Giulliani Says He’s Not Questioning Obama’s Patriotism

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani now says he wasn't questioning President Barack Obama's patriotism, when he said last night that he doesn't believe Obama ``loves America.''

Giuliani, speaking at an event in New York last night said of Obama, ``He wasn't brought up the way you were brought up and I was brought up through love of this country.''

His comments were reported by Politico and the New York Daily News.

Democrats are urging potential Republican presidential candidates to denounce the comments. But several of them are refusing to get involved today. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio says he has ``no doubt'' that Obama loves the country -- but that Rubio thinks Obama's policies ``are bad for our nation.''

And when asked about the comments today on Fox News, Giuliani softened his words. He says he's sure Obama's ``a patriot,'' but that he never hears Obama talk about ``how much he loves America.'' Giuliani says he used to hear those words from presidents including Ronald Regan and Bill Clinton.

During Obama's 2008 and 2012 campaigns, conservatives said he wasn't proud enough of the United States. Today, the White House is saying that Giuliani ``test-drove this line of attack'' during his own ``fleeting'' run for the presidency.