Rudy Giuliani, mayor of New York City at the time of the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center buildings and famed Republican politician, made headlines this month for stating at a private fundraiser for Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, “I do not believe, and I know this is a horrible thing to say, but I do not believe that the president loves America. He doesn’t love you. And he doesn’t love me. He wasn’t brought up the way you were brought up and I was brought up, through love of this country.”

Unsurprisingly these remarks were met with immediate outrage. Giuliani’s statements and their claims about Mr. Obama’s upbringing, many suggest, signify a clear racist and prejudicial tone, implying that Obama is different from other Americans. Giuliani has issued no direct apology, instead defending himself to the New York Times by claiming that as Mr. Obama’s mother was a white woman and that the remarks he made could not legitimately be viewed as racist. Giuliani has also since composed an opinion editorial for The Wall Street Journal where he attempts to clarify his phrasing saying that he was not questioning President Obama’s motive or character. A now widely quoted line of this op-ed reads, “I hope and pray that President Obama can rise to the occasion and underscore America’s greatness as our history and values merit. I hope also that our president will start acting and speaking in a way that draws sharp, clear distinctions between us and those who threaten our way of life.” Indicated by this line is that Giuliani stands by his initial statement. His position, although reworded, has not necessarily changed.

In regards to Mr. Giuliani’s initial remark, it is also interesting to note that Mr. Giuliani’s father who served time in Sing Sing prison for armed robbery, made sure his felony was known to the draft board so that he would be ineligible to serve in World War II. Mr. Rudy Giuliani’s five uncles also evaded service arguably as did Mr. Giuliani himself. Contrastingly Mr. Obama’s grandfather and great uncle were both World War II veterans, his great uncle even contributing to the liberation of Buchenwald. No political party has a monopoly on love for one’s country.