Rudy Giuliani in State of Florida Archives
On Budget & Economy:
Get economy back on track based on growth principles
When I became mayor, the economy of New York was in very bad shape--tremendous deficits, ten-and-a-half percent unemployment, 300,000 jobs gone. We turned that around, cut unemployment by more than half, brought in 450,000 new jobs, and we cut
taxes by 17 percent. We did it based on growth principles, exactly the principles that are in the growth package that was introduced in Congress yesterday, which the Club for Growth said is the best stimulus for growth they’ve seen in a very long time.
Source: 2008 GOP debate in Boca Raton Florida
Jan 24, 2008
On Civil Rights:
Comfortable with trying to reach voters in Spanish
Q: Your immigration plan calls for all immigrants to learn English to gain citizenship. So why is your campaign airing an ad in Spanish?A: This is a country that is built around the English language. If you want to become a citizen, you should
demonstrate your facility with English. If you know other languages, that is a wonderful thing. If we have substantial portions of populations that know other languages, I’m very comfortable trying to reach them in both English and in Spanish.
Source: 2008 GOP debate in Boca Raton Florida
Jan 24, 2008
On Energy & Oil:
Support the technologies that improve alternative energy use
The very best way to reduce carbon emission is to support the technologies that are alternatives that can save the environment, and to get us to the point where those technologies can actually take over. We haven’t licensed a nuclear power plant in 30
years. We need to expand the use of hybrid vehicles. We need to expand the use of clean coal. Carbon sequestration is expensive, but it’s a process that works. We have more coal reserves in the US than they have oil reserves in Saudi Arabia. I prefer
incentives for these new industries. Same thing is true with biofuels. We should expand biofuels, the way Brazil has done. We should expand wind, solar, hydroelectric. We should expand natural gas, liquid natural gas. We should have a project like puttin
the man on a moon, the way we did back in the ‘50s and ‘60s. It should be a major national project, to be energy independent. That’s a matter of national security. It’s also the best way, the very best way, to protect against global warming.
Source: 2008 GOP debate in Boca Raton Florida
Jan 24, 2008
On Free Trade:
China is a great opportunity and a great caution for the US
The reality is that China is a great opportunity for the US and a great caution for the US. It’s a great opportunity for us to engage in trade, and the more America engages in trade, the more we get to know a country, the less likely we are to have
military hostilities. We should be working with China to try to push down some of these barriers; protection for intellectual property; rule of law; an ability to sue in China, so you can be protected if you’re doing business there. We’ve got to be very
careful about what we import from China, from the point of view of safety and security, not as much from the point of view of our economy. We have to look at the rise of China as a wonderful opportunity. I see 20 or 30 million people coming out of povert
in China every year. That’s 20 or 30 million more customers for the US. That’s 20 or 30 million more people we can be selling things to. What can we sell to China? We can sell them energy independence, health processes, and information processes.
Source: 2008 GOP debate in Boca Raton Florida
Jan 24, 2008
On Immigration:
A special policy for Cuban immigrants fleeing Castro
Q: Why a special policy for a Cuban immigrant?A: Well, of course, this was developed in the 1960s, because the longest dictatorship, I believe, in the modern world, is the one of Fidel Castro. The presumption is that if you’re fleeing Fidel
Castro, given decades and decades of murder, oppression--including, most recently, the way he cracked down on Brothers to the Rescue, all of these things--there’s a presumption in the immigration law that if you’re fleeing Fidel
Castro, you’re fleeing political persecution. In every other situation, you have to prove it. If you can prove that you’re fleeing political persecution, you’ll be accepted. We’ve had this exception now for, what, for
40 years? And I think it’s a fair one, given the history of Castro, which is a pretty unusual one. And he is the longest-standing dictator, certainly in this hemisphere, I believe in the world.
