Video: Rudy’s first TV ad
posted at 9:20 am on November 14, 2007 by Allahpundit
How is it that the guy with the second-biggest campaign coffers in the Republican field is only rolling out his first spot now, after two ads from Ron Paul, one from Fred, and about a thousand from Mitt? It’s solid enough and obviously meant to prove Rudy’s executive experience vis-a-vis Romney, although I can’t help thinking of that woman at one of the Frank Luntz post-debate focus groups who said all the chattering from Rudy about NYC had put her off. He has to talk about his record, obviously, but he’d better integrate it with national policy in the next spot.
Politico reports that Mitt is all set to go negative on him with TV ads and mailings — but is holding off, for reasons not quite clear to me. There’s some yammering halfway through about Dick Gephardt and Howard Dean nuking each other in 2004, leaving the field open for Kerry and Edwards to win in Iowa. Is that really why K&E won, though? Or is it because Gephardt was a bore and Dean an absurdity? Also, with Huckabee now six points back and a real threat to start picking up evangelicals with a big endorsement, why is Mitt focused on Rudy? If he can knock Huck and Fred out as social con rivals in Iowa and NH then he’ll have Rudy one-on-one with three weeks to blanket Florida with negative ads and plenty of momentum going in to the primary. Maybe his own polling is showing Rudy doing better in Iowa than we think? Seems hard to believe.
Speaking of going negative, Mitt had better watch his flank. There’s an opening here for Huckabee and/or Thompson.
Update: Another mystery for you to ponder. Who schedules a big fundraising day for the busiest travel day of the year?
Blowback
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More New York was probably not the best choice for the first ad, considering how much he’s talked about it to this point.
And who made the decision to light him like he was Nosferatu or something?
Slublog on November 14, 2007 at 9:25 AM
I might just have to vote for that gun grabber.
TheSitRep on November 14, 2007 at 9:30 AM
It’s his biggest accomplishment. It shows that he’s actually done something, which sets him apart from most other candidates.
Its Tommy on November 14, 2007 at 9:30 AM
Enthusiastic supporters not quite as dense as those who held a fundraiser on Guy Fawkes Day.
I’d like to help out, but I’m traveling that day.
frankj on November 14, 2007 at 9:31 AM
Makes sense, and I agree but I can also see what AP is saying – I’d like to see him connect it to national policy a little more. It was a decent first ad, except for the weird half-face lighting.
Slublog on November 14, 2007 at 9:33 AM
That is a good message. Now he has to take the next one and state what he will bring to the rest of the nation. We get it that he did great things in NY.
If Mitt wants to start a war, he will lose. He should sit tight and broker for the VP. Mitt’s shenanigans with the big dig and protecting his buddies is a farce. His flip-flopping is an embarrassment. His record of closing down companies and putting people out of work is well known.
You don’t have two wall flowers poking at each other here, you have two scrappers that will bring the house down with in-fighting.
The enemy is the dems and if Mitt goes off on Rudy, or Rudy goes off on Mitt…that is, who ever starts the ads to diss the other will be persona non grata. Not the occasional pot shot, or debate, but running ads…no way, no conservative should accept that.
right2bright on November 14, 2007 at 9:35 AM
Wait wait, waaait a minute here….
Rudy Giuliani was the mayor of New York?
Next thing you know, they’ll be telling us that John Kerry fought in Viet Nam.
logis on November 14, 2007 at 9:38 AM
I agree that has to talk about his successes in NYC as one of his political accomplishments as an executive. That is vital.
I just wish he would deep-six FOREVER that awful and hugely overused quote from George Will about NYC being the best example of conservative govt in the country. Look, he may have a substantive point to the idea, but when the masses of Americans outside NYC think of NYC they do NOT think of conservative govt. Evah.
I think the ad was mediocre. Not a bad start, but hes gotta do better.
But by far the best part was how he talked about giving NYers HOPE again. THAT is the kind of thing that gets people to trust you and believe in you even if they dont remember how much you lowered crime by in 1990s gotham.
