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Topic: Is Giuliani's Wife Fair Game?
| Author | Message |
| Dylan | Posted – 4/3/2007 9:07:20 AM | show profile | email poster Background here: Giuliani to Media: Lay Off My Wife (CBS News) The former New York City mayor is fending off increased media scrutiny of his third wife — the former Judith Nathan. Rudy is now asking the media to back off. "Attack me all you want," Giuliani said. "There's plenty to attack me about. Please do it. But maybe, you know, show a little decency." That's a tough sell for a man who, if elected, suggested he might invite his wife into cabinet meetings. So, is she fair game for the media? Or should the media, as Rudy suggested, lay off? ------ Dylan Stableford managing editor, media news |
| anna28 | Posted – 4/3/2007 9:30:30 AM | show profile | email poster Absolutely. Is Bill Clinton fair game for Hillary or Elizabeth Edwards for John? When you make your wife the story as they did in the interview, then you take the heat. Guiliana's problem is that he is not really a national politician. He acts like he is running for a New York office again and not to be president. Now I would love to see an interview with Donna! |
| jen141 | Posted – 4/3/2007 9:30:43 AM | show profile Re: Giuliani to Media If I remember reports in local media at the time correctly, his current wife was driven around in a limousine paid for with tax dollars when she was his mistress and still married to his ex-wife. Given that, and that the then-mayor was very vocal about morality issues such as the Chris Ofili work displayed at the Brooklyn Museum that he felt was anti-Catholic, then yes, she should be held up to scrutiny. If Mr Giuliani is going to use his post as candidate and President to discuss the morality of others, and his party certainly is going to do so, then his own morality and that of his wife is fair game. |
| KvetcherInTheRye | Posted – 4/3/2007 9:56:15 AM | show profile "The horror, the horror" Let's ask his Decency Commission! |
| pgo | Posted – 4/3/2007 10:05:30 AM | show profile Giuliani's wife, is she fair game? That phrase "fair game" is incredibly annoying, but whether it's legit to discuss Rudy's wife is a fair subject. And talking about her, and their relationship, is fair, too. He's lived this life in a fishbowl as part of his public life when he was NYC mayor, and it's fair for the public to look at the way the pair conducted themselves. 'Specially if Rudy thinks his wife is advisor-quality and should come into his administration. Looks like someone told this guy to take a lesson from Georgie W. and try to put his wife "off limits" early on. Worked for George and his outrageously cheeky twins, didn't it? We had the press talking about Chelsea being homely (trashing a pre-teen kid!), and then we had the press barely noticing Bush's under-age daughters drinking and carry on "a la Daddy." Nice trick, if you can pull it off. |
| spcarr | Posted – 4/3/2007 10:06:37 AM | show profile After what the Republicans did to Hillary before and during her time as First Lady, Rudy's wife should receive similar treatment. She and her husband have both made her a public figure. Also, Rudy's divorce of wife #2 and affair with future wife #3 while he was mayor was very public indeed. When you tell your wife that you're getting a divorce via press conference, you have surrendered privacy. |
| constant weeder | Posted – 4/3/2007 10:09:27 AM | show profile Is Giuliani's Wife Fair Game? Sure, if she's nabbed in a federal sting operation or cold-cocks a paparrazi. But to harp on the fact that she's been married three times? I'd say reporters just have too much time on their hands. There are more important stories out there to cover. Just recently, a woman told me she couldn't vote for John Kerry because she didn't like his wife. Is this the kind of thinking we want to encourage? As I pointed out to this poor misguided soul, we don't elect First Ladies. |
| caitlinkelly | Posted – 4/3/2007 10:22:07 AM | show profile I think it's hypocritical. If Giuliani plans to invite his wife into Cabinet meetings (!), I want to know a lot more about her character and her prior decision-making, professional or private. If you're going to make your wife so central to your decision-making, then you're making her someone that voters have every right to "know" as best they can. I'm not impressed by their multiple marriages, as it's not the most important factor, but it does raise the question for some voters of how many failed marriages it *does* take to raise questions about your judgement? |
| KvetcherInTheRye | Posted – 4/3/2007 10:31:34 AM | show profile Mrs. Romney's remark btw, this might be a good place to offer a clarification on the comment by Mitt Romney's wife about his having "only one wife." I didn't think she was taking a swipe at Rudy and McCain; I thought she was just making it clear that her husband wasn't a Mormon polygamist. |
| jazzdiva2 | Posted – 4/3/2007 10:37:02 AM | show profile Rudy's wife Well, was Hillary discussed when Bill Clinton was in office? Was Kerry's wife discussed when he was running? The answer is a resounding yes. Why would Rudy expect anything different? I grew up a minister's kid, so I know when in a fishbowl that is not your choosing, it can be annoying. But the fact is, a public figure's family is going to be involved, and that must be accepted by all at the get-go. I was truly a little alarmed when I heard he may invite his wife to Cabinet meetings, however. What would qualify her to sit in and speak up? He certainly can glean her opinion and seek her guidance and understanding privately. I wonder why it is that the morality mongers don't want their families in the limelight? Could it be they know they could not stand up to scrutiny, and that what they profess in terms of morality does not always get played out on the homefront? Jean in Greenville, South Carolina |
