This morning at the meeting of the Association of State Democratic Chairs, DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz addressed the troubling remarks made by former mayor and former GOP presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani and the silence of Republican leaders. View a transcript of the Chair’s remarks below:
“Now let me say a final serious word about this Republican field. For six years the Republican Party has been defined by one thing and one thing only: opposition to President Barack Obama.
“Sure, we have policy differences, and we should talk about them. Sure, we have big differences over the direction we should take the country; we should talk about those too. But for them, it’s more than that. It’s personal, and it’s ugly, and there’s no sign of it getting better.
Let that sink in for a moment.
“A leader of the Republican Party said that the President doesn’t love us, and doesn’t love the country.
“Now, in fairness, the Mayor did clarify his remarks this morning…. On Fox News, naturally. What he said was, I’m not questioning his patriotism. I’m just saying he doesn’t love America like we do.
“I’m glad we got that cleared up.
“In all seriousness, I rarely agreed with President Bush, but I never questioned his love for our country. I don’t often agree with my Republican colleagues on the Hill, but I know they love America.
“Is this what it’s really come to? Really?
“And here’s the kicker – Giuliani made those remarks at a small event attended by Scott Walker. One of the GOP frontrunners was sitting just feet away, and didn’t say a word. If the Republican Party really wants to be taken seriously…really wants to avoid its problems of the past…now is the time for its leaders to stop this kind of nonsense. Enough.
“We must give a little credit where it’s due. There is a precedent. In 2008, when the ugly head of bigotry against Barack Obama reared its head, John McCain famously stood up, and said ‘enough’.
“Jeb Bush. Scott Walker. Marco Rubio. Now it’s your turn. Chris Christie. Ted Cruz. Rand Paul. Stand up, say ‘enough’. Lindsey Graham, Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum, Ben Carson, Mike Pence, John Kasich, and the rest of you. In fact, I would challenge my Republican colleagues and anyone in the Republican Party to say enough. They need to start leading.”