November 15, 2009
Posted: November 15th, 2009 03:54 PM ET

From

(CNN) – Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani strayed from the facts in discussing the discord within the Republican Party caused by the insurgent candidacy of Doug Hoffman, a Republican who chose to run on the Conservative Party ticket in the recent special election for New York’s 23rd congressional district.

Talking about the Bill Owens, the Democrat who won the special election, Giuliani erroneously said Owens had voted against the Democratically sponsored health care reform bill that recently passed in the House of Representatives.

Prior to Owens' win, Doug Hoffman’s candidacy, which was supported by prominent conservatives including former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, exposed a growing rift in the Republican party between conservatives represented by Hoffman and moderates represented by New York Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava. After lagging in polls and fund raising and being the target of attacks from both conservatives and Democrats, Scozzafava abruptly decided to drop out of the race just days before Election Day. After receiving Scozzafava’s last minute endorsement, Bill Owens, a Democrat, won a seat occupied by Republicans for more than a century.

Giuliani told CNN Chief National Correspondent John King that the nascent GOP civil war sparked by the NY-23 race was “not a good precedent for the party.”

“That’s the way you can allow Democrats to win even if the public has turned against them on certain things. I think in that particular case, I know that district. That’s a district that is very concerned about Obama’s health care [plan].”

“You see the Democrat has voted against the Obama health care program. That’s a district where we could elect a Republican if we get our act together and let’s hope don’t repeat that too often because then we surely won’t be a majority party.”

Giuliani’s comment about Bill Owens’ vote on the House health care reform bill was in error. Owens voted in favor of the bill.

Filed under: NY-23 • Popular Posts • Rudy Giuliani • State of the Union


Keith in Austin   November 16th, 2009 10:56 am ET

Rudy is right! So does anyone know when Barry will be coming home from his Far-East charade? Meanwhile, no decision on Afghanistan and Healthcare Reform in big trouble! I guess he'd rather eat sushi and apologize for WWII.
4 and the door!

VS, Florida   November 16th, 2009 5:37 am ET

Palin's soaring "book" sales, promoted by bulk purchases by the right wing deep pockets,is getting the nuts in a frenzy of orgasmic ecstacy. Guliani, who has always played fast and loose with facts, is again speaking to the rabble to burnish his conservative support, knowing full well that the rabble care little about pesky facts.

good things are coming---S Callahan   November 15th, 2009 8:55 pm ET

My understanding is the 23rd race isn't certified yet, and possibly the outcome is going to change...should be the news of this coming week. Well know when we hear the fat lady sing (pun intended).

T'SAH from Virginia   November 15th, 2009 8:41 pm ET

IT STATES: "...Giuliani erroneously said Owens had voted against the Democratically sponsored health care reform..."

GOOGLIANI – YOU LIE!!! Every time a REPUBLI-CAN'T opens their mouth, they LIE!!

Wanda   November 15th, 2009 8:40 pm ET

oh Rudy, yawn

They call me "tater salad"   November 15th, 2009 8:19 pm ET

Whats the common factor in everything Rudy Greedyani say's?.............A noun, A verb, and 9/11, and thats about the jist of it!!!

Tyler   November 15th, 2009 8:00 pm ET

They WILL eat their own.. . they always do.

proczach   November 15th, 2009 7:41 pm ET

This district was not held by Republicans for a century. First, boundaries change every ten years as the number of seats New York has changes. Looking back at the bulk center of this disrict the last fifty years, it has switched parties several times.

kimberly   November 15th, 2009 7:38 pm ET

rudy always lies, normally he does it on FAUX and never gets called out on it. You need to watch John Stewart to get the facts anymore, just like with FAUX news showing old tape of tea parties and saying it was health care protest, or orielly calling it disgusting to pick on palin because her daughter was pregnant, but then called britney spears parents scum for allowing thier teenage daughter to get pregnant (as I recall she actually MARRIED her baby daddy) ANY WAY the fact is these right wing loons are used to making up stories and having Faux entertainment letting them get away with it...CASE IN POINT all they showed were families against the trials being held in NY, however there were MANY MANY MANY for it, not ONE was on faux, I watched it! I love to watch them lie, it makes me sick!