Always Right on November 14, 2007 at 9:38 AM
Getter done Rudy. This nation needs a tough SOB – and at the same time we need a leader who will look the Americans in the face and say “forget right vs. left – we need to solve problems, and this solution is the best on the table”.
I like Rudy – I just hope he sticks to who he is and doesn’t not cower to any special interest groups.
Go Rudy !!
jake-the-goose on November 14, 2007 at 9:40 AM
I lived in NYC prior to Rudy’s admin. I am here to tell you it was a hell hole. I never went to the theatre district that I didn’t take a cab in and an immediate cab back out. Anyone that has visited NYC in the last decade might find that hard to believe…
The subways were filthy and littered with grafitti of the most objectionable kind. My office building at 53rd and 3rd had a resident flasher who would open his coat and reveal himself to any young woman passing by. I spent my lunch hour one day going to the local police station to report this. I was told there was nothing they could do about it. The entrances to the subways reeked of piss and were littered with people living there… My sister in law had long strawberry blonde hair. She had to hide her hair while in public in order to prevent attack.
Rudy cleaned all that up. You can now go to the theatre district for an entire evening, with your children, and have a wonderful time. Rudy was fought tooth and nail on his policies. I remember an article that claimed he was trying to turn the Times Square area into Disneyland. Based on my experience, I would much rather live in Disneyland than make my way around junkies throwing up on themselves at the bus terminal.
Does this qualify him to be Pres? I’m not sure. Personally, I would rather a CIC like Mitt that has a solid record in business. But, if Rudy gets the nod, I will support him.
Babs on November 14, 2007 at 9:43 AM
I’ll vote for any Repub (if it’s Huck I’ll have to hold my nose…I hate nanny state types) but I’m voting for Rudy.
LtE126 on November 14, 2007 at 9:48 AM
I thought the ad was weak – same old tune – same old lines. I would think that by now he would have something a bit more hard-hitting.
jdawg on November 14, 2007 at 9:49 AM
The reason I like Rudy is the enemies that he made while Mayor. Every interest group in this city, and there are many, had something negative to say about him.
He still got the job done though.
sweeper on November 14, 2007 at 9:50 AM
If Rudy doesn’t win, maybe he can unclog SF’s sewers like he did NY’s. Would be nice to be able to go back there someday.
JiangxiDad on November 14, 2007 at 9:53 AM
I would also like to add that I had long brunette hair. I used to wear it pulled tight up in a bun because this was when what’s his name was going around killing brunettes because dogs were talking to him. The guy ended up being caught because of a frickin parking ticket. We all lived in fear in those days.
I would never want to go back to that climate. I can’t imagine anyone that would.
The other funny thing about my tenure in NYC is that I lived just blocks off Atlantic Ave. I used to go to the shops and restaurants on Atlantic Ave. regularly. It turns out that those that bombed the WTC in 93′ and also a lot of the support for 9-11 came from the mosques and public in this community. It still blows me away…
Babs on November 14, 2007 at 9:55 AM
My 18 year old cousin, long beautiful blond hair, cut right off her body in Penn Station, 25 years ago.
JiangxiDad on November 14, 2007 at 10:01 AM
then 18 year-old.
JiangxiDad on November 14, 2007 at 10:06 AM
Wow – 9/11 wasn’t mentioned even once!
As time passes I see more and more things I like about him.
AlexB on November 14, 2007 at 10:07 AM
I actually liked the ad. It reminds people that he can get things accomplished…
It’s a good start.
Nineball on November 14, 2007 at 10:09 AM
Brooklyn has a large Muslim community in and around Atlantic Ave. Jewish teachers in the neighborhood schools are constantly harassed. The newer Muslim area is Sheepshead Bay, formerly mostly Jewish, now more Russian Jewish and Arab. Marine Pk. area getting more and more Arabs. There are many incidents of swastikas being painted on Jewish houses and cars in several Bklyn neighborhoods. I used to eat in some of those restaurants on Atlantic Ave. too. Then I got scared of those people.
JiangxiDad on November 14, 2007 at 10:10 AM
Hollowpoint, you missed your entrance cue.
