Watch Giuliani discuss Kerik Thursday in Dubuque, Iowa.
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Thursday he made a "mistake" in not thoroughly vetting former New York City Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik.
But the Republican presidential frontrunner argued voters should instead focus on his entire mayoral record when evaluating his candidacy.
"I think voters should look at it, and what they should say is in that particular case I made a mistake," Giuliani said during a press conferred in Dubuque, Iowa. "I made a mistake in not clearing him effectively enough, and I take the responsibility for that"
"But when you balance that mistake against all the successes that we had and the reality that you make some mistakes and you make some correct decisions, I think the overwhelming record is a record of great success," the New York Republican added..
Giuliani's comments come the same day federal prosecutors are expected to indict Kerik on charges of tax fraud, corruption, and conspiracy counts.
Related video: Watch Giuliani discuss Kerik
Related video: Will Kerik be a problem?
– CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
I guess this election between Rudy & Hillary is based on who gets caught more in the lies and deceit, the person with the lesser of anything wins!
It's kind of amusing that there are NO comments on the Obama debacle, but plenty on Rudy Giliani's article. If you're voting for Obama, you better make sure the guy at least pretends to act like he's had an American History lesson! Americans takes their national anthem and flag VERY seriously.
"Does anyone notice a pattern here? Whether it's racist television stars or questionable politicians, this trend of "say or do it, waiting for the backlash, then going on some show or website apologizing for it" is all too familiar. For all politicians (and anyone else on tv), Americans are smarter than you people think, so stop insulting our intelligence with your meager tactics and hypocritical tendencies. Get it together!!
Posted By Stan, Omaha,NE : November 8, 2007 12:47 pm"
Stan, you are giving the American public way too much credit. Most Americans are stupid, that's why most of these political games work!
Guiliani is a man who admits he made a mistake. Did Bill Clinton? Or did he lie about it and be convicted of perjury? And as far as voters going for Mitt Romney, I'm one of those who was going to vote for Mitt, but it's going to take Rudy to take some democrats, so I'm going with Rudy!
OK, so Rudy made a bad call on someone's character. Does Hillary really want to make this an issue? The same thing about "moral character". It seems that these are areas that both cadidates may want to avoid. Which leaves only the candidates' stand on the issues as something that voters can use to decide an election. Imagine that, voting on issues. What a concept.
What's even worse is that he pushed Kerik as head of DHS nonstop to the Bush Administration.
Now, if he can't even make sound judgments as Mayor, what the hell are we going to have to put up with if this guy gets to be president?
Please, tell who is your close friend, and then I will tell you who are.
Please, tell me who is your close friend, and then I will tell you who you really are.
Let's be fair, people. It's easy to criticize someone who has been in the public eye (not behind their cheatin' husband president)in charge of a huge metropolis like NYC. So you don't like some of the things the guy did while Mayor. But the guy was elected by New Yorkers, so obviously they liked him. He did a LOT of great stuff for NYC – cleaned up a lot of its mess. Crime was lower in NYC than Columbus, Ohio a few years ago. So let's not jump on the Rudy bashing bandwagon.
no he won't be. hell i almost forgot who he is!!
Sir,
With all due respects, would you honestly elect someone who is very close associate to the former New York Police commissioner, for the Presidency of United States of America?
Knowing all about Guliani, it is a shame that more than 50% of married republican men are going to support this man if he gets nominated. These people do not have self conscious and act what their party tells them to do. Luckily majority of independents and democtrats are going to support a democrat and will not make that grave mistake electing a republican as in 2004.
Rudy Giuliani is unfit to led this country. The man has shown a lack of perspective in planning and making rational decisions. He is an arrogant, sordid, immoral individual. His personal life makes Bill Clinton look like a saint. He has built his alter over the dead bodies of those who lost their lives due to the dereliction of duty on his part and of the Bush administration.
Rudy, you're almost as good a judge of character as your hero gshrub. Did you look into his eyes and see his soul? Sorry, if you have judgement issues such as this, is it possible you're not fit to lead this country. I believe you're not the right man. Sorry, you lie down with dogs...you're no different, and playing dumb now just emphasizes it all.
"The Obama campaign has not responded to CNN’s request for comment."
Thank you CNN for your tireless efforts to get to the bottom of this urgent matter. The fact that CNN 1. ran this article and 2, followed up on the story, makes me want to cry. They will eat these apocryphal spoon-fed RNC-inspired antics every time. I can think of, oh about 1,000 more important stories to follow up on.
Puhleeeeeeeease grow up!!
Mother always said: 'You are known by the company you keep". Let us not replace the Bush crime family with the Giuliani crime family.
He wants everyone to focus on the big picture? LOL! Can he contradict himself anymore? All he ever talks about is 9/11 this and 9/11 that. This guy lies more to the American people than he does to his 3 wives and kids!
Correct Adole and Ron! I sincerely hope that the true picture of Guiliani comes into sharp focus as the days go by. He is a very misguided and dangerous man. Also, egomaniacal. If Rudy is elected, I suspect we may wish we had W back in office (as if we could). Now that is scary, indeed.
All I can say Guiliani, it is really a big big mistake. We don't need your mistakes to keep going. We are ready anyway for change. The economy is not doing well.
Giuliani don't worry about Kerik – you cut your throat when you crawled in bed with Robertson – you won't get my vote anymore
Rudy Giuliani is insane and completely creeps me out. And such a phony. Well, considering his strong support for the other insane repubs (Bush & Cheney), I wish him all the worst.
A very wise person once told me that while it is okay to make mistakes and learn from them, what you really want to do is not make other people's mistakes, either
That's what this country needs – someone who is smart enough not to come into office, only to make a whole different set of mistakes.
No one is perfect. Rudy's record speaks for itself. I think he did the right thing politically by admitting fault. All in all, he is the most qualified candidate.
Okay, now let's see – he didn't investigate him properly when he appointed him New York City Police Commissioner. Then he did a bad job of vetting Kerik prior to pushing him to the Bush Administration for the job of head of security in Iraq. Then he gets another chance to look closer at Kerik and still doesn't do a proper job before pushing him for Secretary of DHS.
And then, the final straw, he goes into a business partnership with Kerik – the ultimate lack of responsible stewardship.
You can't have these kinds of relationships with people without detecting SOMETHING is wrong. Do you think Giuliani knew all the time!!??
The greatest mistake Guilliani is making is wasting our time. He will never win the Republican nomination. Never. He did an okay job w/911 but that was his only hurrah. He's yesterday news. And w/Robertson endorsing him? "birds of a feather....." need I say more?