Frank Tine   November 15th, 2009 7:36 pm ET

This is the guy who thought the best place to put an emergency response center in Manhattan was around the World Trade Center – even though the spot had already been hit by terrorists before. Real genius when it comes to security.

Rudy needs to stick to dressing up like women.

Danny   November 15th, 2009 7:25 pm ET

Rudys a real genius folks – heed his words...he's the brain surgeon that put the communications center back into the WTC after the first bombing. A real genius. And a liar to boot – you honestly believe he "erroneously" stated that Owens voted against health care reform – yeah, it was about as "erroneous" as Hannity showing old video to inflate ths size of the crowds at bachmanns hatefest part II. These folks are hacks, and they think you're stupid. Unfortunately, too many still fall for it.

Paul   November 15th, 2009 7:25 pm ET

Rudy Giuliani is smoking dope. Palin is a liar, cheat and quitter. If he thinks that is "great for the GOP", he confirms that the GOP is a dead party.

Doc in Virginia   November 15th, 2009 7:13 pm ET

This is the same nitwit, who against the better judgement of others and after the 1993 bombing attempts on the WTC, put the city's emergency control center INSIDE the WTC!
He has no credibility when issuing his call on the trials of the 9-11 scum in NYC. If Bush had had the balls to bring these scum to trial and put them to death on his watch, perhaps he wouldnt be viewed as such a weakling when it came to believing in our Constitution and laws. If Bush had oredered trials in NYC, Giuliani would have sung his praises and sadi what a great idea to let the people of NYC have its justice and send these turds to the hell they deserve. But since Obama's AG wants to do this, it is irresponsible.
He is a two faced loser that cant handle his own life dramas let alone commenting on others. No wonder he garnished less than 1% of votes in the 2008 primaries. No credibility. Party Hack. No values. But, he does look okay in drag. Not many guys can pull that off.

Mickey   November 15th, 2009 7:08 pm ET

Rudy should just shut his pie hole...he's just another GOP piece of crap.

HJA   November 15th, 2009 7:06 pm ET

Cue the singer........REAL MEN OF GENIUS....Heres to you Mister Don't Know What You're Talking About.......GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT RUUUUUDY!
I need a beer.

Evan   November 15th, 2009 7:03 pm ET

I have much to be proud of, being a native New Yorker. This "man" is not one of them.

Joanna in PA   November 15th, 2009 7:01 pm ET

Of course they are concerned. Everything they think is in the bill the GOP has made up to scare them. NOW, if the GOP debate REAL items in the bill, they would demand that it pass. The ONLY people that want it to fail are the insurance co. That will loose revenue and the GOP because it will help Obama. I wish at least ONE time, just once the GOP would be on the side of the people, not cooperate interests.

GJ   November 15th, 2009 6:56 pm ET

Wow, blind partisan idiots like him prefer talking points over facts? I am SO shocked.

Reality has a well-known liberal bias.

John, Brooklyn, NY   November 15th, 2009 6:46 pm ET

So much for Rudy's qualifications for governor. He doesn't realize that upstate just elected a Congressman who SUPPORTS HEALTHCARE REFORM. Not only do Rudy's 90's era ideas not resonate with people in NYC anymore, they don't resonate upstate either!

tony_n_atl   November 15th, 2009 6:45 pm ET

hahahaha...maybe he said it correctly but he was too busy spitting with that heavy tongue and horrible lisp, you heard him wrong....he has to be the worse speaker in the world...imagine kissing him....wet wet....hahahahaha

HE IS SO IRRELEVANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hopeful in America   November 15th, 2009 6:43 pm ET

A Republican who speaks untruths? Now there's a headline!

Pragmatic   November 15th, 2009 6:37 pm ET

NYS 23 voters spoke out against a carpetbagger and the national conservative has-beens & wannabees telling them how to vote. The conservative candidate couldn't answer questions on local issues or even vote for himself! He could care less about the people he pretended to represent. The nasty conservative rhetoric against a moderate woman didn't help. Their election to lose ... and they did!

What????   November 15th, 2009 6:37 pm ET

Mr Noun, Verb, 911 himself. Please take your 1 delegate and just go away.

Ryan in Brooklyn   November 15th, 2009 6:13 pm ET

This is the Rudy that was a Bush and Kerik cheerleader...so far one has been sentenced to prison.

