November 2, 2007
Posted: November 2nd, 2007 04:55 PM ET

Giuliani was critical of Joe Biden's foreign policy experience Friday.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani Friday criticized fellow White House hopeful Joe Biden for a lack of foreign policy experience and later denied making such an accusation.

The Republican front-runner was interviewed by South Carolina radio host Andy Gobeil. “You would say Sen. Biden doesn’t have foreign policy experience?” Gobeil asked.

“Has he ever been in the State Department? Has he ever been an executive?” Giuliani replied. “It’s one thing to speak about what you want or even pass laws about it, it’s another thing to actually do it. Foreign policy experience to me means being an ambassador, being in the State Department, being a law enforcement official, dealing with foreign countries.”

At an event later Friday morning, Giuliani denied saying Biden, a Democrat who is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, lacked foreign policy experience.

“I didn't mention foreign policy,” said Giuliani. “I said Joe Biden fit into the category along with Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, and they were all questioned about this at the debate, but he wasn't, and here is the situation. They have in a very strange way – they have never run a city, never run a state, never run a business. Never run anything.”

Responding to Giuliani's criticisms, Biden said in a statement, "Today’s comments come from a guy—Rudy Giuliani—who said Dick Cheney, the architect of Bush's failed policy in Iraq, was a great choice for vice president and who recommended the now discredited Bernie Kerik to be Secretary of Homeland Security."

"Once again, Rudy has demonstrated his complete lack of knowledge of U.S. foreign policy," Biden added.

– CNN Political Producer Xuan Thai

Filed under: Joe Biden • Rudy Giuliani


Patrick, New York, Ny   November 5th, 2007 9:23 pm ET

Chris the sad part is everything Dan said is pretty much true as a Republican I too will not vote for this fraud.

Chris, Middletown, CT   November 5th, 2007 1:39 pm ET

Dan....or you could actually research his record....??

Dan, Saint Louis, MO   November 4th, 2007 12:11 am ET

As a Republican, I'm sickened by the prospect of Giuliani. This guy is the biggest conman of them all. He has a very undistinguished record. Before 9-11, he was very unpopular and his term was almost unanimously seen as a failure. Then, after 9-11, he somehow became the hero. The fact is, our country was briefly united and had a lot of goodwill towards everyone in New York and he was at the right place at the right time. He did nothing to earn it.

Look at his record. Raised taxes, instituted new taxes, was proud to make New York a sanctuary for illegals, supports gay marriage and abortion, won't have a Roe litmus test for judicial nominees, married his cousin, married his mistress, doesn't get along with some of his kids and one of his closest advisers is a Catholic priest who is widely known to be a child abuser. Great guy. He'd restore honor and dignity to the office alright. To me, he's more of Democrat than a Republican, but he's very unaccomplished by either party's standards.

Chris, Middletown, CT   November 3rd, 2007 8:51 pm ET

I can't wait until he is election to get this over with (liberals....concentrate on your excuses as to why Hillary didn't win...you guys are always so creative...) also – Kennedy said "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country" – what happened...you are all loving more entitlement programs...I don't get it....you have all changed from hard workers...to those with a hand out

Ron Nebraska   November 3rd, 2007 8:39 pm ET

Oh God, please save our country from such idiotic, shallow, lying people such as Rudy and the brain dead people who support him! Amen

Suzanne Ostrowski , Coeur d' Alene, Idaho   November 3rd, 2007 8:38 pm ET

Its time to release the 9/11 interview
with Rudy Giuliani which is supposed to
be sealed untill after the election.
He is telling his base that President
Clinton should have seen the signs,
because he certainly did. But his interview sounds more like he didn't
know anything.

Veronica Bloom, Jacksonville, FL   November 3rd, 2007 3:43 pm ET

Boy, can this guy lie!!!

Dan (Baltimore, MD)   November 3rd, 2007 2:37 pm ET

Joe, sitting in on meetings of the foreign relations committee is not real foreign policy experience. Endless pontificating and discussion with no actionable consequences may be a funny joke, but it is not foreign policy experience.

As mayor of NYC where the UN is located, Rudy met with countless diplomats and as the leader of his security advising business, Rudy has been to over 50 countries and has studies their security situations and lifestyles. Being boarded up in DC all the time ensures that Biden could never have the foreign policy experience that Rudy has built. Sorry, Joe you're not presidential material. Though that might be bad news for you, it's great news for our country.

