Posted on 04/09/2007 12:02:57 PM PDT by Kuksool
I believe that your editorial “Life Lessons for Rudy” was written in good faith, but it ignored the National Review Online article of January 22 titled “Giuliani’s Choices.” Abortions declined by 16.8 percent in New York City during the Giuliani administration, according to the Center for Disease Control. And University of Alabama political scientist Michael New told your publication, “The decline in abortions in New York City under Giuliani was greater than the national decline.” Mayor Giuliani’s success in reducing abortions in New York City was further examined in your publication’s article “Rudy’s Right Record” on March 20.
Rudy Giuliani has repeatedly said that he will not seek to change current law as described in the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding of abortions except in cases involving rape or incest, or where the life of the mother is at stake. And, given the opportunity, a President Giuliani would appoint strict-constructionist judges who will follow in the philosophical footsteps of Justices Thomas, Alito, and Scalia, and Chief Justice Roberts.
As a pro-life conservative, I may not agree with Rudy on every detail of every issue. But I respect his beliefs — as he respects mine — and I cannot argue with his results. And as mayor, he got results that true conservatives should hope their elected leaders can emulate. His policies, based on the conservative principles of accountability and personal responsibility, not only led to the reduction of abortions in New York but also a 66 percent increase in the number of adoptions on his watch. Let’s not forget that he also reduced welfare rolls by nearly 60 percent, cut or eliminated taxes 23 times, lowered the number of bureaucrats in government by 20 percent, and reduced overall crime in the city by 56 percent, making New York City the safest large city in America.
If he could accomplish all that as mayor — when he was doing his best to work with an overwhelmingly Democratic city council — I look forward to what he will accomplish as America’s president.
Bill Simon Policy Director Giuliani for President
The editors reply: Like Bill Simon, we admire Professor New. Let’s quote him some more on abortion trends during Giuliani’s mayoral terms: “I cannot attribute this decline to any actual policy Giuliani implemented.” Note also that New York City’s abortion rate had a long way to fall: Even after its decline, it remained much higher than the national average. Should Mayor Giuliani get credit for that fact as well?
That a Republican candidate for president promises not to push for federal funding of elective abortion is far from the bare minimum he could do. Will he promise a veto if the Democratic Congress sends such legislation his way?
To follow in the footsteps of Justices Scalia and Thomas, any “strict constructionist” would have to be willing to discard Roe. Giuliani has (gratuitously) noted that, in his view, keeping Roe on the books is perfectly compatible with strict constructionism.
Mr. Simon says that Mayor Giuliani “respects” his views. Does Simon’s pro-life commitment amount to a desire to put pregnant women in jail? If not, perhaps he should advise the mayor to stop representing that policy as the pro-life position.
Finally, we have never doubted that Rudolph Giuliani achieved great things as mayor. We said so during his time in office, and we said so again when he announced his candidacy. On abortion, however, Giuliani and his campaign need to engage in less spin and more thinking.
Another assurance from Bill Simon.
Gee, more spin
“Let’s not forget that he also reduced welfare rolls by nearly 60 percent,”
And he said federal welfare reform went ‘too far’
“cut or eliminated taxes 23 times, “
But opposed eliminating the commuter tax, and was against pataki’s proposed 25% tax cut
“lowered the number of bureaucrats in government by 20 percent,”
And shifted those positions to outside contractors, costing more money.
looks like rudy brought on all those conservative ‘consultants’ to to shill for him. Conservatism by proxy.
How many folks here on FR have insisted that it is completely unrealistic for anyone to expect a candidate to agree with them 100% of the time -- and that we should temper our expectations about a prospective GOP nominee in 2008? And yet from a purely rational standpoint it would be far easier and politically advantageous for one person -- i.e., Rudy Giuliani -- to swallow his pride and temper his own expectations about where he should be standing on this issue.
Ah, yes. Bill Simon, the guy who gave away the California Governorship.
The heat of the primaries will either polish Giuliani’s luster for us conservatives, or melt him into a puddle of goo.
I like Rudy - even though I’m a big 2nd Amendment supporter and Catholic pro-lifer - primarily because of his accompishments in NY, his leadership skills, and the fact that he gets the GWOT.
As with many Freepers, I’ll take a good look at Fred Thompson - when and if he takes the plunge.
Well, since Simon is citing the CDC, the same source says abortions declined 29 percent nationally during the same time period.
Ouch. Was Simon trying to mislead us? This is like the Rudy-ites claim that he was a fiscal conservative who only let government grow by less than inflation, ignoring that at the end of his term New York still had a largely bloated budget, just slightly less bloated. Like a 6-foot man who is happy because in the last year he lost 10 pounds. But his feat becomes less admirable when you learn he weighs 300 pounds.
Oh well, I have no doubt that in a Rudy administration, Bill Simon will have a strong position, so it will work out well for him.
But you don’t understand big cities. Abortion is different there.
From someone who was there, the CAGOP gave up the California governorship. When their candidate didn’t win the primary(Clinton Buddy Richard Riordan), they didn’t want the candidate to win.
Riordan was the mayor of L.A., and a friend of Rudy Giuliani. When Giuliani asked Riordan to do a fundraiser for him, Riordan said he couldn't, because he was too good friends with the Clintons.
Hmmm...why do I not feel reassured...about either Rooty or his "conservative" flack?
Don’t forget, when he was on with Bennet in the Morning, Bill Simon lied, saying he had phone trouble, when asked about Rudy’s stance on illegal immigration.
{I cannot fathom is why Rudy Giuliani insists on contorting himself into knots for the sake of political expediency while maintaining a hard-core radical leftist stance}
I wonder if Giuliani feels annoyed at appealing to “real conservatives” in the GOP primary and would rather skip the GOP primary and go straight to the general election as he attempts to carry the East Coast and West Coast.
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