Giuliani Party Draws Criticism From Dodd

Republican presidential hopeful, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani delivers remarks to the National Rifle Association in Washington, Friday, Sept. 21, 2007. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Gerald Herbert - AP)

WASHINGTON -- The International Association of Fire Fighters accused Republican Rudy Giuliani of exploiting the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks because a supporter is holding a $9.11-per-person fundraiser for the presidential candidate.

The union _ already a vocal critic of Giuliani's _ said Tuesday that the fundraiser's "$9.11 for Rudy" theme is an abuse of the image and symbols of the 2001 attacks.

"It is nothing short of disrespectful to the legacy of the thousands of civilians and 343 brave firefighters who died at ground zero," IAFF president Harold Schaitberger said.

The campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Chris Dodd called the theme "unconscionable, shameless and sickening." The firefighters' union has endorsed Dodd.

Another Democratic candidate, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, said the event was "overdoing it."

"You know, we shouldn't use a tragedy for politics," Richardson told New Hampshire reporters on a conference call.

A Giuliani spokeswoman said the $9.11 idea was selected without the campaign's knowledge.

"These are two volunteers who acted independently of and without the knowledge of the campaign," Giuliani spokeswoman Maria Comella said. "Their decision to ask individuals for that amount was an unfortunate choice."

Giuliani supporter Abraham Sofaer is slated to hold the fundraiser at his Palo Alto, Calif., home on Wednesday, when Giuliani backers across the country are participating in the campaign's "National House Party Night." Givers at the parties are generally being asked for $25, $50 or $100 and not for $9.11, according to the campaign Web site.

Sofaer said he had nothing to do with the decision to ask for the $9.11.

"There are some young people who came up with it," Sofaer said when reached by telephone Monday evening. He referred other questions to Giuliani's campaign.

"I'm just providing support for him. He's an old friend of mine," Sofaer said.

Sofaer was a State Department adviser under President Reagan and is a fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. Federal election data indicates Sofaer has given nearly $50,000 to Republican causes and candidates, including Giuliani, since 1995.

According to the invitation, "$9.11 for Rudy" is an "independent, non-denominational grass-roots campaign to raise $10,000 in small increments to show how many individual, everyday Americans support 'America's Mayor.'"

Giuliani was mayor of New York during the Sept. 11 attacks.