(puts on full-body mud shield)
Splashman on November 14, 2007 at 10:12 AM
That may be the best reason of all. When you piss off the unions, homeless, big business, politicians, any special interest…you know you are doing something right.
right2bright on November 14, 2007 at 10:19 AM
I look forward to casting my vote for the first Italian-American president.
According to my law enforcement relatives in NYC, he turned that place around even though people were screaming at him on a daily basis. “Leadership”.
Hening on November 14, 2007 at 10:25 AM
The best line in that ad is when Rudy says he’s not perfect. It’s a breath of fresh air from candidates saying they are going to save America and make it heaven on earth.
BadgerHawk on November 14, 2007 at 10:28 AM
It is the start of a campaign of ads. This is the first one they rolled out. This is the NYC ad. There will be the fiscal conservative ad. The leadership ad. Etc. Hell, there may even be a 9/11 ad. Don’t judge a campaign by one part of it.
tommylotto on November 14, 2007 at 10:30 AM
I actually liked this ad, but it seems like it would work best in a general election. But hasn’t that been the rub on Rudy? He seems to be running against Hillary and not Mitt et al?
csdeven on November 14, 2007 at 10:30 AM
Jiangxi – Sounds like we are kindred souls…
I was raised living next door to an Armenian family. I practically lived with these people while growing up. The father worked in NYC and it was always a great day when he stopped by Atlantic Ave. to pick up supplies. Stinky olives for himself, baklava and all kinds of other treats for the rest of the family. When I moved into NYC as a young adult I was absolutely thrilled to be living within walking distance of Atalntic Ave. This was the middle 70′s. I could eat and buy all the stuff that I so loved as a kid. My family was Irish and my Mom made a mean corned beef and boiled cabbage, that was about it…
About 6 years ago I read the book While America Slept. I was amazed at how that entire area changed. When I lived there I did not perceive any anomosity toward regular American citizens. To be honest, I didn’t even know what a Muslim was; my friends being refugees from Christian Armenia.
It is still amazing to me to this day how a neighborhood that I fostered such good feelings for turned into a cesspool of destruction.
As far as the Jewish issue is concerned… I was raised in a community with a large percentage of Jewish citizens. They were just that, school mates, neighbors, people my father worked with, shopkeepers, etc. I do not recall any “hate crimes” against Jewish citizens in my community. It seems that these types of hate crimes have increased exponentially over the last decade. Some, that might not have lived in communities such as mine, think this has been going on for a long time. I don’t think it has. This is a recent occurance and a drastic change of culture for the NYC area.
Babs on November 14, 2007 at 10:31 AM
God I just want to bite his lisping tongue out of his mouth whenever he speaks.
muyoso on November 14, 2007 at 10:34 AM
I think this ad is a good start but could be better. What’s with the couple taking their picture? He should also talk about successes like his welfare reform where he introduced workfare to NYC before the Republican Congress introduced that as a national policy. And in NYC he had to ignore the hand wringing of libs who claimed it was “slavery”, would increase crime, et cetera.
I lived in NYC for most of my life, and endured the nightmares which began with the Limousine Liberal Lindsay administration and snowballed exponentially from there.
One of my favorite (/sarc) things about NYC prior to Rudy’s rescue was routinely getting verbally assaulted (an sometimes physically) by deranged homeless people whom the ACLU claimed had every right to conduct themselves in this manner. It’s free speech, dont’cha know!
I also support MITT btw. Either candidate would be just grand IMO.
Buy Danish on November 14, 2007 at 10:35 AM
rEVOLution!
Allahpundit on November 14, 2007 at 10:41 AM
Ok, hold on, Giuliani turned around NYC? I hadn’t heard that before, wow. Hey – did you also know John Kerry served in Vietnam?
CP on November 14, 2007 at 10:55 AM
One of my favorite (/sarc) things about NYC prior to Rudy’s rescue was routinely getting verbally assaulted (an sometimes physically) by deranged homeless people whom the ACLU claimed had every right to conduct themselves in this manner.
