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Evangelist has a Rudy awakening: 'He can win'
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/story/502451p-423750c.html ^ | 3-4-07 | DAVID SALTONSTALL

Posted on 03/04/2007 7:26:41 AM PST by veronica

Fred Wehba is not supposed to be a Rudy Giuliani supporter.

A born-again Christian who helped found an evangelical church in celebrity-soaked Beverly Hills in 2002, Wehba is deeply opposed to Giuliani's pro-choice, pro-gay-rights views.

But Wehba, a successful businessman, is willing to look beyond those traits to something else he sees in the Republican former mayor: a leadership X-factor that he believes could squash Democrat Hillary Clinton and carry Giuliani all the way to the White House in 2008.

"He's someone who can get things done, and he can win," said Wehba. "And I'm not the only Christian who thinks like that."

As 2008 hopefuls start to woo different slices of the electorate, one of the more unexpected shifts appears to be a slow migration of white evangelical conservatives toward the thrice-married Giuliani.

A Washington Post/ABC News poll last week found that such voters are now a major reason why Giuliani is outpacing Arizona Sen. John McCain by 23 percentage points - up from just seven percentage points in January.

Giuliani is pulling ahead with a novel approach: by simply agreeing to disagree with conservatives on social issues, then moving quickly to the common ground he shares on taxes, education and the war on terror.

"You've got to run based on who you are," Giuliani told a group of South Carolina firefighters recently. "If you do it that way, even people who disagree with you sometimes respect you."

Giuliani is aided by the fact that conservatives have no real standard bearer in the top tier. They distrust McCain for once bashing televangelist Jerry Falwell, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is now greeted with beach flip-flops for all his shifts on abortion and other social issues.

"Giuliani has an authenticity that does register with a lot of conservatives," said John Green, a senior fellow at the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. "They say, 'Well, at least we know where he stands.'"

Which is why Wehba, 59 - a former Texan who last voted for George W. Bush - will be standing with Giuliani tomorrow night when he hits Los Angeles for a fund-raiser.

"Maybe we don't all agree with his social positions," said Wehba. "But that's okay, he's a deal maker."


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: duncanhunter; giuliani; rudy; rudy2008
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To: veronica

Is this the same Fred Webba?

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m5072/is_34_26/ai_n6359112

If so, it sounds like the guy is a deal maker of his own, with maybe a touch of fraud thrown in for good measure.

Or is this Fred Webba a different person?


21 posted on 03/04/2007 7:54:34 AM PST by savedbygrace (SECURE THE BORDERS FIRST (I'M YELLING ON PURPOSE))
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To: veronica
I am just going to save the Rudy haters some time this Sunday so they can spend their time elsewhere like with their families.

Rudy can't win because he's a gun grabbing, baby killin supportin, pervert lover who where's lady's clothes!!!

AND HE'S A YANKEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Any one who backs him regardless of their credentials are also RINO's.

Have fun with the family today, your position has been posted.
22 posted on 03/04/2007 7:57:27 AM PST by spikeytx86 (Pray for Democrats for they have been brainwashed by their fruity little club.)
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To: TommyDale; veronica

According to you, only those opposed to Rudy speak for the right.


23 posted on 03/04/2007 7:59:30 AM PST by DKNY ("You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it." --Margaret Thatcher)
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To: spikeytx86
I guarantee you that this thread will get far more hits than THIS thread. That's how much these characters have lost their way.
24 posted on 03/04/2007 8:03:32 AM PST by veronica ('My 80% ally is not my 20% enemy.' ........Rudy reminds us what Ronald Reagan said.)
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To: veronica; areafiftyone; LtdGovt; All
I want everyone to take note of the people who support someone who thinks the Constitution means nothing.

Lets forget about his Pro-Gay, Pro-Abortion stand for a moment and focus on his anti-constitution beliefs shall we.

Rudy, the Liberal that these so-called conservatives support agrees with Mccain-Fiengold(CFR) 100 percent. He also thinks all handguns should be registered and that Man-made Global warming is a fact not some BS stunt pulled by the Liberals.

So now you have to ask yourselves this, what Conservative would support an anti-constitution zealot like Rudy? The answer is none. Which pretty much sums how the Rudy supporters think.

25 posted on 03/04/2007 8:04:00 AM PST by Post-Neolithic (Money only makes Communists rich Communists)
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To: DKNY

That's how arrogant they are.


