NEWS AND OPINION:
As mayor of New York City during the 9/11 attacks, Rudy Giuliani watched someone leap to their death from one of the burning Twin Towers and immediately called the events “horrible and vicious acts of terrorism.” He later attended the funerals of 200 first responders. Mr. Giuliani, who also served as associate attorney general in the Reagan administration, has weighed in on President Obama’s reluctance to characterize the origins of the Orlando nightclub attack.
“I can’t help but realize, having been in the federal bureaucracy for 17 years, that the words of the president have to have an impact on the FBI. There’s no question they have to have an impact. This absolute, completely inane inability to say ’Islamic extremist terrorism’ is one of the reasons I think the people in San Bernardino never reported to the FBI,” Mr. Giuliani told Fox News, referring to local citizens who withheld pertinent information about the Muslims who would kill 14 people, because they were wary of “racial profiling.”
“It’s one of the reasons why the FBI maybe doesn’t want to show too much zealousness. They might be regarded as being overzealous in the pursuit of Arab Americans or Islamic Americans,” Mr. Giuliani advised.
Mr. Obama, however, continues to defend his choice of words.
“For a while now, the main contribution some of my friends on the other side of the aisle have made in the fight against ISIL is to criticize this administration and me for not using the phrase ’radical Islam.’ That’s the key, they tell us. We can’t beat ISIL unless we call them radical Islamists. What exactly would using this label accomplish? What exactly would it change?” the president asked.
“Would it make ISIL less committed to trying to kill Americans? Would it bring in more allies? Is there a military strategy that is served by this? The answer is none of the above. Calling a threat by a different name does not make it go away. This is a political distraction,” Mr. Obama reasoned.
FOR THE LEXICON
“Watergateski”
— Convenient term coined by Stephen Green for the news that Russian government hackers broke into a computer database at the Democratic National Committee. “Of course, Moscow got the really juicy stuff off of Hillary Clinton’s personal and illegal email server years ago,” observes Mr. Green, an editor for PJ Media who writes under the name “Vodka Pundit.”
PREDICTABLE HEADLINE OF THE DAY
“Networks censor Chick-fil-A’s help in Orlando blood drives after shooting.”
— from Newsbusters.com analyst Katie Yoder, who discovered that the broadcast networks did not even acknowledge the traditionally Christian-minded restaurant’s effort to open Sunday and provide free meals for police, EMTs and the LGBT community following the attack.
“ABC, CBS and NBC didn’t say a word,” Ms. Yoder noted after monitoring morning and evening news shows from Sunday until Tuesday.
TRUMP’S BUMP
“Hillary Clinton’s lead over Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential race has narrowed since late last week,” reports a new Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted since the Orlando shooting rampage Sunday.
The survey, which was released late Tuesday, showed Mrs. Clinton with an 11-point lead over Mr. Trump, down from the 13-point lead she had in the same poll the previous five days.
DON’T FORGET THE HUSHPUPPIES
Step aside, now. The Catfish Farmers of America will host its annual “Capitol Catfish Fry” on Wednesday within steps of the U.S. Capitol. On hand for the tasty time: Sen. John Boozman, Arkansas Republican; William James, former chief veterinarian for the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service; and Roger Barlow, executive director of the nonprofit trade association, which is based in Mississippi.
It is a happy group at the moment. For the first time, rival foreign-bred catfish will be subject to the same rigorous health inspections as the U.S. variety.
“The House of Representatives has an important responsibility to continue the USDA inspection program of domestic catfish and imported catfish-like products. These inspections will keep American families safe from harmful toxins readily found in imported products that went previously undetected by the Food and Drug Administration,” explains Chad Causey, spokesman for the organization.
About 200 guests are expected at the event, their forks poised.
ONE FOR GRETA
A round of applause, please, for Greta Brawner, the gracious, astute host and senior producer for C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal,” the network’s morning call-in show. Ms. Brawner has been named managing producer for C-SPAN’s tireless Event Producers Unit, which provides content for all that daily public affairs coverage. It’s a lot of coverage.
She will also serve as a member of the network’s editorial team, which makes the decision of what gets covered and what does not. Ms. Brawner has been with C-SPAN for nine years. She was previously a correspondent for National Journal’s “Congress Daily” and Roll Call.
ONE FOR GARY
A round of applause as well for actor Gary Sinise, a man who is talented on screen and remains consistently devoted to veterans, wounded warriors and military families. On Wednesday Mr. Sinise will be awarded a Bradley Prize during an evening event at the Kennedy Center. Granted yearly by The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, the prize goes to those who shore up a national defense, American know-how, competent government and a dynamic marketplace, among other things.
Also receiving a Bradley Prize: Charles Murray, an American Enterprise Institute scholar; author and historian Andrew Roberts; and religious leader Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks. These esteemed folks are in good company. Past recipients include John R. Bolton, Roger Ailes and Jeb Bush. The event will feature George Will as master of ceremonies.
POLL DU JOUR
• 39 percent of U.S. voters say Hillary Clinton’s securing the Democratic presidential nominee is a “historic moment for the nation.”
• 30 percent say the nomination makes them “frustrated”; 29 percent say it makes them “proud.”
• 15 percent say the nomination is “not that notable”; 22 percent say it is “a step forward for the country.”
• 18 percent say the nomination made them angry; 12 percent say Mrs. Clinton is “the most historic nominee the nation ever had.”
Source: A Morning Consult poll of 1,362 registered U.S. voters conducted June 8-9.
• Observations and annoyances to jharper@washingtontimes.com
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
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