I was young enough to be so stupid as to shout back! I remember having guests in the city and I was as beligerant as the homeless/crazies! This always got a rise out of my guests…
Babs on November 14, 2007 at 10:56 AM
He left out “illegal alien capital” and “gun ban capital”. He sure seemed proud of that when he was mayor, I wonder why not so much now…
Hollowpoint on November 14, 2007 at 11:14 AM
Regarding the opening that Fred and Huckabee may have, I’d be interested to hear Romney on this. It seems to me that the MassCare price schedule was pretty standard stuff for HMO’s and I don’t see how he could have excluded what is standard coverage.
Menahwile, I just heard Huckabee repeat a lot of what he said here about giving college scholarships to illegals on Fox. Isn’t that a problem for him?
Buy Danish on November 14, 2007 at 11:17 AM
It’s really astounding how one man can make such a difference in a city that was deemed a hopeless case and people are all lined up ready to say, “Yeah, well, what’s he done lately?” “Get off the New York thing!” they say. Geesh! Should Neil Armstrong get off the “moon thing?”
Jim-Rose on November 14, 2007 at 11:22 AM
So Judith Regan was coerced by News Corp. to lie to Federal investigators about Kerik to protect Rudy. This should be fun.
tommylotto on November 14, 2007 at 11:29 AM
Agreed, for conservatives Rudy’s got some serious baggage. About the best I can say for him is that he’s not wishy-washy, and if he’s the nominee, he’ll be better than the alternative.
Go Mitt!
Splashman on November 14, 2007 at 11:38 AM
I plan on researching this ASAP. If Mitt was pro-choice that recently, then he has some real problems in a general election. Ya know, I count on Rudy, Huck, and even that sack of crap Fred to dig up as much dirt as possible on Mitt. All the candidates for that matter. Lets get it out now so as to deny Hillary any ammo in the general, or goodness forbid, an October surprise.
csdeven on November 14, 2007 at 11:41 AM
I like Rudy, but I like aspects from all the Republican candidates…err most of the canidates….Ron Paul sucks.
GREENTURTLE on November 14, 2007 at 11:43 AM
Agreed. Rudy has valuable and unique experience, and he’d be a fool not to trumpet it. I was pleasantly surprised that he didn’t refer directly to 9/11, and that’s a good strategy. Every lifeform in the universe is aware of his connection with 9/11, so him not mentioning it will be perceived as humble self-restraint.
Splashman on November 14, 2007 at 11:45 AM
Muck Fitt! And Rudy too, both conservatives about like Bush.
bubby62 on November 14, 2007 at 11:46 AM
NYC is a great and most relevent selling point. I can’t understand how it could be viewed otherwise. This is exactly the kind of no-nonsense can-do guy we need in charge of liquidating the jihad. His NYC record is exactly what the Left is afraid of. I say, push it. Americans get it.
Halley on November 14, 2007 at 11:57 AM
bubby this site is for you http://www.imasorosrobot.com
GREENTURTLE on November 14, 2007 at 12:00 PM
HA! Ron Paul already has a music video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-t_YD-sDhw
Rudy’s falling behind
BJ on November 14, 2007 at 12:03 PM
Giuliani-Kerik Angle in Suit by Ex-Publisher (from Drudge link)
The lawsuit asserts that the News Corporation executive wanted to protect the presidential aspirations of Rudolph W. Giuliani, Mr. Kerik’s mentor, who had appointed him New York City police commissioner and had recommended him for the federal post.
“Defendants were well aware that Regan had a personal relationship with Kerik,” the complaint says. “In fact, a senior executive in the News Corporation organization told Regan that he believed she had information about Kerik that, if disclosed, would harm Giuliani’s presidential campaign. This executive advised Regan to lie to, and to withhold information from, investigators concerning Kerik.”
MB4 on November 14, 2007 at 12:23 PM
Seven years in New York, and four under Rudy’s mayorship. I worked at night in a couple lounges for extra bucks to pay the rent back then. Never once was I mugged, attacked, assaulted, etc.
I got a ton of parking tickets, but the city was safe. Rudy did a great job of that city.
Now Bloomy is going to extremes and is quickly making NYC completely untouchable to those who aren’t truly wealthy. When I was there, yes it was expensive, but you could make a go of it with a little creativity and still live in Manhattan.
