by Frank James
So Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani was in the middle of an important speech to an audience that was a little skeptical to say the least, the National Rifle Association, many of whose members have some problems with the former New York City mayor's past support for gun control.
He had reached the part where he was talking about the importance of the Second Amendment right to bear arms, the part of his speech this particular crowd really wanted to hear him speak about. Then his cell phone rang.
"Let's see now. This is my wife calling, I think," says Giuliani reaching for the phone in his pocket. He then goes on to do something unheard of for a candidate to do while giving an important speech. He answers the phone.
"Hello dear... I'm talking to the members of the NRA right now. Would you like to say hello? (He laughs, apparently at something she says.) I love you and I'll give you a call as soon as I'm finished, OK? (She says something.) OK, have a safe trip, bye-bye. Talk to you later dear, I love you."
After concluding the call, he says to the audience: "It's a lot better that way."
Then he adds: "Well this is one of the great blessings of the modern age, being always available. Or maybe it isn't, I'm not sure."
Giuliani never fails to surprise, that's for sure. His dressing in drag comes to mind.
But if you're a presidential candidate trying to impress NRA members that you take their issues seriously, maybe you don't want to surprise the audience by taking a phone call right in the middle of your speech. It might help the audience take the speech more seriously.
At an event where previous speakers, like Sen. John McCain, were interrupted by protesters, it's odd that Giuliani would interrupt himself.
It's such an amazing moment that at first it appeared to be some kind of pre-arranged stunt. And maybe it was. But what would the purpose be? Was the goal to make him appear like a doting husband in an attempt to soften his image with women?
If that were the case, then his comment after the phone call about it being "a lot better" for him to answer his phone ruined it because it made him seem less the attentive spouse than the husband trying to avoid a scene with his wife.
And what political wife wouldn't understand her presidential candidate husband not taking a phone call because he was in the middle of an important speech?
All in all, a very weird moment in modern American politics.
My colleage Christi Parsons was actually at the NRA event (I watched a video feed.) Here's a brief dispatch from her:
Rudy Giuliani took a cell phone call in the middle of his address to the National Rifle Association on Friday, and John McCain seemed almost grateful for the anti-war protester who interrupted his speech to the group.
Mitt Romney missed the potential criticism from Second Amendment devotees, simply addressing the NRA meeting via pre-taped video.
But the high-dollar NRA contributors weren't easily distracted from the track records of the GOP presidential candidates, several of whom have a spotty history with the gun-rights group.
"I'm not happy with several of the choices," said Don Pound, an NRA member from Long Beach, Calif., who traveled to Washington for the candidate forum. "I'm willing to listen, but I feel like some of them are speaking with a forked tongue."
The crowd politely applauded for all of the presidential candidates, all Republican except for one, and offered up standing ovations even to those with whom they have clashed in the past.
Still, the day's events served as a stark reminder of the disconnect between several leading GOP candidates and the party's most conservative voters, whose support they are now avidly courting.
Giuliani spent much of his address explaining his support for gun control measures in the past, focusing heavily on his drive to fight crime. He also spoke repeatedly of appointing conservative judges to the bench.
McCain openly acknowledged his breaks with the NRA in the past, but argued that he and the group agree on the most important things, including working to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.
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Comments
So what? I'm no Rudy fan but I don't think this is a big deal. There is no way the NRA will endorse him anyway.
The Republican field is pathetic.
Posted by: nisleib | September 21, 2007 2:08 PM
Boy, Frank James sure did get his undies in a bunch because Rudy took a phone call. While I admit that most folks giving a speech don't answer their phone unless it's some sort of stunt during the speech, I don't see it as that big a deal.
And, Im beginning to think that my theory that "John E." is related to either Mark Silva, Frank James or another Trib-ite may be true. Why? Well John E has an infatuation with Rudy and that he has cross-dressed a couple of times for things like Saturday Night Live and Frank brings that up in this piece. Hmmmm, Milton Berle did it all the time. Even Matt Lauer and Katie Couric have done it. So has Justin Timberlake. And Hillary does it all the time, so what's the big deal???
