Posted on 02/08/2007 9:16:33 PM PST by Reagan Man
WASHINGTON -- Eager to head off Rudolph Giuliani's recent gains in the polls, conservative activists this week strengthened their attacks, with some promising to step up their efforts on the Internet, talk radio and "below-the-radar" to discredit him going forward.
They are taking direct aim at one of Giuliani's strongest selling points, at least to some backers -- that he is the Republicans' best hope of stopping Hillary Rodham Clinton.
These critics argue that his nomination would prompt a conservative third-party candidate to join the race and split the GOP vote, clearing the way for Clinton's election.
"There's no way conservatives could stand for Giuliani becoming the Republican nominee," said Richard Viguerie, one of the founders of the modern conservative movement. "I guarantee whoever the Democrats nominate would be the next president."
~ship~
He backed off his earlier opposition to a ban on the medical procedure referred to as partial-birth abortion, and expressed support for gun owners' Second Amendment rights, even though as New York mayor he sued gun manufacturers and argued that more guns lead to more crime.
~snip~
So social conservatives -- for whom Giuliani's support for abortion rights, gun control and gay unions are anathema -- are speaking out. Some say they would use the tools at their disposal to tell voters about Giuliani's social stances.
Viguerie, a direct-mail pioneer, argued it no longer takes millions of mailings to make the case, thanks to talk radio, the Internet and other "below-the-radar" media.
Tony Perkins, head of the conservative Family Research Council, told a conservative radio host that Giuliani's positions are "far outside the mainstream of conservative thought ... Once people focus on this election and the candidates, Giuliani's lead will diminish."
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
Who would you rather have? Hillary? For God's sake don't be stupid - Vote for Rudy!!!
On Fox Roundtable last nite....
BARNES: The truth is, I think he has an excellent chance of winning the nomination. I wouldn't make him the frontrunner right now, I think the McCain still is. But people like him. There's a reason why his polls have stood up so well, it's not because voters are stupid and don't know about his social liberalism, which is there. But he's not running on it. He's running on these other things and he's not trying to stick his views on abortion and gay civil unions and so on down the throats of conservative voters who don't want that.
He's running on low taxes and what he did in New York. I think there are two striking things about Rudy -- Rudy Giuliani that no other candidate can match -- one, it's the whole 9/11 thing, where he was in a crisis and we saw how he performed. He performed extremely well. And secondly, it's New York City when he was mayor. You know, you can go to New York City and feel and see the difference that he made in that city as mayor. And I don't think you can say that about any mayor in any other city in the country.
HUME: And maybe not about many governors.
So, according to you, FReepers aren't allowed to criticize a public servant and a liberal to boot. Rudy Giuliani is off limits to any criticism and political attacks on his liberal record. No free speech or dissent. LMBO If you think thats what FR is all about, you're on the wrong forum. You need a Rudy only forum to protect him from his critics.
But then you know that, don't you? :-)
You just don't understand, do you? Many of us cannot vote for Rudy simply because of his abortion stance. The only ones who will be guilty of electing Hillary are the ones who try to foist an unacceptable candidate on us.
Why is it naturally assumed by you that Rudy will be the candidate against Hillary?
Jesus wept.
Ivan
And talking about HYPOCRITES, just WHY is it "bad mouthing" Reagan when I say that he was divorced, or if I say that he gave BLANKET AMNESTY to all illegals, but it is hunky dory, for you to make specious remarks about Rudy and/or post utter tripe from a very well known idiot such as Richard Viguerie, from a lefty rag?
He can, Ivan. Don't let the purists get to you.
I'm not looking for the perfect conservative candidate. But the fact remains, Rudy is no conservative. On most every issue Rudy is anti-conservative.
I don't have a candidate right now. With 21 months to go until the election, my vote is still up for grabs. I want a candidate that will support a limited govt, protect my 2nd amendment rights, protect the unborn, oppose amnesty and oppose special rights for homos. Rudy ain't that guy.
Don't take the bait, FRiend. Their hatred is theirs to keep and live with.
The Sit At Home Brigade is just trolling for arguments. They support no one but their own fragile self-righteousness.
Useless to the GOP.
What the hell are the "purists"?
The "purists" can offer Rudy support in exchange for not touching the 2nd Amendment, for example. Then he would owe them for their support. If he wins, under these present circumstances, he owes them nothing. It's neither clear nor clever strategic thinking.
Regards, Ivan
We did this with Arnold in California, and Arnold is just a hipper version of Phil Angeledies since he supports the same health plan that he attacked Phil on.
Regards, Ivan
Not at all, but your posts are. :-)
You know them as "conservatives."
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