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."
Keep eating your own, and say hello to President Clinton in 2008
Newt made a formal announcement that he won't run. Read it on Town Hall.com.
Newt knows what kind of media blitz he would unleash if he runs.
I went to Townhall and saw no such "formal announcement." Got a link?
I could never vote for Gingrich.
I agree. However, here is my stock response to the conservatives who seem eager to see Hillary as POTUS so that they can say they voted (or not) on principle.
I will vote for the Republican nominee for POTUS because that person is more likely to fight the war on terror, cut taxes and regulations, and appoint more constructionsit judges. (On the last, a lot of Rep POTUS' have made mistakes).
That means I will hold my nose and vote for McCain or Romney. Although concerned about RINO tendencies, I like Rudy as a person, and will also vote for him if he gets the nomination.
And away goes Rudy down the drain!
(Be careful TxVet, then it's plain
The one name left is John McCain)
I am beginning to believe that President Hillary would be preferable to President Giuliani.
At least with Hillary running things, conservatives would dig in and fight. With Rudy pushing the same agenda, our opposition would wilt.
If the Clinton's 1996 Health Care plan was pushed by Rudy Giuliani, instead of Hillary, it would have passed.
That would be the perfect ticket for the MSM . They would use Rudy and Newt's combined baggage to drive a wedge into the Republican ranks in an attempt to get the religious Conservatives to stay home , '06 repeat.
The MSM thinks that this formula will work again , and it will, if Rudy is the nominee .
Newt got demonized and shredded by the Klinton/MSM machine in the past, and it surely would happen again .
I am for all those things you listed. But I am willing to compromise on them. For instance, I am a strong supporter of the fair tax, and yet I would vote for a republican who is against tax reform if they had a chance of winning.
HOWEVER, I have some principles I will never compromise. Abortion is the top of the list. I think we all have positions that we hold but are willing to compromise on, I hope we all hold some positions so dearly that there is no compromise.
I will compromise on most things to win, BUT I will not sell my soul to gain fiscal responsibility in the White House. There is a difference between political positions and core values.
And away goes Rudy down the drain!
(Be careful TxVet, then it's plain
The one name left is John McCain)
What we have heyah, is a hilarious retort!
((((applause))))
For some "born-again Christians" the only person "worthy" of their political vote would be Jesus. Not likely in this election cycle.
This is the second or third article I've seen that seems to confirm this trend. It will be interesting to watch freepers try and condemn evangelicals as treasonous liberals.
Sure, dude.
see tagline:
McCain/Kerry F the POWS/MIAS
McCain/Feingold F free speech
McCain/Kennedy F American Sovereignty
McCain/Gang of 14
McCain/Keating 5
McCain/Terrorist Bill of Rights
McCain/gun grabber
More?
YBPDLN Ping ???
Does this guy even rate one?
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