Posted on 02/19/2007 12:01:25 AM PST by Spiff
Posted: February 19, 2007
Directly contradicting his previous position, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, told radio talk-show host Sean Hannity he opposed federal gun control laws, preferring to leave the matter to states and municipalities.
"I've said all along that what's right for New York might not be right for Texas," he said in the interview in which he said he supported the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.
But that's not what Giuliani has said all along.
When he presided over the city government of New York, with some of the strictest gun-control measures in the country, Giuliani strongly advocated Washington take the lead on the issue.
"We need a federal law that bans all assault weapons, and if in fact you do need a handgun you should be subjected to at least the same restrictions – and really stronger ones – that exist for driving an automobile," he said in 1997.
As mayor, Giuliani participated in a city lawsuit against the gun industry.
"This is an industry that is profiting from the suffering of innocent people," he said in 2000. "What’s worse, its profits rest on a number of illegal and immoral practices. This lawsuit is meant to end the free pass that the gun industry has so long enjoyed."
And that's just the beginning of the way Giuliani has tried to redefine himself in hopes of winning the Republican presidential nomination.
While still touting his "pro-choice" stand on abortion, he is now trying to claim he opposes partial-birth abortions and supports parental consent laws.
Not so in 1999. When he was asked whether he would support a ban on partial-birth abortions, he told CNN: "No, I have not supported that, and I don't see my position changing." As if to underline his hard-line stand on social issues, he said: "I'm pro-choice. I'm pro-gay rights."
Now he tries to take a nuanced stance against same-sex marriage. Yet he steadfastly opposed the "Defense of Marriage Act," saying in 2004 on "Meet the Press": "I certainly wouldn't support (a ban on same-sex marriage) at this time."
You probably won't hear Giuliani make this statement, again, but he did say it in 1996 to the New York Post's Jack Newfield: "Most of Clinton's policies are very similar to most of mine."
Won't that be reassuring if he should be the Republican alternative to Hillary Clinton in 2008? And while he's sugar-coating his record and his positions now as he seeks to lead the Republican Party, it's clear that he was telling the truth in 1996 and lying now.
Take a look at his record:
Taxpayer support of abortion: Supports
Embryonic stem cell research: Supports
Federal marriage amendment: Opposes
Same-sex domestic partnerships and civil unions: Supports
Open homosexuals in the military: Supports
Amnesty for illegal aliens: Supports
Tough penalties for employers of illegal aliens: Opposes
Sanctuary cities that ignore immigration law: Supports
What is the difference between Giuliani and Clinton? Is it style? It certainly isn't substance.
Is it simply that Giuliani doesn't wear a dress? Whoops! No, it can't be that. America's mayor is fond of publicly dressing in drag, too.
So what is it? Will the real Giuliani please stand up? Are we going to let this guy reinvent himself the way Mitt Romney has? Aren't we all smart enough to understand what this game is all about?
If you support Giuliani or John McCain or Romney as an alternative to Hillary or Obama, you're going to get what you deserve – and that is no choice at all.
There's a long time before the parties choose their nominees. Let's make the most of it and search for men of principle and conviction, not flip-flops and deceit.
Calling Giuliani on his many lies
1:00 a.m. Eastern Abortion: Supports
Now he tries to take a nuanced stance against same-sex marriage. Yet he steadfastly opposed the "Defense of Marriage Act," saying in 2004 on "Meet the Press": "I certainly wouldn't support (a ban on same-sex marriage) at this time."
The more nuance Rudy tries, the more he sounds like John Kerry. A strong leader indeed.
.....wasnt this the same guy who said we needed to plug our noses and be faithful to the party rhis past election cycle?
prediction - rudy wins - McCain has a temper tantrum and Newt gets spanked
And you expect to be taken seriously?
He's a liberal, why is anyone surprised that he's lying about it?
GYF nit picker
Farah's a lunatic.
The way I heard this interview is that Rudy is in favor of gun control in some areas, while other localities don't need as much gun control.
In other words, he's in favor of individual rights for some citizens and opposed to individual rights for others.
That about right, Rudy?
(I kinda wish Shaun had posed the question that way. Instead he nodded off to sleep and went to the next topic.)
The latest poll shows Rudy losing to Hillary in his home state of New York by a landslide.
