Why is Rudy's campaign pushing back so hard at the International Association of Fire Fighters? The IAFF's new 13 minute video attacks Rudy on his 9/11 record -- accusing him of failing to provide working radios to first responders and putting money ahead of recovering the remains of fallen fire fighters at Ground Zero, among other offenses. But while the video is new, the charges are not -- and the video itself doesn't make a particularly compelling case for Rudy's culpability.
Yet, even before the video was released, the Giuliani campaign was out with a 3 page statement touting his support among fire fighters; staffers labeled the IAFF the "International Association of Partisan Politics," and even held a rush press conference with two former fire fighters who rebutted the IAFF's charges -- continuing to fuel the story. So the question remains: with Rudy the nationwide front runner, wouldn't a better approach be to stay above the fray, tell the press "my 9/11 record speaks for itself," and quash the story in a single day?
Top Giuliani advisers say they they won't let attacks against the candidate stand, especially on his record as a 9/11 hero. Staffers could be thinking about the Swift Boating of John Kerry, which was made worse for the candidate when he failed to respond in a timely fashion. They could be treating the story as they would if Giuliani were still mayor and they were dealing with the aggressive New York press corps. Or they could just be itching to flex their muscles.