Posted by: John D | September 21, 2007 2:26 PM
That's a rather bizarre, not to mention arrogant, way to behave. I've never thought much of Giuliani (in part because he has always struck me as an inconsiderate and arrogant individual), but you'd think a Presidential candidate would have more sense.
I wonder if he unwrapped his candies during the speech . . .
Posted by: jlp | September 21, 2007 2:31 PM
John D.,
Does RNC Bruce let you come out and play all by yourself or do you have to ask first?
Posted by: GOP 29% Dead-Ender Alert | September 21, 2007 2:35 PM
How extremely rude of Rudy to answer a call in the middle of a speech! So everyone had to sit still and waste their time when Rudy made nice with wife #3. I guess Rudy has not heard (or practiced) telephone etiquette. I can just see it now, if (god forbid) Rudy would get elected prez, he's in the middle of some important powwow, and wife #3 calls him! Diplomacy at its finest! I guess this all means that Rudy is quite impressed with himself (after all he did SAVE New York City) and he can do anything his little heart desires.
Posted by: Janstress | September 21, 2007 2:37 PM
It should be great fun to watch Rudy flip-flop in front of the NRA.
Rudy Gigoloiani is a psycho nutjob:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjOfBP6nRD4
Posted by: John E | September 21, 2007 2:40 PM
It is the height of disrespect to leave your cell phone on whether you are listening to or presenting a speech. What jackass for leaving it on, and even more so for not immediately routing it to voicemail. On the other hand he could be paranoid that she is going to walk out on their marriage abruptly just like he left his previous wife, so he probably needs to constantly keep tabs on where she is.
Posted by: janet | September 21, 2007 2:41 PM
It is most ignorant and disrepectful to have your cell phone on at certain places (in theatres, at hospitals, etc.). He must think he's an important guy, taking a call during a speech. Maybe it was one of his ex-wives calling. This just demonstrates that Giuliani immature, hypocritical, and self centered. I wonder how long he looks at himself in the mirror everyday.
This man is pathetic.
Posted by: Doug R. | September 21, 2007 2:59 PM
That is a pretty weird move to actually answer the phone, and then go on conversing. I think it shows that his unchecked arrogance and narcissism can be a major fault.
The first wrong move was obviously not turning it off or giving it to an aide. When he was giving $100,000-a-pop speeches, I doubt he would pull something like that. I've hired plenty of celebrity speakers and I would be a pretty unhappy client if something like that happened. When I spoke at national conference earlier this year, I forgot to turn off my phone, and my presentation partner looked like she wanted to strangle me right there when it rang for a text. I apologized, made a joke at my own further expense, and shut it off, making sure the audience knew they were my priority despite the gaffe. People understand mistakes if you make it right, not if you make it worse.
Posted by: kb | September 21, 2007 3:00 PM
Umm, Johnny D?? The people you mentioned as cross dressing were all in show business. They were not running for President of the United States. There is a bit of a difference there.
Once again, this is a blog - not a news story. On a blog, the reporters get the chance to give their PERSONAL opinions of the article. It's the way to get the conversation going here.
Posted by: BobinATL | September 21, 2007 3:17 PM
Ron Paul is by far the strongest 2nd Amendment advocate. The fact that the NRA ignores Dr Paul shows that they are more about lobbyist glad-handing than being serious about gun rights.
Posted by: Tim | September 21, 2007 3:22 PM
He handled it OK. At first it looked like a setup, however after he got off the phone with her he realized what just happened and was sheepish. I think he was natural with it and S*** happens. He was cool and this shouldn't effect anything.
Posted by: Booksdates | September 21, 2007 3:29 PM
Giuliani=Jackass
Posted by: Tom O | September 21, 2007 3:56 PM
who cares? the guy isn't gonna get anywhere either way, might as well make an ass of himself. another moron for the bigot neocons.