Source: 2008 GOP debate in Boca Raton Florida
Jan 24, 2008
On Immigration:
Support tamper-proof ID card and path to citizenship
The core of my plan on immigration is to stop illegal immigration at the border with a BorderStat system, with technology, with an increased Border Patrol. We can stop illegal immigration if we stop it right at the border. We should develop a tamper-proo
ID card for people who want to come into the US. We need to teach new behavior. The new behavior is, if you want to come into the US, you have to identify yourself. You can’t get into most countries without identifying yourself.
If you’ve got the tamper-proof ID card, you’d be allowed to work, pay taxes, get online, become a citizen, follow the rules, but then at the end of the line, you’d have to be able to read, write and speak English. If you speak a second language or a
third language or a fourth language, that’s great. The US has to be a country that has facility with more languages, given the global economy we live in. But the focus has to be on being able to read, write and speak English if you want to be a citizen.
Source: 2008 GOP debate in Boca Raton Florida
Jan 24, 2008
On Jobs:
FactCheck: Cut unemployment substantially, but not in half
Giuliani claimed: “When I became mayor the economy of NYC was in very, very bad shape--tremendous deficits, ten-and-a-half-percent unemployment, 300,000 jobs gone. We turned that around, cut unemployment by more than half, brought in 450,000 new jobs.”Any way you look at it, though, Giuliani’s being misleading. In December 2001, his last month in office, the unadjusted rate was 7.5%, the same as the adjusted rate. There was just one month, May 2001, when the
unadjusted rate fell to 5.0%, the only one during his tenure when he could claim to have cut unemployment “by more than half.” In our judgment, it’s deceptive for Giuliani to cherry-pick a month to compare to the rate in the month he was inaugurated.
Source: FactCheck.org on 2008 GOP debate in Boca Raton Florida
Jan 24, 2008
On Tax Reform:
Reduce the capital gains tax, permanently
Q: You’ve in the past supported a wide array of tax cuts. Do you think it’s a mistake that they’re not in Bush’s economic stimulus package? A: I think this package, for what it does, is okay, and I would support it, but it doesn’t go far enough.
I think in the face of what’s been going on, which obviously is a matter of serious concern, we should be very aggressive. [I support] legislation introduced that would be the largest tax reduction in American history.
It would take the Bush tax cuts, make them permanent, reduce the corporate tax, reduce the capital gains tax, reduce taxes on those things that would allow business to see America as more competitive.
And you almost don’t have a distinction any longer between temporary and permanent in the kind of an economy that we live in.
Source: 2008 GOP debate in Boca Raton Florida
Jan 24, 2008
On War & Peace:
The Iraq war was worth the price in blood and treasure
Q: Was the war a good idea and worth the price in blood and treasure?A: I was for it when six out of 10 were for it; I’m for it when six out of 10 are against it. I’m for it not because of polls but because America is in a war, an Islamic terrorist
war against us. America has to succeed in Iraq. And the goal in Iraq is an Iraq that’s stable and an ally of the US. To be president of the US, you have to be able to read polls, but you can’t have them push you around.
Source: 2008 GOP debate in Boca Raton Florida
Jan 24, 2008
On Abortion:
Would probably not sign federal ban on all abortions
Q: If hypothetically, Roe v. Wade was overturned, and the Congress passed a federal ban on all abortions and it came to your desk, would you sign it?A: I probably would not sign it.
I would leave it to the states to make that decision. I think that the problem with Roe against Wade is that it took the decision away from the states.
Source: 2007 GOP YouTube debate in St. Petersburg, Florida
Nov 28, 2007
On Budget & Economy:
Across-the-board spending cuts; zero out failing programs
Q: What would you do to reduce pork spending?A: I think you have to do across-the-board spending cuts the way Ronald Reagan. There are about 3 percent of programs that OMB finds every year are failing. They should be zeroed out.
Source: 2007 GOP YouTube debate in St. Petersburg, Florida
Nov 28, 2007
On Gun Control:
Government can impose reasonable regulations on guns
Q: Why do you believe that citizens should be required to pass an exam in order to exercise their right to protect themselves and their families?A: We have to be very aggressive about enforcing the gun laws that exist.
