USA Today: Giuliani is “half Woody Allen, half Rambo and 100% cerebral”
Written by Matt Gertz
Published
In an August 23 article on former New York City mayor and Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani's recent campaign swing through New Hampshire, USA Today reporter Jill Lawrence wrote: “Suffice it to say Republicans have never had a presidential candidate like this -- half Woody Allen, half Rambo and 100% cerebral.”
This is the first time Media Matters for America has documented a news outlet comparing Giuliani to the fictional character John Rambo, the Medal of Honor-winning former Green Beret portrayed by Sylvester Stallone in numerous action films. However, media figures have repeatedly depicted Giuliani as a tough guy:
- On the June 12 edition of MSNBC's Morning Joe, MSNBC host Chris Matthews called Giuliani a “street fighter,” adding, “He was there on the curb when 9-11 struck. He had soot on his face.”
- On the May 16 edition of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann, CNBC chief Washington correspondent and Wall Street Journal national political editor John Harwood, comparing Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Giuliani, claimed: “Rudy Giuliani also has a bit of a claim to combat in a different way, because he was on the ground in 9-11.”
- On the May 2 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, Matthews asked Mike DuHaime, campaign manager for Giuliani: “Who would win a street fight ... Rudy Giuliani or [Iranian] President [Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad, who would win that fight?” Matthews said that the fight would take place “over in Queens somewhere ... a dark night, it's about 2 in the morning. Two guys are out behind the building, right?” DuHaime responded, “I am putting my money on Rudy on that one.” Matthews added, “If [Giuliani] wins that notion, he is the next president.”
- In a May 29 front-page profile of Giuliani -- headlined “To Temper Image, Giuliani Trades Growl for Smile” -- New York Times reporter Michael Powell wrote that Giuliani is a “commanding daddy of a candidate” and “is the father” when compared with other presidential candidates of both parties.