ZackaryQuack   November 3rd, 2007 11:36 am ET

CNN's own polls show that a majority of Americans do not trust Hillary, Rudy is going to win by default..

christian, selden, ny   November 3rd, 2007 11:01 am ET

what a flip flop!!! i mean i can see people saying one thing 10 yrs ago and changing there view today, but to flip flop within a day or two from an interview is just pathetic!!! plus he looks like a gopher in this picture lol

Karen,ny   November 3rd, 2007 11:00 am ET

BUSH had no experience at all and he got in. It is not what you know it is who you know. That is WRONG!!!

Jay, Edgartown, MA   November 3rd, 2007 9:09 am ET

Rudy has no foreign-policy experience.

and Biden has no executive experience.

swing voter alan St Louis MO   November 3rd, 2007 8:00 am ET

Whan an IDIOT but I will vote for him before I vote for Master of flip flooping Clinton. Give me Obama or Biden please.

Karen,ny   November 3rd, 2007 7:28 am ET

Rudy knows quite well that Joe Biden is a much better candidate then himself and he must be intimidated by him. Joe has much more experience then Rudy and that is a FACT.

Charles in Orem, Utah   November 3rd, 2007 2:15 am ET

I think Rudy can be excused on this one. To tell the truth, I hardly ever noticed Biden, either.

K. Mansfield, NY, NY   November 2nd, 2007 11:32 pm ET

Could Giuliani be more transparent, shallow or obviously void of any redeeming qualities? I suspect he will prove that he can.

erika morgan black dimond wa   November 2nd, 2007 11:06 pm ET

A politician's job is to bring his constituents concerns to the opposition in such a way that he can convince the opposition of the sanity and reasonableness of his constituents point of view. A diplomat's job is like the politician's, but he convinces another government of the saneness and reasonableness of America's position and shows them how supporting our stand will benefit the other country.

Of late we have had far too little of either politicking or diplomacy, and this has gotten us into quite a pickle. The "cowboy bullying" of the EXECUTIVE DECIDER has delivered fear that foments deep-seated hatred.

Biden on the other hand has been a consummate Statesman and wise sage, offering choice in diplomacy, including the pros and cons. A reasonable debate is possible. It occurs to me that in order to have a reasoned debate you have to have folks who are smart enough to possess reason. nuf said.

Baoli New York NY   November 2nd, 2007 10:11 pm ET

All Politicians are Flip Floppers. What did you expect ? Have you seen my new flip flops? They are Red White and Blue in color, and named Democrats !

david houston texas   November 2nd, 2007 9:46 pm ET

for the life of me, I cannot see this face involved in our nation's security. If it wasn't for the 9/11 event, this man would fit the guber section.

Kate McCulley, Somerville, MA   November 2nd, 2007 9:18 pm ET

His comments keep getting more and more ridiculous!!!!

Biden has FAR AND AWAY more foreign policy experience than any other candidate! He's the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee! He's been to Iraq seven times (I believe), more than any other candidate! He's been in the Senate for 35 years!!

Wake up, America - the Mayor of 9/11 has no clothes!

DEE, Nashville, TN   November 2nd, 2007 9:06 pm ET

What do you expect from a guy who flips flops wives too?

Sarah   November 2nd, 2007 8:23 pm ET

This guy is actually a little scary.

To think that I will be forced to vote for him if Hillary gets the nomination is frightening.

But actually, they're not really very different.

Tom Dedham, Mass   November 2nd, 2007 7:45 pm ET

Posted By Sue in Michigan : November 2, 2007 6:28 pm

No fan of Rudy here at all Sue, but Mitt Romney a leading Republican (you may have heard his name) is called a flip flopper for changing his stances over a matter of years, not seconds, minutes, venues or polls like Hillary is allowed to do.

I am a fan of Biden as well and he forgot more that Rudy knows, but certain people get to flip flop and that "certain people" is Hillary and her alone. I believe she is a Democrat.

Jeff from Jersey   November 2nd, 2007 7:37 pm ET

The only foreign policy experiences Rudy ever had were on the NYC subways and foreign policy,actually everything he says is foreign,even to him.He is a disaster waiting to happen.

