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August 21, 2007
Entitled Voter Asks Stupid Question,
Surprised by Snippy Response
Rudy Giuliani, for good reason I suppose, hasn't used his family on the campaign trail. That has not stopped the media and the over-pampered voters of New Hampshire from bugging him about it, though.
(WBZ) BOSTON Giving the little people a chance to face off with "big people" is what makes the New Hampshire primary famous.She said the response seemed "defensive."Rudy Giuliani is the latest candidate to get caught off guard by a cut-to-the-chase question from a voter.
I spoke with the Derry, New Hampshire woman who brought him up short, and she's feeling the heat for her question.
Katherine Prudhomme-O'Brien says she was just curious about the apparent lack of support for their father's candidacy by Giuliani's son and daughter from a previous marriage, but that query and Giuliani's dismissive reply have been the buzz of the political world all weekend.
"I asked him how he'd expect the American people to give him loyal fellowship if he was having a hard time getting it from his own family."
Giuliani's response: "There are complexities in every family in America. The best thing I can say is kind of leave my family alone, just like I'll leave your family alone."
Imagine that.
Despite what Ms. Prudhomme-O'Brien may believe, her question was irrelevant, no matter how politely it was asked. The political opinions of Giuliani's kids or their willingness or unwillingness to get involved in a presidential campaign have absolutely nothing to do with whether the former mayor would make a good president.
When did we become obsessed with the idea that familial support for a candidacy was some sort of character test of the candidate? The family is under no obligation to campaign for their political relative. Heck, candidates in the past didn't even campaign on their own behalf. That's a relatively recent development.
One of these days, I'd love to see a presidential candidate ignore New Hampshire. Just don't campaign there at all. Their importance to the presidential race is a media creation and it would be nice if someone pointed out that the primary is just a primary, not the end-all, be-all of presidential politics.
Related - Foolish. In what alternate universe did Michelle Obama think that line of criticism against the Clintons would work?
Posted by slublog at August 21, 2007 08:24 AM
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Comments
I couldn't agree with you more! Private life antics can certainly have some bearing on how a person will lead under pressure - all that stuff about loyalty, commitment, etc... can be held up to the light when it comes to extramarital dalliances and that sort of thing.
So - Rudy's kids don't support him. Whoop-de-frickin'-do.
Posted by: Kris, in New England at August 21, 2007 12:09 PM
One time in a drunken haze, I punched a guy's girlfriend in the face, and the dude had the GAUL!!! to accuse me of being offensive!
What was his gig?
Posted by: Wickedpinto at August 26, 2007 05:08 AM