LONDONDERRY | It was all about the war.
Presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani stressed the importance of building up America's military to fight the war against "Islamic terrorism" during a private visit for veterans and their families yesterday.
He was flanked by American and POW/MIA flags at Lions Hall on Mammoth Road as he spoke to about 70 residents for 30 minutes. Just five people had the chance to ask questions and they were all about the war.
One resident became so passionate that he was quickly surrounded by the local police and Giuliani's aides.
Veteran Billy Large, a member of the Londonderry American Legion, approached the former New York City mayor to shake his hand. Large said he was a medic during the Vietnam War and also helped triage patients after the Sept, 11 2001, terrorist attacks.
Dressed in a white T-shirt, construction boots and tattered jeans, Large asked why more was not being done for veterans and what Giuliani would do about it.
"Why is it I'm a disabled veteran and I still need?" he asked, as his voice grew louder. "It's not only me, there's a lot of veterans out there like me."
Giuliani agreed veterans need more services and benefits, including those now fighting in Iraq who are coming home with psychological disorders.
"These things should not be left to the private sector," he said. "Taking care of your people who have served the country (is the government's job). We need to take care of our people who have served because that's the only way more people will serve."
Giuliani told the crowd the military is too small. At the height of the Cold War, he said, there were 720,000 service personnel. Less than a decade ago, there were just 500,000, he said.
"I don't know if people realize how much damage Bill Clinton did to the military," he said, adding that Clinton cut military benefits and pay. "This was all happening when the Islamic terrorism threat was building up against us."
His answers pleased most in the crowd. Giuliani had an answer for almost everything | even the one "boo" that echoed throughout the hall when he spoke about his love for the New York Yankees.
"This may be the only day of the year that I get to root for a Red Sox or two, then we go back to the warfare," the former mayor joked about the All-Star game last night.
World War II Navy veteran Gene Channon said he was not completely sold on Giuliani's stance. Channon, a staunch Bush supporter, asked the candidate what he would do to overrule congressional decisions he didn't like.
Channon said he was disappointed he didn't get a straight answer from Giuliani. But he said he still may vote for him because Giuliani is "more forceful" than many of the other Republican candidates.
The speech was capped off with comments about lowering taxes, privatizing the economy, and reducing the size of government.
Alexandra McKinney and Liz Demeo, both 17, had grandfathers who served in World War II. They said they support the war and reducing the size of government.
They're too young to vote in the primary, but will be able to vote in the general election in 2008. Both said they are likely to vote for Giuliani if he is on the ballot.
"On some of the issues, he just seems more independent, which may give him a better chance in the general election," McKinney said.
Giuliani's Londonderry stop was one of four he made in the state yesterday. He gave speeches in Concord and Hooksett before stopping in Londonderry. Last night, he spoke at a town hall meeting in Nashua.
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Jarrod Thompson
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