The Second Amendment gives people an individual right to keep and to bear arms; however, [the] Government can impose reasonable regulations.
Source: 2007 GOP YouTube debate in St. Petersburg, Florida
Nov 28, 2007
On Homeland Security:
Remain on offense against Islamic terrorism
Q: What would you do as president to repair the image of America in the eyes of the Muslim world?A: The most important thing to do is to make certain we remain on offense against Islamic terrorism.
Then make it clear that what that means is this is a small group of people, Islamic terrorists, who have defiled a great religion
Source: 2007 GOP YouTube debate in St. Petersburg, Florida
Nov 28, 2007
On Immigration:
BorderStat & virtual fence: just stop people from coming in
Q: Will you continue to aid and abet the flight of illegal aliens into this country?A: The federal policies weren’t working, stopping people coming into the United States. If I were president of the United States,
I could do something about that by deploying a fence, by deploying a virtual fence, by having a BorderStat system like my COMSTAT system that brought down crime in New York, and just stopping people from coming in, and then having a tamper-proof ID card.
Source: 2007 GOP YouTube debate in St. Petersburg, Florida
Nov 28, 2007
On Principles & Values:
Bible is greatest book ever written, but it’s allegorical
Q: Do you believe every word of this book [The Holy Bible]?A: The reality is, I believe it, but I don’t believe it’s necessarily literally true in every single respect. I think there are parts of the Bible that are interpretive.
I think there are parts of the Bible that are allegorical. So, yes, I believe it. I think it’s the great book ever written. I read it frequently.
Source: 2007 GOP YouTube debate in St. Petersburg, Florida
Nov 28, 2007
On Civil Rights:
No Marriage Amendment needed now, but maybe if DOMA fails
Q: You said that if DOMA were to fail, or states began to legalize gay marriage, you would [withdraw your opposition to] a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.A: I do not believe under the state that presently exists, with the Defense of
Marriage Act and basically one state that has by judicial fiat created same-sex marriage--I don’t think we need a constitutional amendment at this point. If a lot of states start to do that--5 or 6 states--then we should have a constitutional amendment.
Source: 2007 GOP primary debate in Orlando, Florida
Oct 21, 2007
On Education:
Empower parents to decide parochial, charter, or home school
I want to tell you a little story, because this is the thing that made me feel very strongly about choice. There was a school scholarship program about 1997. They offered 2,500 scholarships to parents of public school children in NYC if they wanted to
send their child to a private school, a parochial school, a charter school. We had 168,000 applications by those parents. We had to turn most of them down. We had to tell them because they don’t have enough money, they couldn’t put the child in the
school of their choice. It seems to me the thing that’s wrong right at the core of No Child Left Behind is the enforcer of standards should not be the bureaucrat in Washington or on the board of education. It should be the parent. We should empower
parents. They should decide--private school, parochial school, public school, charter school, home school.
Why should a government bureaucrat be sending 168,000 children to failing schools when parents think they can do better for their children?
Source: 2007 GOP primary debate in Orlando, Florida
Oct 21, 2007
On Education:
NYC public school system dysfunctional & should be blown up
Q: You said that the NYC school system was “no good and beyond redemption”; that it was “dysfunctional and should be blown up.” A lot of teachers, frankly, hated you, sir. The No Child Bill has already alienated a lot of the nation’s teachers.
Why are you the person to bring them back in the fold and how would you do it? A: What we need is choice.
Q: That’s going to bring back public school teachers?
Q: Well, I love teachers. But I really care about the kids more.