Vincenzo on November 14, 2007 at 12:24 PM
How much credit does Rudy deserve for New York City’s crime rate going down?
http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/nycrime.htm
Note that crime rates were dropping for the three years before Giuliani took office. And they continued to drop after he left.
Crime in New York peaked in 1990. Giuliani did not take office until 1994.
MB4 on November 14, 2007 at 12:25 PM
I don’t see what it has to do with being pro-choice, or not. This is standard stuff that insurance plans offer, but in this case its very, very inexpensive. Check your own insurance plans- I bet you’ll find that abortion is covered.
How far would Mitt have gotten in Massachusetts if he tried to eliminate abortion as a covered medical procedure, or started picking and choosing any traditionally covered items for that matter?
Buy Danish on November 14, 2007 at 12:28 PM
He deserves credit for appointing a police commissioner (I forget his name) that actually did deserve a lot of credit for the crime rate going down, though as you pointed out it was going down anyways.
Of course when said police commissioner had the nerve to actually accept some recognition for his accomplishments instead of giving it all to Rudy, he was forced out and Rudy appointed corrupt loyalist crony Kerik.
Hollowpoint on November 14, 2007 at 12:30 PM
What, you didn’t hear? Just as Al Gore singlehandedly invented the Internet, Rudy and only Rudy turned around The Center Of The Universe, outside of which lies only uncharted wasteland- at least as far as Rudy and most New Yorkers are concerned.
Hollowpoint on November 14, 2007 at 12:35 PM
I thought is was a great first ad. He really has accomplished great things in New York. And…er…..what are Hillary’s accomplishments? He will wipe the floor with her in any debate. She will be toast!
Winebabe on November 14, 2007 at 12:38 PM
The most important casualty of this process was Bratton, who, besides Giuliani himself, was most responsible for the administration’s early success. Whenever the press gave too much credit to Bratton, the police chief and his spokesman John Miller would be called into city hall to be bawled out by Giuliani loyalists. Miller was finally forced to quit.
After Time put Bratton on its cover in January 1996, an enraged Giuliani had City Hall attorneys begin investigating his personal expenses. That was enough for Bratton. He quit two months later.
Read the indictment of Kerik and what happened before 9/11 and this creep was dirty the whole time. He was a New Yawk
police commissioner getting paid off by the mob.
MB4 on November 14, 2007 at 12:40 PM
I’m a Rudy girl. As far as I’m concerned, he’s been tried and tested and has proven himself worthy. It would take something really drastic for me to not vote for him.
Keli on November 14, 2007 at 12:49 PM
When he was US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, then?
Slublog on November 14, 2007 at 12:57 PM
Bratton quit and Miller quit. People quit. Liberal media assassins with axes to grind put together their resignations with innuendo and whala smear piece cited ad nauseum by MB4.
Bratton is top cop here in LA. He’s always on vacation and botched the MacAurther Park melee. He is no crime fighting genius. He was definitely the Garfunkel. Rudy was Simon. Bring back Gates in LA!!!
tommylotto on November 14, 2007 at 12:58 PM
We’ll remember your new-found respect for the “liberal media” next time they write a hit piece on Thompson.
Slublog on November 14, 2007 at 1:00 PM
Yeah- especially when their boss goes on a vendetta against them for not being sufficiently sycophantic. Bratton- not Rudy- was the architect of the NYC law enforcement policy. LA also experienced a drop in crime when he brought his tactics there.
But like GW Bush, results and competance take a back seat to cronyism. Rudy just doesn’t have the temperment to be a good President.
Hollowpoint on November 14, 2007 at 1:07 PM
Yeah, and Reagan and Thatcher just got lucky with ending the Cold War.
Give it up MB4. Rudy turned that city around, and the beneficial effects from the numerous reforms he instituted continue to this day.
If you want to criticize him for his ties to Kerik or something with a shred of legitimacy, go right ahead, but you sound ridiculous when you try and pretend that it was just a magical coincidence that NYC was saved and reborn into the safe, thriving metropolis it is today.
Buy Danish on November 14, 2007 at 1:15 PM
Oh I agree with you on that point. I don’t think it is a reflection of his stance on abortion, but I want to flesh it out just the same.
