June 8, 2007
Posted: June 8th, 2007 09:15 AM ET

Watch Edwards slam Giuliani's terror stance Thursday.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Criticizing the current administration's policies on handling terrorism and the war in Iraq in a speech in New York City Thursday, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards said former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani can't win the presidency if he stays too close to Bush ideologically.

"If Mayor Giuliani believes that what President Bush has done is good and wants to embrace it and run a campaign for the presidency, saying I will give you four more years of what this president has given you, then he's allowed to do that," Edwards said. "He'll never be elected president of the United States, but he's allowed to do that."

Edwards has received a lot of attention recently for calling Bush's war on terror a "bumper sticker slogan." He stood by that and said America is less safe than it was before Bush took office.

"We have more terrorists," Edwards said. "So that combination, less allies, less people to work with us and more terrorist operations around the world, makes America less safe."

Edwards also took a jab at the Republican presidential candidates and their attempt to “one up each other to try to be a bigger, badder George Bush. I think they want to become George Bush on steroids.”

Edwards explained his plan, one different from the Bush Administration, to have a direct line of communication between the president and military leadership as well as setting up a “10,000 person marshal core who would be responsible for providing the expertise and leadership” to undercut terrorism.

And as capper on security, a reporter asked Edwards his thought on Paris Hilton’s early prison release. Edwards chuckled that he was going to stay away from the dominant news story.

In a statement responding to the speech, Giuliani's Communications Director Katie Levinson said, "We are glad to see Rudy's criticism of the Democrats not understanding the terrorists' war on us is starting to register with them."

"John Edwards' track record of predicting election outcomes speaks for itself."

– CNN's Marissa Muller and Lauren Kornreich

Filed under: John Edwards • Rudy Giuliani


Bill Braun, Olongapo City Philippines   June 10th, 2007 11:11 pm ET

Mr. Turchek tells it like it is "Edwards is a man who cannot even interact civilly with his neighbors in NC." How could he possibly qualify as President of the United States. All you Edwards fans just remember, "Attorney's are just like Used Car Salesman."

Revo, Jacksonville, FL   June 10th, 2007 6:09 pm ET

America is less safe than it was before Bush took office.

I wonder if Edwards can point out the facts, in what ways is america less safer then before? All the security measures and communications between government agencies. I see many security put in place, and yet Edwards claim is unfounded. America was able to stop terrorist acts here in our nation. And yet Edwards, for political reasons calls it a bumper sticker. I am in the military, He lost my vote!!

DJ, Los Angeles, CA   June 8th, 2007 2:24 pm ET

The Republican "front-runners" such as Rudy are one trick ponies.

All they want to do is more of the same.

Republican strategists just want to continue with the same old fear-mongering.

Ron Paul had something different to say...otherwise Edwards is right.

J. Turchek, Stuart VA   June 8th, 2007 2:11 pm ET

It is interesting to note that Edwards a man who cannot even interact civilly with his neighbors in NC, blames Bush for not playing well with others (see Edwards "...less allies, less people to work with us..." line).

Alex, Milford PA   June 8th, 2007 1:21 pm ET

The Coalition of the Willing PROVES how perfectly correct Edwards is.

We absorb 90% of the military casualities and finance of the "coalition".

Bush lied when he claimed widespread multilateral support for Iraq. There is an insignificant amount of allied support for our efforts there. Thus, we are less safe as the terrorist insurgent recruiters point their fingers at our Humvees and the U.S.

We are there alone.

Edwards MUST be president. He's got it right.

Check out his website for more brilliance.

Mike, Palo Alto, CA   June 8th, 2007 1:06 pm ET

John Edwards is so very correct to point out that, thanks directly to the policies of the Bush administration, we are LESS safe from terrorism. The point that all GOP candidates (except Congressman Paul) need to be held accountable for is that they, together with the Republicans in Congress and the Senate, have allowed party loyalty to guide their votes and support and blind them to facts to the contrary that simply can not be ignored. The results are an almost criminal derliction of their duties and responsibilities ... and the fact that their candidates for president are still supporters of the the Bush policies on the war that is something for which they should pay dearly in the next election.

DMW, Roeland Park, KS   June 8th, 2007 10:19 am ET

Rudy has nothing else to say other than try to scare us to death. I refuse to live in fear. He has no other experience whatsoever that qualifies him to be President. Even what he did in New York for 9/11 does not seem to be much according to what I have read lately.

He is womanizer, a man whose own children feel he has bad character for what he did to their mother in a very public way. What kind of character is that to dispect your then wife with the affair in public???

America, think long and hard whether you want a man running for President who would do something like that to his own family.

I want a person with character as my President. Rudy does not have it, and I would never vote for him.

By the way, I am an Independent.

Brandy Savannah GA   June 8th, 2007 8:21 am ET

Meaningless words out of mainstream party politics. Tired of listening to either one. Everyone thought putting the democrates in would end the war...it has not. Everyone is still voting for the war, every candiate except for one of the republicans, beleive it or not, is pulling for the war and Iran still being on the table with each one. Check into it for yourself and you choices become clear. I voted democrate for along time, Ron Paul is looking like the only cahnce for real change, alot of folks agree. Check out his voting record for yourself. He stand for the people, not mainstream politics.

Vinny Boston, MA   June 7th, 2007 10:51 pm ET

The Giuliani Campaign has no right to make such a comment considering the many candidates the mayor campaigned for in 2006, and predicted would win, lost.

Scott, Rowlett TX   June 7th, 2007 7:11 pm ET

Rudy Giuliani has some fine qualities that a person can admire. John Edwards also. I believe the country will not vote for four more years of what we have had under President Bush. I am sick of Bush and the Republicans playing the terror card. I am ready to see a President that will do what the people want, not what his or her ego desires. So far, the last election has not got the point across.

Vivek, Phoenix, AZ   June 7th, 2007 7:04 pm ET

He is like a mad dog, barking at every one coming along. He is loosing his stature the more he opens his mouth in a bashful manner. That way Hillary has been playing smart and patience game by keeping low profile.

Bob from California   June 7th, 2007 6:29 pm ET

Once again, John Edwards has it right. As Clint Eastwood said, "Go ahead, make my day" Guiliani. There will be one less candidate trying to use fear to scare the public into voting for him.

The more I hear about Edwards, the more I like him.

blogger, los angeles, CA   June 7th, 2007 6:22 pm ET

A straight talker. Unlike Clinton and Obama (to some extent), John talks in more clear terms. He has some limitations, but he has more strong points than Hillary, for sure.

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