Posted by: smokey | September 21, 2007 4:11 PM
"Let's see now. This is my wife calling, I think," says Giuliani reaching for the phone in his pocket.
Which wife was it!!!
http://www.rudy-urbanlegend.com/
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | September 21, 2007 4:14 PM
Well since calling Republicans JACKASSES is OK by the Trib censors, can I call ALL Loony Lefties jackasses? How about dumbasses? Actually Loony Lefties are Dumbass Jackasses.
And Bobin, when Rudy "cross-dressed," he wasn't running for president.
Katie Couric and Matt Lauer are journalists (allegedly anyway) and not show business entertainers.
Posted by: John D | September 21, 2007 4:42 PM
It doesn't matter. Very few firearms owners, including me, are going to vote for Rudy of he's nominated. Or McCain, or Mitt, or most ofthe rest of the current filed. IS this the best w conservatives can do??
Posted by: A D Buck | September 21, 2007 5:16 PM
He did the same thing in June!
It's all staged!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6NB6UW6zg4
Posted by: cleftasunder | September 21, 2007 5:41 PM
I guess he'll be just as laser-mean focused onthe task at hand as our current Commander-in-Chief.
I'll say it once and I'll say it again, Giuliani is the only plausible presidential candidate who would be likely to be worse than Bush. He's got all of Bush's negative personality traits, without the offsetting "comboy" charm. The logical fascist heir to the Bush/Cheney/Rove regime.
Posted by: Distrust and Verify | September 21, 2007 6:43 PM
Having seen the clip here, it is quite awkward and not very funny.
Is the phone thing a big deal? No.
Is it awkward and best advised he end this little comic schtick? Yes.
Posted by: John D | September 21, 2007 9:39 PM
"IS this the best w conservatives can do??"
Maybe Alan Keyes can throw some cold water on them. Funny how all republicans run from him. Don't they know he's been a guest on Rush Limbaugh's radio propoganda show?
Posted by: RomanB | September 21, 2007 9:44 PM
"It's a lot better that way." What the hell does that mean? As they would have said on SNL years ago - "he's whipped." So if he's elected POTUS ( God forbid) who exactly would be running the show? Remember, now, this stupid SOB is "whipped."
Posted by: Boots | September 22, 2007 3:17 PM
[quote]
Umm, Johnny D?? The people you mentioned as cross dressing were all in show business. They were not running for President of the United States. There is a bit of a difference there.
Posted by: BobinATL | September 21, 2007 3:17 PM
[/quote]
BobinATL - you're wasting your time. John D, "the Joseph Stalin of Streamwood", is either too stupid or too arrogant (probably both) to ever see the validity of your point.
Posted by: BC | September 22, 2007 7:16 PM
The serial gun-grabber (proven countless times while mayor of a Bluest-of-blue northeastern-corridor inner-city), who has no real understanding of the 2nd Amendment, had one of his handlers call him because he was speaking to NRA members and COMPLETELY botching the words of the 2nd Amendment. He started talking about the 2nd, by quoting the 4th! His aide: "Yeah rudy, I'll call you if you F**k up, and you can pretend it's your wife" 9by the way, he's used this little trick before). What an absolute liberal, lying, arrogant, elitist, a-hole. Republicans, especially CONSERVATIVE gun owners who revere, support, and defend all of our Constitutional rights, including our 2A, should outright REJECT this lying, jack-booted thug of a lawyer/politician. He's nothing more than a liberal with an (R) next to his name.
Posted by: csadoc | September 23, 2007 11:21 PM
LOL!
That would have been so much cuter, had rotten rudy been wearing one of his pretty dresses.
Posted by: rage | September 24, 2007 5:21 PM
It could've been worse - it might have been a gun!
Posted by: William Kennedy | October 2, 2007 1:47 PM