "fooled" her about WMD.

Hsu fooled her into taking his money.

Maybe she doesn't trust Petraeus because she's just tired of men making a fool of her.

She doesn't need a man to make a fool of her. She's quite good at doing that to herself.

Posted by: DH | Sep 12, 2007 4:21:01 PM

The Clintons think lying is a natural thing to do (it is a part of their genetic make-up) and they assume everyone else is a liar. Fortunately, Unlike the Clintons, most people are honest.

Posted by: Cedric The Great | Sep 12, 2007 4:21:03 PM

The lefty Dems just can't wait to surrender and please their Moveon.org, Code Pink and George Soros masters. Between Clinton calling into question General Petraeus' honesty, Obama wanting to surrender by 12-31-08 and Edwards who doesn't believe terrorism is real, I can't imagine the American people will vote in any one of these pathetic people.

Posted by: bc1358 | Sep 12, 2007 4:21:51 PM

reading the comments above is why I am starting to hate politics. Don't you see the 'leaders' of the left and the right want to keep us divided so they can blame everything that goes wrong on the other side. Let's face it the Democratic party has no plan for Iraq and the Republican plan has been a disaster.

Yesterday's hearing, like the hundreds that came before it, was just another show to keep the media occupied. It was another opportunity for the Presidential candidates to obssess over themselves with their speeches and accusations. In the end, we're still in a war and the war will be going on for a long time to come because our country is run and will be run by a bunch of idiots! None of them appear to love America. They only love themselves and their thirst for more power. It's time for a real revolution!!!

Posted by: KL | Sep 12, 2007 4:22:09 PM

Where did Hillary gain all this experience? Being First Lady (and the first to ever be investigated!)? Being married to Bill? She has not introduced any legislation of substance or merit in her time in the Senate, and prior to that her greatest un-accomplishment was the Hindenburg style explosion of Hillary-Care which she spearheaded through as our “co-president” Will it again be “two for the price of one”? I don’t think we can afford the Clinton’s again! That she refused to repudiate that disgusting Move-On ad speaks volumes!

Posted by: Doug | Sep 12, 2007 4:22:58 PM

Isn't it amazing that the smartest women in the United States can't remember where the Rose Law firm billing records were, where the illegal ChiCom donors went, how the 1,000 FBI files got into the White House, and didn't know about Monica is qualified to be the President. The woman can remember Moveon talking points though, can't she.

Posted by: Belen Gadfly | Sep 12, 2007 4:23:06 PM

"Suspension of Disbelief".., Is that like saying for someone to believe that Clinton, Inc. didn't know money was dirty also requires them to believe she didn't know Hsu was a crook? Thanks, Rudy for being the ONLY candidate with a pair!

Posted by: BluestateCon | Sep 12, 2007 4:23:55 PM

DG - What proof do you have that this 4-star unanimously approved General is lying? When are you and the rest of the Socialists (aka: the now moveon.org controlled Democrat party) going to stop trying to help our enemies win this war?

"Petraeus is a liar plain and simple. She was too easy on him."
Posted by: DG | Sep 12, 2007 4:13:24 PM

Posted by: Eric S. | Sep 12, 2007 4:25:50 PM

hillary is the biggest lying foney this country has seen besides schumer, kenndy and kerry. may her lying tongue become salt.

Posted by: jake | Sep 12, 2007 4:27:14 PM

Hilliary is so phony and so political. She doesn't care a bit for our wonderful men and women who are defending her right to give "hate" speeches. The may think she is the most intelligent woman in the world but I can tell you that she isn't. Please, America, don't elect her our President, nor any of the other American Haters (democrats) who are seeking the presidency.

Stay on her, Rudy. Tell the people what she really stands for.

Posted by: shirley | Sep 12, 2007 4:27:29 PM

I think the comment by Gen. P., about him writing/giving his testimony without notifying higher-ups what the content would be was a play on words. I was suspicious about the visit to Iraq by GW, and now I can understand why. I can only guess, not accuse, when the two met the CiC let it be know what he wanted, and being a good soldier, the Gen. complied.

Posted by: lylepink | Sep 12, 2007 4:28:12 PM

When our conservative friends come to the defense of a pro-gun control, pro-choice, pro-gay rights, twice-divorced, dysfunctional family candidate you got to love it! Talk about "willing suspension of disbelief." It's great!

Luckily, when Clinton gets elected Rudy's defenders will have a pro-gun control, pro-choice, pro-gay rights President in the White House. So, by my calculations you win either way. Right?

Posted by: kenstee | Sep 12, 2007 4:28:47 PM

Good eye Lylepink. You got it. The General is doing his job, which is to paint the same picture the administrations wants us all to believe.

Posted by: matt | Sep 12, 2007 4:29:30 PM

The problem here is not Hillary's words, but the fact that so many people pounce on a democrat everytime a comment questioning the war is made. We have gone too long listening to Bush cabinet members and military personnel tell us how great the war is going, when we all know that it is not. (All depends on your standards)

It is obvious that George Bush wants this war to end just as much as Hillary does. He can not end it becuase his legacy will be covered in conservative feces. Bush is just buying time so that he can leave town and leave the problem to the next president. That way, whoever brings the troups home in the future will be the president that bares the cost.

Politics suck, our system of government sucks and partisans suck this.

Posted by: Rob | Sep 12, 2007 4:29:38 PM

Wow.. it's unbelievable how many people have their heads dug so deeply in the sand they can practically see China. You can fool yourself all you want but you don't have to be a Dem or a Rep to know Iraq is a MESS. The prez lied to get us there, continues to kill our kids that are sent there. I almost hope a Hillary isn't elected prez because the next prez will be spending most of their time just trying to fix the mess Bush has put this country in.
History will not be kind.

Posted by: Mike | Sep 12, 2007 4:30:45 PM

Kenstee, You know it, they are getting all the more desparate because they know they are screwed in 08. That's what you get for voting Bush dynasty in 04. Sorry cons, its game over.

Posted by: matt | Sep 12, 2007 4:30:55 PM

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