Giuliani Campaign Has Freelancers Hauled Away by Police for Asking Tough Questions

[reprehensor]

Last night at a "meet the press" event, away from the debate stage, campaign operatives for Giuliani had the State Police haul away two freelancers for asking tough questions that the Giulani campaign could not answer.

Reporters were asking the grey-haired man that you can see in this YouTube video, various questions about Giuliani's unfamiliarity with the 9/11 Commission Final Report and the "blowback" hypothesis, among other things. (click on the YouTube link for a first-hand view of the questioning and confrontatation.)

The first amateur freelancer was asking about Giuliani's contradicting stories about getting prior warning of the first building collapse on 9/11. On 9/11, Giuliani clearly said to Peter Jennings that he was warned that the building was about to "collapse".

Last week, when confronted by a relative of one of the firefighters who was killed on 9/11, Giuliani had a completely different story to tell;

"I didn't realize the towers would collapse." He later added, "No one that I know of had any idea they would implode. That was a complete surprise."

Bullshit, Mr. Giuliani. Bullshit. It sure would have been nice to have passed on your prior warning to every firefighter in those Towers, but there was a problem, wasn't there? Just ask Sally Regenhard, who also lost a firefighter on 9/11. Her website, the Skyscraper Safety Campaign, has several articles documenting the non-functional emergency radios that the first responders were stuck with on 9/11. Or you could ask Rosaleen Tallon, who also lost a firefighter that day;

"As Rosaleen will tell anyone willing to listen, the vintage radios that Sean and 342 other city firefighters carried at their deaths on 9/11 were known to be defective. The faulty radios were the target of years of scathing internal assessments, bureaucratic wrangling, and accusations of bidding favoritism, and still the Giuliani administration had never replaced them."

Gosh, I guess wouldn't want to talk about getting advanced warning of the WTC "collapse" either.

The second freelancer, an alternative media professional, named Samuel Ettaro, was reportedly removed for asking questions of the same campaign operative about Giuliani's voluminous ties to various corporate clients.

[marmar]

1. That sounds very Rudy-esque....

the little wannabe dictator that he is.

[JohnyCanuck]

2. How many billions is the USA spending to give freedom of the press

to the Iraqi's? Too bad it's a rapidly disappearing commodity in the US.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

3. "Amateur journalists?"

Ya, and I'm an amateur astronaut. They were 9/11 twoofers, and they were causing a disturbance. Cry me a fucking river.

[oldgrowth]

5. Causing a disturbance =asking hard question,they had press pass

And why arrest them???

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

6. "twoofers"?

Ok, it's time for a dumb question. What are "9/11 twoofers", and how does that apply to these folks?

Just asking. Not crying any rivers one way or the other.
:rofl:

[Ezlivin]

7. 9/11 "truthers" are those who wish to see the 9/11 investigation reopened

Some of them are:

Patriots Question 9/11
Pilots for 9/11 Truth
Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth
Veterans for 9/11 Truth
9/11 Truth

[Bryan Sacks]

9. Another poster spouting liberal totalitarianism here at DU.

What a shock.

[bahrbearian]

13. If he answered the question "NO" or what ever there would not have

been a disturbance, he turned back on Matt and Challenged him, he precipitated it.

[noamnety]

14. To have any integrity as a journalist

you need to be paid by a corporation. :)

(Quite a statement on capitalism, eh?)

[mod mom]

40. Since when is asking questions (regardless whether you agree with the person

asking) illegal? Sheesh...this country is in the gutter.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

4. Begone non-lapdogs!

I'm only here to raise my hand and answer softballs!!

:argh:

[tanyev]

8. Mmmm....there's that tantalizing whiff of fascism again.

Somewhere, Chris Matthews is drooling.

[bullwinkle428]

10. Not surprising at all - look at how he sidestepped the question

about the translators losing their jobs for revealing they were gay...

[Octafish]

11. Questions on 9-11 must be screened.

Knowledge must be restricted.
It's the safe way to a safe state.

[seemslikeadream]

21. Screening, they're masters at it

[dailykoff]

12. The "faulty radios" story is a crock

IMHO. There's a guy that pops into the 911 forum to defend the FDNY chiefs and that story like their severe damage to WTC7 story is as credible as a Bullwinkle cartoon.

