COLMES: Well, he had [inaudible]. He didn't do it, because he couldn't do it. We've argued this many times on this show; he didn't have the opportunity to do it. Let me show you --
LUNTZ: But what did Rudy Giuliani do? He talked about leadership. The reason why he's still leading right now is because the number-two attribute after somebody who says what they mean and means what they say -- the number-two attribute that the American people want in a president is a leader in times of crisis. Does that not define Rudy Giuliani?
COLMES: No, not to me -- but now -- but some people, maybe it does. But let me show you what Fred Thompson --
LUNTZ: Most people it does.
From the March 2 edition of Hannity & Colmes:
COLMES: Where's the problem for Hillary here?
LUNTZ: The problem is that the American people want you -- as I am with you right now -- they want to look you straight in the eye and they want you to say what you mean and mean what you say and not hide anything.
This is someone who consistently -- you heard me in the program earlier this week -- praised John Edwards' language --
COLMES: Yep.
LUNTZ: -- praised Barack Obama's language.
COLMES: Yep. Hey Frank --
LUNTZ: But Hillary Clinton -- her language is inconsistent. It has always been because she's not honest with the American people about where she stands.
From the February 10 edition of CNBC's The Tim Russert Show:
TIM RUSSERT (host): Short words, short sentences: Credibility is as important as philosophy. Explain.
LUNTZ: It means that you have to genuinely say what you mean and mean what you say. Words don't work -- despite the title -- words don't work if they don't seem to reflect what people can see, what they can feel. And if you've got a politician or a CEO who's making claims that things are really good when they're not, the public will reject them.
Give you an example on the Republican side: The Republicans in 2004 tried so hard to convince the American people that the tax cuts, if they passed, were responsible for the economy -- things would have been a lot worse. The American people felt the tax cuts were justified to end wasteful Washington spending, but they did not give credit to the tax cuts for where the economy was at. And every time a Republican said it, people didn't believe it.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