Sorry, try again.
Ask and you shall receive.
Also, talk to FReeper Pharmboy about how his guns were confiscated by Giuliani.
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: Wednesday, August 1, 2001 |
Release #268-01 |
| Contact: | Sunny Mindel / Matthew Higgins |
(212) 788-2958 |
View Mayor's
|
| Tom Antenen (DCPI) | (212) 374-6700 |
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Police Commissioner Bernard B. Kerik today announced that more than 3,000 guns taken off New York City streets will soon be turned into scrap metal. The New York Police Department recovered the guns over the last several months through a number of channels and the total includes guns that were used in the commission of crimes. The guns will be transported to an undisclosed location, where they will be smelted and the metal recycled. NYPD personnel will monitor every aspect of the entire process, until every gun has been destroyed.
"The Police Department's dramatic success in reducing crime is due in large part to its corresponding success in removing guns from City streets," the Mayor said. "More than 90,000 guns have been seized since 1994, and shootings have plummeted more than 74 percent. The NYPD's gun seizure success is also reflected in the murder rate, which has plummeted 65 percent since 1994, and is down another 11 percent this year over last year. The NYPD has also ensured that thousands of guns can never be used to commit a crime by destroying them and putting the metal to good use. Now, another 3,000 guns have been taken out of circulation -- permanently."
Police Commissioner Kerik said, "The destruction of these firearms is a very tangible reminder of the intensive efforts undertaken by the NYPD and the City to remove guns from our streets. Every gun taken out of circulation is one less gun that can be used to shoot an innocent citizen, gun down a hero cop, or carelessly end up in the hands of a child."
Including the guns to be destroyed following today's announcement, more than 7,371 guns will have been smelted this year to date. In 2000, the Police Department sent 8,278 guns to be smelted and turned into scrap metal.
www.nyc.gov
CLICK HERE for official video of gun confiscation press conference.
L
I wrote him an email last night and told him that he was welcome to any of the oppositional research I've posted here on Rudy. I'm not looking for credit, I just want Rudy out of the picture early in the primary to give the actual Republicans a better chance next year.
I am with you. I also will vote for whoever gets our nomination - Hunter, Rudy, whoever. We have to do this. All of us.
yeah- at least Bush Sr was consistent and banned "assault" weapons from everyone
So this is a bad thing? What should they have done with them, use them as sexual devices or passed them out as a premium during condom week?
Confiscated the guns "through a number of channels". What do you think that means? The press release brags about 90,000 guns confiscated since Giuliani took office. FReeper Pharmboy even had his guns confiscated by Giuliani and it wasn't used in a crime, Pharmboy was not a criminal, etc.
Spiff is exactly correct. I had 2 pistol carry permits in NYC. One for 19 years and one for 17 years (one was a revolver that I needed to carry when the semi-auto was in the shop). Renewed them every 2 years on my birthday through 2 democrat admins--Giuliani caused me to give them up. A bona fide gun grabber for law-abiding citizens.
I think this is good, for it shows that the message of social conservatives is getting through and that leading Republican candidates realize that they ignore it at their peril. Social conservatives must keep the pressure on. Whether and to what extent these rightward shifts are genuine and lasting remains to be seen, but the fact that they are happening at all should encourage social conservatives.
But make no mistake about it. These shifts have come about because social conservatives have NOT retired to the background and muted their criticisms as the Giuliani groupies would like them to. Giuliani groupies are doing a disservice to this nation everytime they try to silence the critics by smothering them with pro-Rudy spam or fatuously accusing them of "hate" (an old liberal attack tactic).
Release #238-00
MAYOR GIULIANI AND SPEAKER VALLONE ANNOUNCE
CITY LAWSUIT AGAINST GUN INDUSTRY
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and City Council Speaker Peter F. Vallone, joined by Corporation Counsel Michael Hess, today announced that the City of New York has filed a lawsuit against two dozen major gun manufacturers and distributors. The suit alleges a number of illegal practices conducted by the gun industry, including:
. . . . . . . .
Read the entire document at http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/html/2000a/pr238-00.html
>>>>I just want Rudy out of the picture early in the primary to give the actual Republicans a better chance next year.
After the last six months, its fair to say that is the objective for both of us.
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