K/R :thumbsup:

[ReverendDeuce]

15. The problem with this...

It's no surprise they got hauled out! They were being VERY confrontational. <sigh> I've seen this all too often. People drumming up outrage over something like this, and when the video is released it shows that the folks getting hauled out were being rude, pushy, and obnoxious.

Yet every time I read these "reports" of wrongdoing, I imagine a journalist politely asking a question at a press conference directly to the interviewee, and that interviewee immediately snapping their fingers and getting said journalist hauled out.

Of course, that never happens.

If Alex Jones and his folks want to be taken seriously, they need to play by the rules and not be obnoxious little jackals shouting accusatory invectives.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

16. They don't want to be taken seriously.

They deliberately incite this sort of thing so they can claim that they're being persecuted, hoping to add to their street cred within the conspiracy movement.

[noise]

42. Giuliani

grossly exploits 9/11 for political and financial gain. That bothers me a lot more than some Internet journalists asking unscripted questions the corporate media will not ask. Too bad if Giuliani's campaign staff is offended by anyone with the nerve to challenge the "hero of 9/11" myth.

[jazzjunkysue]

31. While you may be absolutely right, it's still a dumb move for Rudy.

He's running for president, not the KGB chair.

He's got to absorb that kind of thing graciously, even when they're wrong.

[lonestarnot]

17. The very sight of this dispicable character makes me want to puke,

let alone the thought of having this rat bastard installed into the most powerful office in the world. :puke: :puke: :puke:

[formercia]

18. and he isn't even President already.

Just think what he would be like if he was the 'Decider'.

[autorank]

19. K*R Your excellent research is a core indictment of Guilliani. This is pure gold!!!

Double indictment...he's really an ego maniac to think that ht can run with this much on the table.

This is really outstanding and well told. Why can't I read a story like this in my local newspaper.

One reason is that my local paper is the Washington Post.

Thanks!

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[formercia]

22. Rudy with his best buddy.

http://z13.invisionfree.com/THE_UNHIVED_MIND/index.php?showtopic=26260



Now folks remember Rudy Giuliani is a SMOM Papal Knight


Don't they make a cute couple

[reprehensor]

23. More on the second freelancer's questions - Cintra Corp., Spain, NAU

Ettaro was reportedly asking about Giuliani's ties to Cintra Corporation, a company that is deeply involved in constructing a superhighway, that some feel is infrastructure for the North American Union;

http://texasturf.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=85&Itemid=26

"Monday, May 7, 2007 - Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom (or TURF) has learned that one of the top Republican Presidential candidates, Rudolph Giuliani, has ties to both Cintra and Macquarie, two of the major players in public-private infrastructure deals and foreign-direct acquisition deals in Texas, most notably the Trans Texas Corridor NAFTA Superhighway. In fact, both companies are actively involved in bidding on most of the public-private toll contracts currently being negotiated in Texas: Cintra on TTC-35, Hwy 130 bypass around Austin, Hwy 281 & Loop 1604 in San Antonio, Hwy 121 in the Dallas area, and Macquarie bid on Hwy 121, Hwy 281, and Loop 1604. Macquarie is also moving to buy-up community newspapers (http://satollparty.com/post/?p=509) along the Trans Texas Corridor route. Cintra and Macquarie are partners on the Indiana Toll Road and Chicago Skyway leases. Macquarie also owns a toll road in Virginia (http://satollparty.com/post/?p=413).

A freelance reporter, Diana Grassi, does an expose' on Giuliani's ties to the major players who are gobbling up control of America's highways in her article NAFTA Superhighway has Guiliani as key player (http://satollparty.com/post/?p=677). Giuliani's law firm, Bracewell & Giuliani, is the exclusive legal counsel for Cintra. They negotiated the TTC-35, Hwy 130, and Hwy 121 (http://satollparty.com/post/?p=569) deals. Giuliani recently sold Giuliani Capital Partners to Macquarie, March 2007 (http://satollparty.com/post/?p=562), in what could be construed as a way to get campaign cash from a private corporation.

