Jan 13, 2008 10:30 pm US/Eastern
Giuliani Causes Controversy At Three Kings Parade
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Republican presidential candidate Rudolph Giuliani
AP
A South Florida campaign appearance by Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani has drawn some controversy in Miami.
Arranged by Miami Dade Commissioner Rebeca Sosa,
CBS4's news partners at the
Miami Herald report Giuliani was invited to ride a county fire truck during the City of Miami's annual Three Kings parade in Little Havana.
That invitation has drawn criticism from some firefighters who claim Giuliani lied about his record during 9/11 and was responsible for under-equipping New York emergency workers.
Retired New York City firefighter Jim Riches told the
Miami Herald that Giuliani doesn't deserve to ride on a flag-draped fire truck.
''This is improper. Rudy lied about what he did on 9/11. He's giving the appearance he's backed by firefighters and he isn't,'' Riches told the
Miami Herald, ``Rudy has to go all the way down to Florida to get firefighters to stand next to him because he can't get that support in New York.''
Giuliani's campaign fired back at the criticism with a statement that stressed his ample spending on New York emergency management agencies and dismissed the attacks as a smear campaign linked to the International Association of Fire Fighters union which they claim has Democratic leanings.
Responding to the criticism, the Miami Dade chapter of the IAFF plans to cover the union numbers displayed on the truck to be used in the parade with an American flag.
Commissioner Sosa said she was unaware of the controversy and noted that some firefighters endorse Giuliani's campaign.
Three Kings Day Parade will travel down Calle Ocho, Little Havana's main thoroughfare. Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade will be the grand marshal.
(© MMIX CBS Television Stations. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed material for this report)
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