Democrats Hit Back Hard At Giuliani

Democrats responded quickly to Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani's assertion Tuesday night in New Hampshire that “America will be safer with a Republican president” and his disgusting suggestion that more Americans will be killed if a Democrat is elected to the White House in 2008.

Here's the response from the Democratic National Committee:

"Rudy's arrogance has gotten the best of him. How can the man who failed to prepare New York City for a second attack after the first one, quit the 9/11 commission because he was too busy raking in money from sketchy business deals, can't assess if the surge is working or if Iran and North Korea have nuclear weapons claim that he will keep America safe?

"Not to mention that if Rudy were President he'd have a man who is being investigated for mob ties in charge of homeland security. If that's the record he wants to present to the American people then Democrats welcome the debate because so far Rudy's rhetoric sounds like more of the same failed policies, incompetence and arrogance we've had to suffer for the past six years."

And some responses from Democratic presidential candidates:

Senator Chris Dodd

"It is unfortunate that Republican Presidential candidates are continuing the smear tactics and fearmongering of the current administration. Americans want real solutions to the many problems our nation faces, not divisive and false rhetoric. We need a President who has the experience and ability to unite America, move us forward and make us safer together, and that means leading with hope, not fear."

Senator Barack Obama

"Rudy Giuliani today has taken the politics of fear to a new low and I believe Americans are ready to reject those kind of politics. 'America's mayor' should know that when it comes to 9/11 and fighting terrorists, America is united. We know we can win this war based on shared purpose, not the same divisive politics that question your patriotism if you dare to question failed policies that have made us less secure.

"I think we should focus on strengthening our intelligence, working with local authorities and doing all the things we haven't yet done to keep Americans safe. The threat we face is real, and deserves better than to be the punchline of another political attack."

Former Senator John Edwards

"Rudy Giuliani's suggestion that there is some superior 'Republican' way to fight terrorism is both divisive and plain wrong. He knows better. That's not the kind of leadership he offered in the days immediately after 9/11, and it's not the kind of leadership any American should be offering now.

"As far as the facts are concerned, the current Republican administration led us into a war in Iraq that has made us less safe and undermined the fight against al Qaeda. If that's the 'Republican' way to fight terror, Giuliani should know that the American people are looking for a better plan. That's just one more reason why this election is so important; we need to elect a Democratic president who will end the disastrous diversion of the war in Iraq."