How Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Responded To the 9/11 Attacks People

Hillary's response to the Sept. 11 attack is deeply personal to me. Not only was I living in New York but I subsequently went to live at 90 West St, the little building that stood on the south site of the WTC. Although it was crazy with rebuilding, I wanted to be part of New York's rebirth and to live close to the spirits of all the people who died on that day, and especially the firefighters and all first responders who ran into the buildings knowing that they would most likely perish.

This is a concept of duty and honor that leaves Donald Trump clueless -- unlike Hillary, who exhibited continuous and well-documented empathy and determination to help all who suffered so much that day and in the aftermath. For example, Hillary immediately understood the health consequences that the people -- mostly men -- working at the site would suffer.

This People article and the links give us a great example of Hillary Clinton as her best self serving the people and country she loves so much. ~ Anne

9/11 tapes reveal raw and emotional Hillary Clinton The Guardian

Honoring Stephen Siller

Hey Trump. Giuliani & Christie: Meet Stephen Siller Who Was A Real Tough Guy. No Talk, Just Action

On Sept. 11, I always think of New York firefighter Stephen Siller, a true American hero. Today, the media has totally reduced any act of kindness to being heroic. But Siller defines the word.

On September 11, Stephen Siller finished his night shift, preparing to play golf in Brooklyn. When he heard about the Twin Towers, Siller dropped everything and drove his truck to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel.

The tunnel was already closed for security -- as every tunnel and bridge into Manhattan was closed. Stephen Siller then strapped 60 lbs. of firefighting gear on his back and raced on foot through the 1.7 mile tunnel to the Twin Towers. A friend on a different fire truck saw Stephen exit in Lower Manhattan and the brave firefighter rode to his death at West Street and Liberty and the entrance to the South Tower, which collapsed at 9:59 am.

I didn't know this story until a later September day when I heard first bagpipes and the theme from Rocky playing outside my high-floor apartment on the south side of the WTC construction site. Looking down into the street, I saw runners.

I shared my thoughts about Stephen Siller with AOC readers that day in 2008. Today is one of peace and I will not make any anti-Trump statements. But I do want to remind us that real tough guys in life act through selfless actions and not shouting hateful words to a clamoring crowd shouting "lock her up". Such a gesture is anti-heroic and not the true DNA of our American spirit. ~ Anne

Related: Stephen Siller Memorial 'Tunnel to Towers' Run Marathon Sept. 28, 2008 AOC Hillary Clinton

The Senator and the Mogul: A 9/11 Diary Politico

Politico describes Donald Trump has far more composed in the hours after the Sept. 11 attacks than he has been on the campaign trail. It is a fact, though, that even on Sept. 11, Trump couldn't resist touting his brand, telling interviewer Alan Marcus, a former Trump publicist, that his 71-story building 40 Wall Street had returned to its position as the tallest building in lower Manhattan.

Marcus chalked up the remark to “Donald being Donald. … He is the brand manager of Trump, and he is going to tout that brand, and he does it reflexively,” he said. “Even on that day.”

Hillary Clinton was the new junior senator from New York, having served less than a year and "scrupulously deferential to her senior colleagues. Suddenly, Clinton was regularly on prime time news.