NYT editorial, "A Non-Political Memorial": Will Giuliani turn 9/11/07 into a campaign ad?

[DeepModem Mom]

A Non-Political Memorial
Published: September 1, 2007

The memorial now planned for Sept. 11, the sixth anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center, should be just that — a memorial. The reading of almost 3,000 victims’ names should present no opportunity for politicking. The families’ pain should not be a backdrop for a campaign commercial. This should be a morning to pause, keep moments of respectful silence and remember.

Every Sept. 11 since the destruction of Manhattan’s twin towers, the riffle of concern about politics has arisen, and so far participants have behaved appropriately. This year, however, former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’s participation in the memorial has stirred unusually intense apprehension. The reason is that Mr. Giuliani is running for president. Perhaps even more important, after turning the 9/11 attacks into a lucrative personal business, he is now elbowing his way to the top of the Republican field by making much of his response to the destruction in his city six years ago.

The use of this terrible day as a political slogan should be taboo for any candidate who wants to show respect for the way that tragedy affected not only New Yorkers but all Americans. It is worth remembering that after the World Trade Center towers were destroyed, politicians of all stripes worked together to fight the global criminals who did it. Mr. Giuliani did indeed help rally his city at that crucial time, but other leaders around the country also helped heal the nation and then worked to make it, and New York City, safer....

***

To be fair and equitable and properly honor the dead, there should be one easy rule — the present mayor and the present governors can read lines or names of victims; other politicians should watch in silence. That would mean Governor Pataki and Mayor Giuliani should take their places with other politicians and former officials who come to pay their respects.

Firefighters who sometimes follow Mr. Giuliani on his campaign have promised not to bring their grievances about him to ground zero for this year’s memorial. Likewise, one of Mr. Giuliani’s advisers has said that the former mayor “would never do anything” to politicize the ceremony. That would be easier to accept if he begged off any speaking part in this year’s event. Mr. Giuliani, or any other candidate, should certainly be able honor those who died on Sept. 11 without turning their show of respect into a 20-second media spot.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/01/opinion/01sat1.html

[hobbit709]

1. When hasn't he, he's almost as shameless as shrub.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. F**k, yes!!