"This could explain why Giuliani has spent so much time fundraising in Texas...the monied proponents of the Trans Texas Corridor, of which there are many, would like to see this man become President," points out Terri Hall, Founder/Director of Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom (TURF). "The conflicts of interest are nothing short of stunning. It also explains why Cintra keeps popping up as the winning bidder."

A recent CNBC interview (http://satollparty.com/post/?p=675) notes how Texans seem to be the only citizens who don't have their heads in the sand on the coming toll tidal wave and massive NAFTA Superhighway scheme that edges us closer to a North American Union."

---------------------------

Cintra, a Spanish company, will be the first foreign company to build/maintain/take over such a massiv highway project on US soil.

What's the big deal, Rudy?

[Kolesar]

24. Nice catch! ... eom

[BuyingThyme]

25. BREAKING: Criminal Indictments Sought Against Police, Giuliani Staffers

...

In addition to the details that were already outlined in our previous article, fellow We Are Change member Luke Rudkowski also related how he was just silently filming the fracas when Giuliani staffers, and in particular one unidentified female, started hitting and attempting to steal his camera, before Lepacek and Rudkowski were pointed out by the staffers and five to seven police arrived to grab them and throw them out of the building.

The female staffer was witnessed to be instrumental in alerting the police to the "crime" of Lepacek asking a question that the Giuliani camp weren't comfortable with.

Rudkowski was assaulted and questioned on who he was working for despite the fact that he hadn't even asked a question and was stood separately from Lepacek.

Lepacek was told that other eyewitnesses saw police stamp on one of the cameras as it lay on the floor.

Another eyewitness said that the entire arrest was clearly being directed by Secret Service, who were ordering the police to threaten anyone who asked questions about the incident with arrest.

...

(see above for link)

[IChing]

26. The Secret Service is out of control and needs to be investigated

Protesters:
Quarantining dissent
How the Secret Service protects Bush from free speech
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/01/04/INGPQ40MB81.DTL&type=printable

ACLU Letter to the Senate Regarding the Secret Service Provision in the USA PATRIOT Act

http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/22670leg20051212.html


South: Florida: Protesters Sue Secret Service

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9903E1D81431F93BA3575BC0A9659C8B63

Many more cases pending


Reporters

Secret Service Officers Remove CNN Producer from Hu Photo-Op For Asking Question

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/04/21/cnn-producer-china/


Secret Service hassles reporters during heckling at Bush rally
Washington Post

http://www.poynter.org/dg.lts/id.45/aid.71189/column.htm

Destroying presidential records

Cheney lawyer told Secret Service to "eliminate data" on visitors to VP residence

http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/28567

[reprehensor]

27. Currently the Top News Story on Digg

http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Reporter_Arrested_on_Orders_of_Giuliani_Press_Secretary

Links to Jones Report story posted by the mighty kpete.

[tiptoe]

28. K & R! Adding another...

...to the list of "truthers" at #7:

Scholars for 9/11 Truth and Justice

[sakabatou]

29. Does Rudy need his WAAAAAAmbulence?

[Morgana LaFey]

30. Has anyone sent this to Keith??

THIS needs some additional exposure!! Damn fascists.

When fascism comes to America it will come wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross. -- Sinclair Lewis

[wildbilln864]

32. Kick and R!

Fuck Rudy G! :grr:

[Harper_is_Bush]

33. I'm sorry, but you're reaching.

Him saying

"I didn't realize the towers would collapse." He later added, "No one that I know of had any idea they would implode. That was a complete surprise."

Does not demonstrate a lie or deception in light of an admission that he was told just a short time before the collapse that a collapse was going to happen.

There's plenty to criticise the guy about without reaching for conspiracy-like gotchas that don't hold water.

[reprehensor]

34. I respect your opinion.

Here is the video footage from last week by wnbc that suggests to me that he is just making shit up.

http://video.wnbc.com/player/?id=112179

"I didn't realize the towers would collapse..."

vs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hNmf76GUCw

"...we were told that the World Trade Center was gonna collapse..."

I see a distinct contradiction. And the way his pollster (I think it's his national pollster) acted as is if the rookie had freakin' Kryptonite in his hands suggests to me that something is being covered up.

[Harper_is_Bush]

41. I repeat, it's a reach. The assumption being made is that when he said...

"I didn't realize the towers would collapse" in that conversation, the context that could be missing is "until I was told, mere seconds before it did".

