I wanted to post a few more clips from last night's Rudy Giuliani fundraiser in Midtown last night.
Specifically, I wanted to post some clips of the protest held outside, where families of firefighters killed on 9/11 denounced Mr. Giuliani for various failings of his that they see as having led to their loved ones' deaths.
While it may not be immediately apparent from the videos, I feel it's important to note that this was a very small protest — no more than 15 protesters in a small space, mobbed with cameras (press-to-protester ratio: at least 2-to-1). All of that said, here are the clips:
First, we have Norman Siegel introducing the speakers. Suffice it to say, Mr. Siegel's problems with Mr. Giuliani well pre-date 9/11:
After the family members spoke to the assembled press, I pulled aside two of the women who spoke for one-on-one interviews. Most of what they had to say was a rehashing of their canned remarks, but these are the faces we could all see being beamed into our living rooms in a few months' time, should Mr. Giuliani's campaign progress and his critics decide they want to "Swift Boat" him on his 9/11 performance.
So, meet Rosalyn Tallon, whose brother Sean, a firefighter, was killed on 9/11:
And, meet Maureen Santora, who lost her son Christopher, also a firefighter:
I don't think these criticisms of Mr. Giuliani will be particularly effective. What we're seeing happen is that people with cynical motives, such as Mr. Siegel (who simply has a bone to pick with Mr. Giuliani), are exploiting the grief of families who need somewhere to focus their anger. And it is a very small group of families. On their home turf, they can hardly fill up a minivan to protest the mayor they so hate.
Still, it's something to watch. And this may be a preview of ads to come.
Print
Send
RSS