Mitt, according to a recent poll, is viewed as the most conservative of all the rep candidates. (not sure who was included in the poll. I have a hard time believing Hunter was included)
I just seen an Iowa poll on Fox saying that a huge majority of people WILL vote for a Mormon.
csdeven on November 14, 2007 at 1:15 PM
>>>bubby this site is for you http://www.imasorosrobot.com
It’s not for me. I’m just saying it would be nice to have a real conservative this time around. Mitt or Rudy ain’t it!
bubby62 on November 14, 2007 at 1:23 PM
I can’t believe I forgot this, but Mitt promised the people of MA that he would not erode the current abortion policies. Restraining his veto pen on those abortions were probably an honoring of that commitment.
csdeven on November 14, 2007 at 1:23 PM
Who exactly came to that conclusion? Did Bratton say that, or was it a conclusion reached by a NYT writer who hates Rudy? There is a difference between criticizing a candidate based on facts reported in liberal media reports and criticizing a candidate on innuendo or conclusions reached by liberal media reports.
Fred provided legal services for the defense team of the Libyan terrorists responsible for the Lockerbie bombing. That is not innuendo or a conclusion reached by a liberal reporter. That is a fact. Fred lobbied for an abortion group, but claims to be 100% pro-life. That is a fact. I can separate the bogus conclusions and innuendos from the facts. Whereas MB4 puts the loose conclusions and innuendos front and center.
Rudy is a tin pot dictator. Rudy is a whore for publicity. Rudy is mentally deranged. Rudy does not have the temperament to be president. These are not facts. Bratton was forced to quit, because Rudy did not like how much credit he was getting for the turn around. That is not a fact. That is an unsubstantiated conclusion made by people who do not like Rudy. It means nothing.
tommylotto on November 14, 2007 at 1:23 PM
Well, that and the fact that he campaigned as pro-choice and against Roe v Wade being overturned.
Hollowpoint on November 14, 2007 at 1:25 PM
I lived in NYC for 13 years. 3 under Dinkins, 8 under Rudy and 2 under Bloomberg. I witnessed, first hand, the transformation.
Rudy used the same tactics in NYC that Petraus is now using in Iraq. He brought back the “beat cop”. Rather than cops driving around patrolling, remaining faceless authority figures, he put them in the neighborhoods, walking the beat, interacting with the community, building relationships with the people.
That, IMO, more than anything else, helped reduce crime, got people out and looking after their neighborhoods and helped the city come back to life.
MikeZero on November 14, 2007 at 3:29 PM
Crediting Rudy with the tactics of his police commissioner is like crediting Bush for the tactics of Petraeus. They both made a good choice in who to appoint, but weren’t directly responsible for policies of their appointees.
Hollowpoint on November 14, 2007 at 3:43 PM
Give it a rest Hollowpoint. If Rudy didn’t like the operation of the NYPD he would have replaced the senior staff. Just like if Bush didn’t like what Petraeus was doing he would replace him.
You are arguing a losing hand.
Babs on November 14, 2007 at 4:17 PM
Considering that Rudy forced out the police commissioner out for political reasons, I’m not sure it’s my argument that has the holes in it.
Hollowpoint on November 14, 2007 at 4:35 PM
There you go again… What exactly is the factual support for your assertion that Bratton was forced out by Rudy? and if he was indeed forced out by Rudy what facts can you cite that support your assertion that it was for political reasons? Then we’ll see whether your argument has holes in it or not.
Rudy + Bratton = crime goes down
Rudy + Kerik = crime goes down
Can you see the common denominator?
tommylotto on November 14, 2007 at 4:54 PM
Question: If the crime rate in NYC had risen dramatically during Rudy’s administration, would you be blaming the police commisioner, Hollowpoint?
MikeZero on November 14, 2007 at 5:13 PM
With Rudy, the only ones who he won’t protect are the ones who can’t protect themselves. Good job, mayor.
Captain America on November 14, 2007 at 5:19 PM
Rudy should run for the next Gov of California.. then come back in 12
amend2 on November 14, 2007 at 8:51 PM