Republican National Convention
Giuliani, others use Sept. 11 to illustrate Bush's leadership

By Timothy Williams
The Associated Press

JUSTIN SULLIVAN / GETTY IMAGES Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani walks off the stage after addressing the Republican National Convention last night.

E-mail this article Print this article Search archive Most read articles Most e-mailed articles

Related stories McCain's theme: Bush was right on Iraq war Potential '08 candidates hard at work Convention schedule highlights Other links Giuliani addresses the delegates

NEW YORK — Republicans invoked the horrors of Sept. 11 last night to drive home their point that President Bush is a decisive leader in a dangerous world, unafraid to make tough decisions.

His opponent, Sen. John Kerry, is too weak to lead the nation, they suggested.

Recalling the World Trade Center attack, former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani spoke about "seeing the flames of hell and then realizing that I was actually seeing a man — a human being — jumping from the 101st or 102nd floor."

"Spontaneously, I grabbed the arm of then-Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik and said to Bernie, 'Thank God, George Bush is our president.' And I say it again tonight, 'Thank God George Bush is our president.' "

Giuliani, whose calming of a wounded city after the attacks three years ago won him almost heroic status, drew a blunt political line last night between Bush and Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee.

His descriptions of the two men: "President Bush, a leader who is willing to stick with difficult decisions even as public opinion shifts, and John Kerry, whose record in elected office suggests a man who changes his position often even on important issues."

The strategy of using Sept. 11 at the convention, which is being held just a few miles from the World Trade Center site, has led Democrats to accuse the Republicans of exploiting the tragedy. It was in the immediate aftermath of the attacks that the president scored his highest approval ratings.

Giuliani told reporters earlier in the day that Republicans would not be "intimidated by the Democrats into not talking about Sept. 11."

Other speakers, in texts of their addresses released by convention organizers, didn't have to mention Kerry by name to make their distaste known.
 
"In this great struggle, we need a commander in chief who is a beacon, not a weather vane," said Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M.

Robert Khuzami, former assistant U.S. attorney from New York, defended the president's support of the Patriot Act, which strengthened the government's surveillance and detention powers.

"Some politicians have waffled over their commitment to safeguarding America," he said. Bush himself has accused Kerry of taking both sides of the debate over the legislation.

Among others speaking last night were Kerik, Giuliani's former police chief, and relatives of people who died on Sept. 11.

Kerik told the convention, "We witnessed strong and decisive leadership on that day and those that followed — in Mayor Giuliani, Governor [George] Pataki and most importantly, our commander in chief, President Bush."

Iraqi immigrant Zainab Al-Suwaij, of the American Islamic Congress, said Iraq is in far better shape now than it was before the U.S.-led invasion that came 1-1/2 years after the Sept. 11 attacks.

"Yes, there is still bloodshed and uncertainty, but America, under the strong, compassionate leadership of President Bush, has given Iraqis the most precious gift any nation has ever given another — the gift of democracy and freedom to determine its own future," Al-Suwaij said in remarks prepared for delivery.

"So as I grieve for the courageous Americans and Iraqis who were killed and injured during Iraq's liberation, I tell you proudly that their noble sacrifice was not in vain."