John   November 15th, 2009 6:12 pm ET

What a dope. Maybe he really does think Palin is good for the GOP. They appear to have the same traits when it come to repeating lies.

Sara in TX   November 15th, 2009 6:12 pm ET

Giulianni's run for President was one of the biggest disasters of 2008. He invested millions in Florida and still could not make second place there. He is irrelevant. This man should do us all a favor and go away.

Roger in New Oxford PA   November 15th, 2009 6:04 pm ET

Same song, different dancer. We hear the same tired rhetoric from every Republican trotted in front of a camera. Republicans I know are getting very tired of their own party and all the crazies that have taken it over. All they want to do is fight and block progress. There is no desire to fix healthcare (they could have when they were in power not too long ago), they have no desire to reign in deficit spending (they could have when they were in power not too long ago) and they have no desire to work with Democrats (they could have when they were in power not too long ago).

No, this is a morally bankrupt party. I hope they cleanse themselves soon or they will be totally irrelevant.

Party Purity will never bring Political Power!   November 15th, 2009 6:01 pm ET

"That’s a district where we could elect a Republican if we get our act together and let’s hope don’t repeat that too often because then we surely won’t be a majority party.”

With the party purity purge underway, you cons are definitely not going to be a majority party any time soon. The acolytes of Saint Sarah of the Silly will insure there are nothing but "christian" cons in the elections!

Hoffman, Palin, Bachmann etc, will win primaries but never a general election on a national level. Fortunately, you wingnuts ignore polls that say 70% of Americans would not vote for Miss Alaskan Anal Sphincter in the general elections.

So, just keep ignoring those "liberal biased polls" and stay tuned to Fox and Rasmussen.

Lord, hear my prayer!

Ron from Florida   November 15th, 2009 5:47 pm ET

Of course he lied..... he's a Republican isn't he?

Dick   November 15th, 2009 5:46 pm ET

New on the Ticker

Palin is great for the GOP, Giuliani says
Giuliani weighs on GOP unity, NY-23 race
Giuliani sounds off on trials for 9/11 suspects in New York City

Who pulled Rudy's chain? Must be that an election is coming up.

Ken, AZ   November 15th, 2009 5:37 pm ET

He didn't stray from the facts; He lied.

once upon a horse   November 15th, 2009 5:34 pm ET

a member of the GOP "straying from the facts"? Well that HAS to be a first don't you think??

Kevin   November 15th, 2009 5:12 pm ET

Sure it was in error. But did John King correct him on air? I doubt it. So, CNN viewers are left believing Mr. Guilliani. If Mr. King did correct him, I stand corrected and apologize.

Tayo, New York   November 15th, 2009 5:04 pm ET

Well Giuliani is wrong on many issues. I am not surprise. He is surely a Republican of convinient.

harold   November 15th, 2009 5:00 pm ET

Rudy does not need Health care himself..He has some kind of Private government Health insurance of some sort that takes care of him.. And he knows nothing about anyone in the USA who has no health Insurance. He .never heard of that ..Just like a republican.. They got it all !....The other people?.... Well that is another story only he will be aware of when he reads the teachings of Jesus .. Who was concerned about people!.... Not like a politician... of Rudys stripe... huh?

Tom G   November 15th, 2009 4:51 pm ET

All elected officals should learn from the action of a junior representative from Louisisana. Cao voted in favoe of th health care bill because his constitiuents want and need healht reform. He didn't vote along party lines. I elect me representativies to be my voice in Washington.

Emma   November 15th, 2009 4:45 pm ET

Rudy's reasoning is askew.

VON BISMARK -Vienna   November 15th, 2009 4:23 pm ET

Is this the guy who was New York mayor when 9/11 occured?

Baylee   November 15th, 2009 4:13 pm ET

The majority of Americans want Health care reform and the more the republicans hold out against the peoples wishes, the more seats they will continue to lose. This coming from a republican who is seriously thinking of switching parties if they don't shape up and start working together, instead of working against the democrats for political points. They need to work for all the people, not just the far right tea parties who are in the minority and a little nutty in my opinion.

D. Tree   November 15th, 2009 4:00 pm ET

Rudy and the GOP should stop spending their time trying to manipulate elections, and should focusing on solving problems.

Maybe then people will take your party seriously. Until then, its pretty obvious all you care about is political games.

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