Giuliani Avoids Answering Questions,
Tries to Hide Record Under Political Cover

Bipartisan Union Challenges Candidate to Address His Failures

WASHINGTON – The Giuliani campaign’s political assault on the International Association of Fire Fighters, one of the most bipartisan unions in the nation, shows that the candidate has no answer to the legitimate issues raised today in an IAFF video documenting his failure to lead before, during and after the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, IAFF President Harold Schaitberger said today.

“Our union endorses candidates on both sides of the political aisle – always have and always will,” Schaitberger said. “Take a look at our FEC reports. Ask Governor (Charlie) Crist in Florida, Governor Jim Douglas in Vermont, or Joe Lieberman in Connecticut. We fought for them, like we fought for other good candidates. Party labels mean nothing to us. But failure of leadership is a big problem, and Rudy Giuliani failed us in New York and we think he doesn’t deserve to be considered for president of the United States.”

IAFF Locals in New York City endorsed Giuliani twice in his runs for mayor, but those supporters have abandoned him because of his failure to protect fire fighters and the people of New York – including the leadership of IAFF Local 94, which supported George W. Bush in the 2004 election. On the video, available at 5 p.m. today at www.rudy-urbanlegend.com, fire fighters, fire officers and family members give dramatic testimony about Giuliani’s leadership failures.

“Giuliani’s biggest problem is that this video is a bipartisan condemnation of his record on 9/11,” Schaitberger said. “We invited all the Republican candidates to our presidential forum in March, but Giuliani ducked out. He can’t duck his record, however. We won’t let him.”

The IAFF has not made an endorsement in the 2008 presidential election. Local 94 in New York supported President Bush in the 2004 election, while the IAFF and Local 854 endorsed Sen. John Kerry.

Note to editors: Fire fighters and family members who participated in the IAFF documentary will be available for interviews Thursday in New York City by appointment. Call Bill Glanz, 202 824-1566, or Scott Treibitz, 703 276-2772, ext. 11, to schedule an appointment.

The International Association of Fire Fighters, headquartered in Washington, DC, represents more than 280,000 full-time professional fire fighters and paramedics in every state in the United States and in Canada. More information is available at www.iaff.org and at www.rudy-urbanlegend.com.