I don't think ANYONE thought they would collapse for the many minutes that they burned. Did you?

[reprehensor]

43. Nope...

but nobody gave me any forewarning of a "collapse", either, whether it was minutes or more than minutes.

[happygoluckytoyou]

35. GOT THE RUDY THEME SONG RIGHT HERE...

thanks al for all the good times.....
from his "dare to be stupid" album


Put down your chainsaw and listen to me
It's time for us to join in the fight
It's time to let your babies grow up to be cowboys
It's time to let the bedbugs bite

You better put all your eggs in one basket
You better count your chickens before they hatch
You better sell some wine before it's/its time
You better find yourself an itch to scratch

You better squeeze all the Charmin you can while Mr. Wimpole's not around
Stick your head in the microwave and get yourself a tan

Talk with your mouth full
Bite the hand that feeds you
Bite on more than you chew
What can you do
Dare to be stupid

Take some wooden nickles
Look for Mr. Goodbar
Get your mojo working now
I'll show you how
You can dare to be stupid

You can turn the other cheek
You can just give up the ship
You can eat a bunch of sushi and forget to leave a tip

Dare to be stupid
Come on and dare to be stupid
It's so easy to do
Dare to be stupid
We're all waiting for you
Let's go

It's time to make a mountain out of a molehill
So can I have a volunteer
There's no more time for crying over spilled milk
Now it's time for crying in your beer

Settle down, raise a family, join the PTA
Buy some sensible shoes and a Chevyrolet
And party 'till you're broke and they drive you away
It's OK, you can dare to be stupid

It's like spitting on a fish
It's like barking up a tree
It's like I said you gotta buy one if you wanna get one free

Dare to be stupid (yes)
Why don't you dare to be stupid
It's so easy to do
Dare to be stupid
We're all waiting for you
Dare to be stupid

Burn your candle at both ends
Look a gift horse in the mouth
Mashed potatoes can be your friends

You can be a coffee achiever
You can sit around the house and watch Leave It To Beaver
The future's up to you
So what you gonna do

Dare to be stupid
Dare to be stupid
What did I say
Dare to be stupid
Tell me, what did I say
Dare to be stupid
It's alright
Dare to be stupid
We can be stupid all night
Dare to be stupid
Come on, join the crowd
Dare to be stupid
Shout it out loud
Dare to be stupid
I can't hear you
Dare to be stupid
OK, I can hear you now
Dare to be stupid
Let's go, Dare to be stupid
Dare to be stupid
Dare to be stupid
Dare to be stupid
Dare to be stupid
Dare to be stupid
Dare to be stupid
Dare to be stupid

[OHdem10]

36. It has been my experience that timing is important.

I believe most journalists took their cue from
the Rosie Episode. For whatever reason, I am
not a journalist but Rosie got into trouble.
and the underlying theme "Blowback".

It is not a good time to be on this subject.
Common Sense.

There are all kinds of people in our country.
literal "free speech" is not held by all.

I feel for the journalists and have a problem with
their being arrested. Commentators like C. Matthews
and others have tried to warn not directly but indirectly.


Sometimes subjects are "touchy" --(off-limits) and other
times they are not. Grant us the wisdom to know which
is which.

[JPZenger]

37. Radios Were Replaced, but Replacements Didn't Work

If I remember correctly, the fire department had ordered new radios, but there weren't working well, so they went back to the old system. People should sue that radio manufacturer.

Most police officers got out of the towers before they collapsed because their radios warned them. Most fire fighters did not get out because their radios did not pick up the warnings from the police.

[wildbilln864]

38. kick again...

wish I could recommend again!
But I'll say once again fuck Rudy G.!

[Kansas Wyatt]

39. 'they would implode'

Interesting choice of words.

[CGowen]

44. Yeah, I just thought they were going to collapse, but instead they imploded n/t

[unpossibles]

45. well, at least this didn't happen in Venezuela

otherwise some folks would be mad as hell....

[reprehensor]

46. CORRECTION

Ettaro was not removed, once the State Police checked his Press Credentials, he was allowed to stay, but Giuliani's pollster, Ed Goeas, wouldn't take any more of his questions after he asked about Cintras Corp..