Posted on 02/21/2007 12:06:36 PM PST by Reagan Man
The Republicans, and even some socially conservative and evangelical leaders, are beginning to adjust to the possibility of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani as the GOP nominee for president.
But not all. The Southern Baptist’s Richard Land, for instance, predicts massive defections from Rudy in the event of a Rudy Giuliani vs. Hillary Clinton race. Hugh Hewitt, evangelical talk-meister in the syndicated stream of radio shows doubts this ; "... If Rudy is persuasive on the judges he will nominate, he wouldn’t have a problem with the social conservatives in the general election." So tell us you’ll nominate the likes of Scalia, Roberts, and Alito to the Supreme Court, and we will line up behind you no matter your substantial views that run counter to the Judeo-Christian ethic, he and his handlers are undoubtedly thinking.
Well, I won’t.
And I bet I speak for hundreds of thousands and perhaps millions when I say that I cannot in good conscience vote for a man with significant moral problems in his personal life, a radically wrong view of abortion (against it personally, but for women making their own pro-abortion choice), and oh-so-very Times Square and Hollywood on the issues of homosexual rights and guns (for and against, respectively).
Can’t vote for him, even if his opponent is Hillary Rodham Clinton ? No, I cannot.
Aw, c’mon, Team Republican says, nobody who purports to be socially conservative, evangelical, or who voted twice for Ronald Reagan will be able to muster a vote for Hillary over Rudy.
Probably right. But voting for her isn’t the only option. When the electorate isn’t excited about the candidates, they are capable of staying home — particularly those who don’t much care to think political thoughts 24/7 and are not enthused about the choices. There are others of us who will either leave the presidential portion of the ballot unmarked or decide for the first time in our lives to vote, say, the Constitution Party.
Next argument — Then you’ll just be putting Hillary into office. Next rebuttal — No, rather, my precious vote won’t be responsible for putting into office a man who thinks we will vote for him because he is best suited and capably prepared to keep America safe but can’t guard his own soul from moral perdition.
But, in all of this, there is something else to think about. The President of the United States guides his own political party and its platform. And the party of President Rudy Giuliani will soon become the party of the same kind of governing mushiness that has absorbed the Democrats. Give the party to Rudy and the moral code and political sensibilities of Reagan are lost, perhaps for good.
Better to lose an election and reload ideologically than try to cheer on and take cues from a man with a worldview radically divergent from your own.
May the primaries be kind to the GOP ; and kindness means Giuliani loses.
[Matt Friedeman (mfriedeman@wbs.edu) is a professor at Wesley Biblical Seminary. Respond to this column at his blog : evangelismtoday.blogspot.com.]
STOP RUDY PING
Nah - way too many pics of Rudy G in women's clothing for him to get many votes.
The money line.
Aw, c’mon, Team Republican says, nobody who purports to be socially conservative, evangelical, or who voted twice for Ronald Reagan will be able to muster a vote for Hillary over Rudy.Probably right. But voting for her isn’t the only option. When the electorate isn’t excited about the candidates, they are capable of staying home — particularly those who don’t much care to think political thoughts 24/7 and are not enthused about the choices. There are others of us who will either leave the presidential portion of the ballot unmarked or decide for the first time in our lives to vote, say, the Constitution Party.
Only a moron would fail to notice that a non-vote for Rudy would redound to Hillary's benefit.
Yea. just like it was better to let Nancy take over the house than get off couch last November. That worked out just swell. You "I'm not going to vote for anybody other than Ronald Reagan" types are morons.
That'll lock up San Francisco for him.
Gun grabber.......strike 1
Pro abortion......strike 2
Pro illegal immigration....strike 3
Amen to that!
"How much do we HATE Hillary" is a crappy reason to cast a vote. Does Rudy give me something to believe in is a better question, and one of the reasons why this story will have more merit than some people give it. People will sit at home, and likely in bigger numbers if Hillary's out -ie how much do we hate Bill Richardson, or Obama, or whoever.
"your a moron, your an idiot and more"
all for not supporting "their" choice of candidate...
Pro campaign finance reform laws - strike four!
I have a fairly lax set of standards as the minimum threshhold for competing for my vote, but Rudy and Romney fail to meet even minimum qualifications -- which is pathetic. Even frickin John McCain is above minimum.
If you're a conservative and you're considering voting for the liberal Rudy Giuliani or the liberal Hillary Clinton, you're a person without a conscience, principles and integrity.
Selfish? YOU people have no clue what Rudy is all about. YOU refuse to accept his statements and actions on these issues. Grow up.
LOL Great slogan flashbunny.
I hate to say this: But it looks like a McCain and Guiliani ticket opposing a Hillary plus Obama ticket. I know it is really too early too tell. Mitt Romney may surprise me. But it looks like McCain-Guiliani today to me.
Not only that, the Conservatives will NOT "stay home."
The Republicans lost in 2006, not because Conservatives "stayed home," but because "Undecideds" or "Independents" voted for Democrats.
If it gets to a choice between a Liberal like Rudy Giuliani and a Commie like Clinton, they will vote for Giuliani.
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