Kathy, Syracuse, NY   November 2nd, 2007 7:28 pm ET

When it comes to foreign policy, Rudy Guiliani is just Dick Cheney with a New York accent. Like Cheney, Rudy is a paranoid megalomaniac.

Only a fool would believe that Rudy will "keep us safe" unless your idea of safety is electing someone who wants to ignite World War III (or WWIV, according to Rudy's foreign policy advisor, one of the founding fathers of neo-conservatism, Norman Podhoretz) by pre-emptively bombing Iran. It's worked so well for us in Iraq.

Dan, Illinois   November 2nd, 2007 7:26 pm ET

Giuliani flip flopping...wow that's a shock...

Lev Klinemann, Redondo Beach CA   November 2nd, 2007 7:17 pm ET

I think Biden said it best himself "all you hear at a Giuliani speech is a noun, a vowel and 911".

Giuliani was horrible, is terrible and will be disastrous (Bush on steroids).

...oh yeah, he reminds me of Nosferatu...I have a feeling he wants my blood.

Rudy, take Judy, just go away and live in your own fantasy world.

Mrs. America   November 2nd, 2007 6:43 pm ET

To me, "flip flop" means to change one's position, like on an issue. In this case, it sounds like Giuliani just plain couldn't remember what he had said. That's troubling.

Sue, Midland, MI   November 2nd, 2007 6:29 pm ET

And Guiliani has foreign policy experience because...?

Sue in Michigan   November 2nd, 2007 6:28 pm ET

And why are the Democrats not all over this? This is typical Republicanism-slander, then deny. Bush does it daily, Cheney does it..and the Dems sit back and let them "flip flop" to their heart's content, while a Democrat can't even change their mind from a decision made years back without being called names. Stop this madness!

Patrick, Cape May NJ   November 2nd, 2007 6:28 pm ET

Hey Rudy,

What foreign experience do you have?
How are you going to question Senator Biden, the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on foreign experience? You were the mayor of New York City!!! How do we know that you can deal with foreign diplomats or discuss foreign policy?

Biden makes a great point in the debate that you, like George W. Bush, don't have the foreign experience to be President of the United States. How do you respond? You make a joke about Biden's 20-year old plagarism accuasation and then say he doesn't have the experience either.

You did not address the issue at hand that you are not qualified and if you actually did talk about your foreign experience, I would have respect for you.

YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO BE PRESIDENT.
IT'S A FACT.

Sincerely,
Concerned citizen

Mark, San Diego, CA   November 2nd, 2007 6:26 pm ET

"Foreign policy experience to me means . . . being a law enforcement official. . ."

Huh? Haven't we suffered long enough by having one idiot-in-chief for eight years? Do we really need a successor to this title?

Mark Columbus, Ohio   November 2nd, 2007 5:47 pm ET

So now the media is trying to get both the frontrunners flip-flopping in order to make news. Got something else to report on?

Mark
WatchingHillary.com

bless, NY   November 2nd, 2007 5:38 pm ET

Sorry Giuliani! You are a looser anyway. Republican will be very stupid thinking you can win in 08. You are trying to play tough and scare people.You can't even be a good husband. How can you run the country? Cheater....

Dazed and Confused   November 2nd, 2007 5:31 pm ET

Liar.

Rob   November 2nd, 2007 5:30 pm ET

Liar Liar!

Bob, NY, NY   November 2nd, 2007 5:30 pm ET

What may I ask foreign policy experience does Rudy Giuliani have? He cannot by any means claim being Mayor of NY gave him this experience and just because he runs his own international consultanting firm is meaningless. Anything Rudy knows about foreign poilicy is based on what he has read, who he knows, or what he has made up. His challenging anyone particularily a sitting US Senator on experience is laughable at best.

Tom, ALBUQUERQUE, NM   November 2nd, 2007 5:29 pm ET

If anyone is unfit to be President it this creep, Rudy Giuliani. This cretins didn't learn a darn thing from the first attack on the trade towers and stuck his command post right there. This vile, despicable, unsanitary prevaricator ought to win the GOP nomination so that his sordid past can be laid out for all America to see. It will assure a Democratic victory.

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