Brother Of FDNY Captain Killed On 9/11 Offers To Teach Ted Cruz About Real 'New York Values'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The brother of an FDNY captain who was killed in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, said Friday that Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz had the concept of "New York values" all wrong.
Michael Burke is the brother of FDNY Capt. Billy Burke.
"He was a great American, and he knew – he knew exactly what was happening," Michael Burke said. "He knew an America was under attack, and that was what he was responding to."
Capt. Burke died on the 27th floor of Tower One of the World Trade Center. He got his men out, but stayed behind to help a man in a wheelchair.
Michael Burke said Cruz does not understand New York values when it comes to the sacrifices New Yorkers made on 9/11. He said he would like to show Cruz himself.
"I'd welcome the opportunity to show him my brother's truck and tell him the story of a great American," Michael Burke said.
He wants Cruz to come to the 9/11 Memorial Museum with him. Billy Burke's truck, Engine 21, is one of two on display, and the entire front of the fire engine is burned out.
During the Republican presidential debate Thursday night in South Carolina, Cruz was asked by moderator Maria Bartiromo to explain what he meant when he said Republican front-runner Donald Trump embodies "New York values."
"I think most people know what New York values are," Cruz replied.
When Bartiromo pointed out that she herself was from New York, Cruz said, "You're from New York, so you might not (know what New York values are), but i promise you in the state of South Carolina, they do."
"There are many wonderful, wonderful working men and women in the State of New York, but everyone understands that the values in New York City are socially liberal or pro-abortion or pro- gay-marriage, focus around money and the media," Cruz went on.
He added that "not a lot of conservatives come out of Manhattan."
Trump fired back and defended his home state, saying he found the comment "insulting'' and talked about how New Yorkers came together after the 9/11 terror attacks.
"When the World Trade Center came down, I saw something that no place on Earth could have handled more beautifully, more humanely than New York,'' he said. "We rebuilt downtown Manhattan, and everybody in the world watched and everybody in the world loved New York and loved New Yorkers. And I have to tell you, that was a very insulting statement that Ted made.''
On Friday, everyone from Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio, to Republican U.S. Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) and former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani took Cruz to task for his remarks.
