For nearly seven years Rudy Giuliani was Mayor of New York City, and thanks to his tough stance on crime, for a period was extremely popular, winning a second term in office by an impressive 59 percent.
How things change.
A lawyer for President Trump in the Russia investigation since April, Giuliani can be seen frequently on TV espousing outrageous theories to defend his client.
He’s no longer the darling of America’s largest metropolis– which was just publicly demonstrated in a most graphic way.
Today, Giuliani was in attendance at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, one of the five boroughs of New York City, and it was announced on the scoreboard that it was his birthday.
The reaction was immediate and loud.
At Yankee stadium: “The Yankees wish a happy birthday to former Mayor Rudy Giuliani.”
Thunderous boos rained across the stadium.
— Adrian Carrasquillo (@Carrasquillo) May 28, 2018
Another concurred.
Yankee Stadium just wished Mayor Giuliani happy birthday on centerfield board … crowd booed … hard.
— David Rothschild (@DavMicRot) May 28, 2018
The animosity that Giuliani generates is not limited to New York City but the fact that the one-time hometown hero is now the subject of boo birds speaks to what has happened to his reputation both professionally and personally.
Let’s start with professionally, a period marked by an almost bizarre series of TV news appearances and controversial statements by Giuliani, some so off the wall that even the president has had to call him on his lies afterward.
What makes America great is the Rule of Law. Defense attorneys like Rudy Giuliani don't get to decide if a law enforcement investigation is legitimate, or if evidence seized can be admitted. The Judicial Branch makes that call. And in some instances, Congress can decide. https://t.co/ydWRfqUQBQ
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) May 27, 2018
Then, there is the anger toward him personally, as well.
I served with Jim Clapper. Bob Mueller is a combat decorated Marine. Each has had 1 wife (over 100 years of marriage). Rudy Giuliani and @realDonaldTrump had more deferments (10) to avoid facing harm’s way than they’ve had wives (6 … so far). I know who I trust. @CNNSotu
— Col. Morris Davis (@ColMorrisDavis) May 27, 2018
Even today, Giuliani was off-key in making inappropriate comments on the day the nation has set aside to remember and honor veterans.
“Rudy Giuliani,” wrote Share Blue today, “who avoided the draft just like Trump, used Memorial Day weekend to insult the service of distinguished veterans.”
That was a reference to Giuliani’s appearance yesterday on CNN’s State of the Union, where he was asked about Trump’s recent attacks on retired General James Clapper, former head of U.S. intelligence services, and John Brennan, former head of the CIA, both of whom are decorated military veterans.
“I have no regard at all for Clapper and Brennan,” said Giuliani. “I think they are two clowns.”
When CNN’s Dana Bash challenged Giuliani’s comment that they “are not civil servants, as far as I know,” Bash asked him about their “decades of service in the military?”
“There are a lot of people with decades of service, some good, some bad,” Giuliani said. “Some get consumed with power, and some … begin to lie.”
Odd comment from Giuliani, who represents a president who has been documented to lie at a rate unprecedented for any president in American history; and who, as his lawyer, frequently goes to the news media to carry those lies forward as part of what even he has admitted is just a ploy to influence public opinion.
Rudy Giuliani Admits Attacks On Mueller Are To Sway 'Public Opinion' https://t.co/IdQxknBnfO
— #TheResistance (@SocialPowerOne1) May 28, 2018
So those boos that greeted Giuliani in the Bronx stand for the many Americans who are disgusted by what he has become, by the approach he takes as Trump’s attack dog lawyer and by his own lack of personal accountability for what he does in his professional and in his checkered personal life.
