"Wait just a second," he told the perplexed crowd. "This is my wife calling, I think."
"Hello, dear," he said in a syrupy voice.
"I'm talking to the members of the NRA right now. Would you like to say hello?" he said to confused chuckles.
"I love you, and I'll give you a call as soon as I'm finished. OK, have a safe trip. Bye-bye. Talk to you later, dear. I love you."
According to the rest of the article, there was disbelief, outrage and skepticism. This has to be a stunt. Politicians don't do this, no one does this, not in the middle of a speech. I'd bet you bottom dollar that this is the hare-brained idea of some campaign aide, or even Rudy himself to try to appear more "real" in front of a normally hostile crowd. It didn't work. And how does the NRA feel about Rudy now? Well, let's ask Fred Thompson.
As far as the actual content of the speech Rudy attempted a classic flip on gun control, which is obvious. But it needed to be done if he wants to win.
He also won points for saying he could no longer support a lawsuit he filed against gun-makers when he was New York mayor -- a dramatic shift from 2000, when he called it a vital tool in cracking down on gun violence. He credited that switch in part to 9/11, saying the attacks cast "somewhat of a different light on the Second Amendment and Second Amendment rights. It doesn't change the fundamental rights, but maybe it highlights the necessity for them more."
It's not really believable, but really what the NRA wants to know is two things. 1. Is he bought? 2. Will he stay bought? Rudy's answer to that is yes and yes. Again, there is a D.C. Second Amendment case that could go to the Supreme Court just in time for the election and up against Hillary Clinton in the Midwest and North, Rudy could really use the NRA on his side.
But taking cell phone calls in the middle of his speeches probably won't help.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Well for one thing Rudy is more liberal than any democrat when it comes to gun control. Thats a proven fact. And secondly, the call was clearly a stunt to appeal to the crowd. It was clearly staged.
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Patrick at 8:34PM on Sep 22nd 2007
2. Rudy came out against guns when he wanted to be mayor of liberal New York - him being a Republican, he had no choice but to play the game. Now it is coming back to haunt him.
I will give Giuliani some points for at least having the balls to show up at an NRA event, given he knew he would encounter hostility.
As to the phone call, that was just a silly and pointless stunt.
David S. at 10:38PM on Sep 22nd 2007
3. Is this is how he will conduct himself as our Presdient answering cell phone call during Official meetings? Don't we have a joker here.Come on show some professional act and behavior or we will be laugh upon by other nations.Worse still Terrorists think we elect a Clown and make it very difficult to fight them.
KaM at 10:46PM on Sep 23rd 2007
4. It isn't the first time Rudy took a call from his wife during a speach, is it? He staged in the past and he'll do it again.
Exconservative at 2:29PM on Sep 24th 2007
5. SO RUDY'S mistress-turned wife is chekcing up on him (what does that tell you)???
She calls him various functions apparenlty to make sure he is where he says he is.
ONCE A CHEAT...
Kitty at 3:35PM on Sep 24th 2007
6. I don't know if this is staged or not, but it shows a lack of respect and responsibility to the people you are speaking to. So my question is: If he is in a important meeting as the President of this counrty, say at Camp David with president of another country. Will he be taking non-emergency calls from his wife? This is ridiculous. Just say "NO TO RUDY AND JUDY".
Jo-Ann at 12:37AM on Sep 25th 2007
7. He is acting just like Arnold and Ronald in "california" We don't need actors in office. He can't be trusted at all, Just look at his net worth before 9/11 and after 9/11 that should tell you who he really cares about, DEAD PRESIDENTS IN HIS WALLET.
nepadocker at 8:02AM on Sep 25th 2007
8. I'm afraid this guy isn't real.
KaM at 7:30PM on Sep 25th 2007
9. I'm glad that Rudy's stupidity can get in the way of him having any chance in the first place.
If anyone believes that this wasn't a stunt, please go away, just go away...
He's known to have troubles with the family, so that was a little stunt seeking to make him appear as a loving husband.. (I'm teary eyed.. he just won my vote :P)
He's a terrible actor (we've all seen him on SNL), and he failed to persuade me and everyone else who isn't biased enough to believe that crap.
Go away Rudy,
sincerely
me
billrichardson at 4:39PM on Sep 25th 2007
10. "The folks who gave us the Willie Horton ads, the Swift boat campaign, the purges of black voters in Florida and endless other dirty electoral tricks are at it again. Like crack addicts confronting the irresistible vial, the evil geniuses of the G.O.P. can't seem to help themselves. This time -- with an eye toward seizing the White House again next year, even if they lose the popular vote -- they're trying to rewrite the rules for the distribution of electoral votes in California…
"Under current law, all of California's 55 electoral votes go to the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote statewide. This ''winner take all'' system is the norm in the U.S. It's in place in all but two states, Maine and Nebraska, which have just four and five electoral votes, respectively. Now comes a move, from lawyers with close ties to the Republican Party, to scrap the current system in California and replace it with one that would divide up the electoral votes in a way that would likely give 20 or more of them to the candidate who loses the popular vote in the state…Under this new proposal, the 20 or more electoral votes that would be denied the winner of the statewide vote in California could well be enough to hand the White House to a Republican candidate who loses the popular vote nationally…
"…The effort to change the way Californians vote for president has been cloaked in the typically deceptive garb that the G.O.P. pulls out for its underhanded maneuvering. The proposal has been dubbed the ''Presidential Election Reform Act.'' It is being led by Thomas Hiltachk of Bell, McAndrews and Hiltachk, a law firm that has represented both the state Republican Party and G.O.P. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. According to The Associated Press, the firm was also linked to a political committee, largely funded by Bob Perry, that targeted Democratic candidates in 2006. Mr. Perry, a longtime supporter of George W. Bush, contributed millions of dollars to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, whose intense and deceptive campaign in 2004 was so damaging to the candidacy of John Kerry. This crowd is no more interested in genuine electoral reform than Britney Spears is."
rn at 1:59AM on Sep 26th 2007
11. #10 m at 1:59AM
Don't waste your time,democrats is known for having sex in the White House.Embarrassing huh!
True Truth at 1:35PM on Sep 26th 2007