Source: 2007 GOP primary debate in Orlando, Florida
Oct 21, 2007
On Families & Children:
Conservative record:I drove pornography out of Times Square
Q: [to Giuliani]: Sen. Thompson says that you’re soft on abortion, that you’re soft on gun control, & that you’ve never claimed to be a conservative. Who is more conservative: you or Fred Thompson? GIULIANI: I can’t comment on Fred. I can tell you tha
George Will wrote that I ran the most conservative government in the US in the last 50 years. I brought down crime more than anyone in this country. I brought down taxes. I drove pornography out of Times Square. In that environment--one of the most
liberal cities in the country--I had more success than anyone ever thought I could have. So I think that was a pretty darn good conservative record. You can always find one exception or two to someone being absolutely conservative or absolutely this or
absolutely that, but I think I had a heck of a lot of conservative results.
THOMPSON: Mayor Giuliani believes in federal funding for abortion. He believes in sanctuary cities. He’s for gun control. He sides with Hillary Clinton on each of those issues.
Source: 2007 GOP primary debate in Orlando, Florida
Oct 21, 2007
On Government Reform:
Supports tort reform like “loser pays” rule
GIULIANI: Fred was the single biggest obstacle to tort reform in the US Senate. He stood with Democrats over and over again. He voted against $250,000 caps on damages, which they have in Texas. He voted against almost anything that would make our legal
system fairer: loser pays rules, things that would prevent lawsuits like that $54 million lawsuit by that guy who lost his pants--you know? That cost that family $100,000 in legal fees. I think the man should have to pay the family for the $100,000.
Fred Thompson, along with very few Republicans, blocked tort reform over and over and over again. THOMPSON: I supported tort reform with regard to securities legislation. I supported tort reform with regard to product liability legislation,
things that have to do with interstate commerce. I think it appropriately passed. I supported and worked for those things. Local issues belong at the state level. Most states have passed tort reform. That’s our system. It’s not all federalized.
Source: 2007 GOP primary debate in Orlando, Florida
Oct 21, 2007
On Health Care:
Medicare and Medicaid need a private solution
Medicare & Medicaid are presently more expensive than Social Security. And within 10 years, they’ll be twice as expensive. So they’re going to go bankrupt a lot faster. And they need a private solution as well [as a private solution for Social Security].
What we need to do if we’re going to bring down the cost of Medicare and Medicaid is bring down the cost of the entire health insurance market. If we have 50 million or 60 million people who bought their own health insurance, the price of health
insurance would be cut in more than half. The people who aren’t presently covered with health insurance are not the poorest people; they’re covered with Medicaid. The people who are presently not covered are all consumers. They have consumer power.
They have to start getting into that market. It’s the only way in which you bring down costs. If you start to establish a private market, you’re going to be able to figure out how to solve these things within costs that are sustainable.
Source: 2007 GOP primary debate in Orlando, Florida
Oct 21, 2007
On Immigration:
Sanctuary city policy helped make NYC most legal city in US
THOMPSON: I voted for and we passed an anti-sanctuary city bill, outlawed them. Mayor Giuliani went to court, filed suit himself to overturn our abolition of sanctuary cities. And, fortunately, he lost.
GIULIANI: New York City had a policy of allowing people who are illegal immigrants to report crime and to put their children in school. Otherwise, we reported every single illegal immigrant that committed a crime.
The results were pretty darn good. I brought down crime by over 60%. I brought down homicide by 67%. I had the most legal city in the country. And I took the crime capital of America and I turned it into the safest large city in the country.
The senator has never had executive responsibility. He’s never had the weight of people’s safety and security on his shoulders. I have. And I think I out-performed any expectations.
Source: 2007 GOP primary debate in Orlando, Florida
Oct 21, 2007
On Social Security:
Get a consensus behind private accounts
I think the reality is that we have to deal with Social Security. The first thing we have to do is get a consensus behind private accounts if we’re going to change it. And the fact is, Medicare and Medicaid and presently more expensive than
Social Security. So I think in both cases, if you start to establish a private market, you’re going to be able to figure out how to solve these things within costs that are sustainable.
Source: 2007 GOP primary debate in Orlando, Florida
Oct 21, 2007
Page last updated: Jan 28, 2021