| seeattleme | Posted – 4/3/2007 11:22:02 AM | show profile Guiliani's electability problems will involve many things--he's lucky if his wife is the main thing the media has focused on thus far. |
| ninian.reid | Posted – 4/3/2007 11:59:12 AM | show profile STAND YOUR GROUND , GENTLEMEN AND WOMEN OF THE PRESS Yes, as a potential First Lady , she's very much fair game , in my book. |
| Village Gal | Posted – 4/3/2007 12:59:48 PM | show profile Of course, she is fair game. The answer is so obvious that I can't believe this question was even posed. Must be slow day at Media Bistro offices. |
| kim.cochrane | Posted – 4/3/2007 1:01:52 PM | show profile | email poster Absolutely... I understand Giuliani's concern for his wife, but as a public figure, he should understand that nothing is sacred, not even children or families. I understand his concern, but that's a part of the life of a public figure and he better get used to it. |
| wcooke | Posted – 4/3/2007 1:13:05 PM | show profile Giuliani's candidacy is over already. The Republicans may be desperate but this guy isn't the answer. |
| upper west sider | Posted – 4/3/2007 2:29:51 PM | show profile Giuliani's wife - fair game Of, course, "Nursie," as I call her has been given front row center in his campaign so far. Why shouldn't she suffer the "slings and arrows" of public scrutiny? And, since "Nursie" will be attending cabinet meetings and serves as his "advisor," all the more reason to take a close look at her -- the question is, do we want "Nursie" influencing public policy? |
| jbgnyc | Posted – 4/3/2007 2:50:12 PM | show profile | email poster I Giuliani's Wife Fair Game It never ceases to amaze me how bullies crumble once somebody pushes back. First Rudi and Judy are thrown in our faces (remember how she marched down Fifth Avenue with him in the St. Pat's parade while his divorce was still pending??). Then they offer themselves up on NATIONAL TV (20/20) and say lots of silly things (like her attending White House meetings) and then they get upset when America publically reacts to all these PUBLIC displays. Good grief, Rudy. Get over yourself!!! This is still (still) a democracy. King Rudy: you can't tell your subjects what to do. |
| jerrys46 | Posted – 4/3/2007 4:20:31 PM | show profile | email poster giuliani's wife his wife is the least of his problems. everyone in NY knows all about mr & mrs guilani (both of them), so what's the big deal? what should be more important is that guiliani was one of the worst mayors in nyc history, a racist, a divider -- and those are his good points. maybe he'll let bernie kerik attend his cabinet meetings, too -- along with other corrupt, deceitful and dishonests members of his "administration." |
| kiki.s | Posted – 4/3/2007 10:35:07 PM | show profile | email poster rudi+judi Mental image: the make-out photo in the Post. Ewww. They are open to all criticism after that hideousness. I haven't seen any transcripts, but has anyone kept track of how soon and how often they say "9-11" at each and every opportunity? I hear that the White House protocol office has already announced that if he wins his bid for the White House, she will not be known as "First Lady." She will officially be "Third Wife." Oh, please, please, let him get the Republican nomination. |
| yesvirginia | Posted – 4/4/2007 11:28:45 AM | show profile Rudy and Judy Sure, his wife and he should be put under the public spotlight. Every other couple is. Let's not forget that Rudy had a huge affair with his press secretary -- a woman who then went on to head the NYC Dept. of Tourism - prior to getting involved with Judith Nathan. And they have put themselves into "harm's way" by posing for such "lovey dovey" photos for Vanity Fair. And, the interviews they do, "oh, so in love." Gimme a break. America's Mayor better get used to it. When it serves him, he loves the spotlight. When it gets too hot though, he cries "unfair." |
| writing | Posted – 4/4/2007 6:32:59 PM | show profile she's fair game, tangentially. If she wants to stay out of the spotlight then she should. Deans' wife was able to, within reason, but she has to make the decision to stay out entirely. |
| seeattleme | Posted – 4/4/2007 6:33:51 PM | show profile What about his horrible taste in women's clothing? When is that going to become a pertinent issue?? |
| cpinck1 | Posted – 4/9/2007 3:59:16 PM | show profile Yes, definitely. Rudy always behaved like he could stand the heat whatever it was so deal with the scrutiny Nathanson will have to undego. She is no angel after all, she was dating a married man. When did this become behavior that should be ignored? The media should back off because he says so? I don't think so. This is a presidential campaign. Everything is fair game. Rudy, you wanted this dog now walk it. When Nathanson started throwing aound how her nursing background was instrumental in saving lives during 911, she was using the overused Rudy line. If they are going to be on the same page using 911 as their campaign slogan then yes, she is fair game. Deal with it Rudy. |
| 212lifer | Posted – 4/9/2007 9:32:48 PM | show profile is giuliani's wife fair game As Harry S. Truman once said, 'if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen". Police Commish Bratton invented neighborhood policing with John Marple and a computer. When Bratton started getting media attention and the credit for the reduced crime rates, Rudi fired him and replaced him with Bernie Kerik, whose affair with a married prison guard is back in the headlines. Rudi's affair with his press secretary, now NYC tourism boss, was an open secret. Donna Hanover, classy lady she is, smiled bravely through it all. And Judi? She wore a diamond tiara for her wedding. What does that tell you? Divisive, manipulative, petulant, revengeful. Oops, sorry, I meant Giuliani, not Bush. Both. |