26 posted on 03/04/2007 8:04:08 AM PST by veronica ('My 80% ally is not my 20% enemy.' ........Rudy reminds us what Ronald Reagan said.)
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To: veronica
What sound or sane Christian "evangelist" would CARE if he can win if he is rabidly pro-abortion and pro-homosexual? Certainly not one advancing the principles of Christianity.

This guy isn't any better than the "Christians" that aligned with Hitler.

27 posted on 03/04/2007 8:09:33 AM PST by Ol' Sparky
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To: giobruno

And that, my friend, is the argument in a nutshell. You are correct...and I hope Rudy can make it through the next year of attacks.


28 posted on 03/04/2007 8:13:08 AM PST by Hildy (RINO=RUDY IS NUMBER ONE)
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To: areafiftyone

AWESOME! Someone is posting on here that OK Evangelicals don't support Rudy, but a good friend from NW OK is telling me in his Church that at least 50% support Rudy.


29 posted on 03/04/2007 8:20:17 AM PST by PhiKapMom (Broken Glass Republican -- RudyforPresident2008@yahoogroups.com or http://www.rudygforamerica.com)
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To: WalterSkinner
But he is able to compartmentalize his life quite nicely--not applying what he professes to believe to his daily life--

Perhaps he's taking the words of our saviour literally. You know, render unto Ceasar that which is Ceasar's and unto God that which is God's.

Perhaps he's got that whole "church and state" thing our forefathers talked about all figured out as well.

30 posted on 03/04/2007 8:21:45 AM PST by McGavin999 ("Hard is not Hopeless" General Petraeus)
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To: TommyDale
I'm certain that a Beverly Hills "evangelist" speaks for the entire Religious Right. /sarcasm

Would that be your opinion if he supported Duncan Hunter instead of Rudy?

What do you say?

31 posted on 03/04/2007 8:23:07 AM PST by melancholy (The GOP nominee, whoever he is, will get my vote, period.)
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To: melancholy

Of course not. That is ridiculous to even suggest. However, the VAST majority of Christian "Religious Right" do not support abortion or homosexual rights as Giuliani does.


32 posted on 03/04/2007 8:26:58 AM PST by TommyDale (What will Rudy do in the War on Terror? Implement gun control on insurgents and Al Qaeda?)
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To: DKNY

You are a liar.


33 posted on 03/04/2007 8:27:32 AM PST by TommyDale (What will Rudy do in the War on Terror? Implement gun control on insurgents and Al Qaeda?)
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To: Victoria Delsoul

PINGster!


34 posted on 03/04/2007 8:27:45 AM PST by HitmanLV ("If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking until you do suck seed." - Jerry 'Curly' Howard)
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To: giobruno; Victoria Delsoul
If Rudy gets national security, crime, social security and Medicare reform, and general fiscal discipline correct, then I can live with stalemate on the other issues right now

Another thing is how bitterly divided the USA has been for a while, even after a brutal attack on our shores. We need to bridge some of these issues - if we don't the dems will. this bitter 50-50 split needs to be worked on, and that means compromise.

35 posted on 03/04/2007 8:30:11 AM PST by HitmanLV ("If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking until you do suck seed." - Jerry 'Curly' Howard)
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To: TommyDale

Typical response.


36 posted on 03/04/2007 8:33:16 AM PST by DKNY ("You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it." --Margaret Thatcher)
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To: giobruno

If Newt jumped in, the conservs would flow to him. Still, could he win a national campaign? Yet, Rudy G could and with a VP , say like Newt, it would be a rout.


37 posted on 03/04/2007 8:46:27 AM PST by phillyfanatic
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To: veronica

I do think that many (perhaps a majority) of Evangelicals make their political decisions on a series of candidate beliefs and positions. Perhaps Giuliani is the ultimate test of this hypothesis.


38 posted on 03/04/2007 8:50:06 AM PST by shrinkermd
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To: phillyfanatic
phillyfanatic wrote: If Newt jumped in, the conservs would flow to him.

I consider myself a conservative and I wouldn't vote for Newt if he were running for dog catcher.

39 posted on 03/04/2007 8:51:23 AM PST by Oshkalaboomboom
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To: TommyDale
I'm certain that a Beverly Hills "evangelist" speaks for the entire Religious Right. /sarcasm

I'm not a Christian, but didn't I hear something about some important guy "going where the sinners are"?

40 posted on 03/04/2007 8:54:37 AM PST by Uncledave
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