Pundit: Rudy's 9/11 Performance Gives Him Claim To "Combat Experience"

[babylonsister]

http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/may/29/pundit_rudys_9_11_performance_gives_him_claim_to_combat_experience

Pundit: Rudy's 9/11 Performance Gives Him Claim To "Combat Experience"
By Greg Sargent | bio

Okay, here's a bit more on this whole question of whether the media and pundits will aggressively point out that Rudy's performance on 9/11 does not in any way, shape or form constitute anything resembling national security experience.

A commenter below points to an astonishing moment on Keith Olbermann's May 16 show about the GOP debate that captures the dynamic perfectly. Olbermann's guest, pundit John Harwood, a senior writer for The Wall Street Journal and CNBC's chief Washington correspondent, offered the following on Rudy:

HARWOOD: Well look, Keith, I think those answers by both McCain and Giuliani help both men perhaps in the primary and in the general election for different reasons. McCain`s core message is toughness, and that I`m tough enough that I can go against my party on this issue. Why? Because I`ve been in combat. I`ve been tortured myself, as you mentioned.

Rudy Giuliani also has a bit of a claim to combat in a different way, because he was on the ground in 9/11.

Even allowing the speaker here a bit of oratory license, we nonetheless feel compelled to point it out: Rudy doesn't have combat experience. He doesn't have national security experience, either. He walked through the smoke and dust on 9/11 and held a bunch of press conferences at which he uttered a bunch of emotional and reassuring phrases. But the actual recovery effort he ran, while praised by some, has attracted a whole bunch of criticism, too.

Again: We're singling this punditry out because it's a reminder that if the media, and Rudy's rivals, cede him the aura of national security experience based on nothing more than the fact that he ran New York City on 9/11, he stands a much better chance of becoming President.

Update: And let's not forget NBC political director Chuck Todd's repeated assertion -- with no trace of irony -- that Rudy "owns 9/11."

Update II: Turns out Media Matters was way ahead of us on this, flagging it, you know, back when it happened.

[AX10]

1. Since when did Harwood become a mediawhore?

[bullimiami]

2. keep dreaming losers.

hes got more of a claim to espionage expertise with all of the cheating and sneaking hes done on his wives, girlfriends and mistresses.

[LiberalFighter]

3. He ran NYC on 9/11? When did he show up? During or after the bombing?

[Totally Committed]

4. I don't think so.....................

Not even CLOSE.

The closest he's ever come to "combat" is when he mouth-kissed Donald Trump while in drag, and didn't vomit afterward.

TC

[bigdarryl]

5. Is this motherfucker SERIOUS!!!