Posted on 04/09/2007 2:03:47 PM PDT by pissant
Rudy Giuliani's campaign is fighting to defend the mayor on abortion today at National Review, but the opposition is coming from the editors of NR themselves.
After Giuliani said last week that abortion is a constitutional right and as such must be publicly funded, NR's editors said his position "makes neither logical, moral, nor political sense." In response today, Giuilani adviser Bill Simon responded in a letter that first cited Univ. of Alabama professor Michael New's claim that abortions in NYC under Giuilani declined at a rate greater than the national average at the time. Simon goes on to reiterate Giuliani's opposition to changing the Hyde Amendment which prohibits federal funding of abortions (except in cases of incest, rape or danger to the mother's life). Finally, Simon pledges that Giuilani would appoint "strict-constructionist judges who will follow in the philosophical footsteps of Justices Thomas, Alito, and Scalia, and Chief Justice Roberts" if elected president.
The editors had a stinging comeback:
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?
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.
It's one thing to be so thoroughly rebuked and quite another to have it done on one of the most-widely read and respected publications on the right. It's clear that the Giuliani team will need to do more to secure the mayor's footing among pro-lifers (without appearing to cave to them) and to get more help from conservative supporters like Sen. David Vitter (R-LA).
Slip Sliding Awayayyyy...
I think I was right when I stopped supporting him when I began to learn more and more about him. He is simply not the person we need as President.
If you want to see Hillary as Pres. then nominate Rudy!
Only Rudy can lose the war on terror!
Only Rudy has the principles to violate the Constitution!
Actually National Review is PRO_ROMNEY - not PRO-RUDY - the only one who is pro-Rudy is Deroy Murdock!
Just using the same logic as the Rudy supporters.
You were absolutely correct. The Rudiacs here think that his ability to fight the WOT trumps all his leftist ways.
Fact is, he is far more likely to know about latest line of designer purses than he is to know squat about the military and how to wage war.
Rudy Giuliani has quite a few attributes that I would find perfect in a chief executive. Unfortunately, every indication from his well-documented track record is that he’d put these attributes to work in pursuit of an agenda that is far more liberal than anyone wants to admit.
“Stinging comeback” is right. It’s nice to see someone speak plainly about Giuliani.
“Vote for Rudy or Hillary will be President!”
“Go to bed or the boogey man will get you.”
There is not boogey man.
I think some folks are feeling the heat.
Time to turn it up even higher...
to pay for his new government BUREAUCRACY,,,,
the "DOA"-- Department of Abortions.
If you want TWO POLITICAL PARTIES TO THE LEFT OF CENTER,,,,
JulieAnnie is JUST THE MAN FOR THE JOB!!!
Seems to me he had Derbyshire and Goldberg on board, as well. I know the only one NOT willing to give him a pass for being a liberal is Mark Levin.
well i am glad that rudy has come clean on his abortion views, if the rudy fans want to support him, that’s their perogative. But at least we don’t have to hear how he will support strict constructionists and everything will be ok.
abortion owning a gun is a constitutional right and as such must be publicly funded,
abortion the pursuit of happiness is a constitutional right and as such must be publicly funded,
abortion property is a constitutional right and as such must be publicly funded,
abortion religion is a constitutional right and as such must be publicly funded,
To say that Rudy is an idiot is to insult idiots.
He put their #1 argument to rest last week with his foolish, uninformed mutterings. Thank goodness he is foolish and uninformed or we’d end up with this lemon.
Rudy the savior.
************
Actually, I think the Giuliani crowd is still promoting that little fantasy.
This is the deal breaker for me. I’m surprised that Bill Simon is still defending him. Rudy campaigned for Simon after Karl Rove had written him off. But Simon also happens to be a pro-life Catholic, and the son of a pro-life Catholic of great stature. There simply is no way to defend what Giuliani said the other day to CNN. No way.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/polls/
There has been no erosion in Giuliani's support and there will not be because about half of Republicans are pro choice, and for many others it is a back burner issue. Beyond that, Giuliani is out there campaigning, raising money, etc. He is doing just fine, is very much in touch with average folks, and moving steadily to the nomination.
I'll say one thing. He is getting a lot more respect sticking to his guns on the issue, as opposed to pandering to the religious right base like Romney is. In the end, people will respect that, along with his demonstrated ability to win, and he'll get the nomination.
If you go through all the polling data at RCP you'll find that Giuliani is the only thing standing between us and complete and utter defeat in the Fall.
Let's not get stupid and throw the whole country overboard.
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