Posted on 04/13/2007 6:40:54 AM PDT by Spiff
Rudy's Abortion Deal-Breaker
By Doug Bandow
Perhaps it is inevitable that a man who became a national icon also ended up politically tone deaf. He began to believe his press clipplings, sycophants surrounded him, drowning out any criticism, and the rush of White House staff wannabees left him convinced that the bandwagon could not run off-course. Rudy Giuliani obviously doesn't get it, but his support for taxpayer-paid abortions could --and certainly should--prove to be the deal- breaker for pro-life conservatives.
Until now, at least, Giuliani had posed the most serious political challenge yet for social conservatives. He possessed the aura of competence and seemed to say the "right" things when it came to most economic, regulatory, and foreign policy issues. Which meant that many on the right felt he could be trusted, at least as far as any politician could be trusted, to deliver on the most important issues. (I'm less sanguine, but that's another matter.)
Of course, the unsavory private life -- the tacky public announcement of his planned divorce, unseemly court fight over bringing his mistress into the city-provided mayoral residence, and estrangement from his kids -- left a nasty taste. Good policy should still be trump, but then there was Giuliani's support for abortion. It's a difficult and complex issue, but supporting abortion is different from, say, backing higher dairy subsidies.
[...SNIP...]
Public funding for abortion creates an official imprimatur of respectability and makes us all complicit in a great moral wrong. If Mayor Giuliani can't understand such a fundamental issue, or worse, understands it but doesn't care, he's likely to disappoint conservative voters in other important areas as well.
There are some deal-breakers in politics. Public financing of abortion should be one for social conservatives.
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
Heehee - just what I was thinking. I just can’t support anybody who supports making abortion easier or more available. Can’t do it. Even if it means my side loses this time (which I don’t for a minute accept as a given). This is a sword to fall on. Even if it’s painful and people are bored by the sight of blood.
Ditto.
Events can be framed to seem awful, if characterized that way.
Good for you Veronica - I applaud you - very much.
Good for you.
Veronica, Veronica, Veronica! Do you think the appointments of Justices Scalia, Thomas, Alito and Roberts were accidental?
I understand where you coming from. But I just can’t vote for someone who is okay with killing innocent babies.
Let me ammend that. Using the money God gave me stewardship of to pay for abortions is one of them.
Veronica why are you talking sensibly? YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO!!! ;-)
No use trying to whitewash it. Rudy's personal life is well documented. Too many people know and there will be more who know soon.
I don't think announcing to your wife, and mother of you children, at a press conference, that you are divorcing her, can be spun to look lofty.
It was awful, and still is awful.
No doubt, but the GOP should fully expect to lose if Republicans nominate Giuliani. I'm not saying that Rudy won't get my vote in the general election, but I will NOT be complicit in getting him that nomination.
I see no reason to be in such a hurry to compromise, or to compromise quite so deeply.
Lots of topics and ideas to weigh in this pre-primary season, eh? :)
My main problem with Rudy’s recent reflections is his willingness to use tax-payer money to fund abortion for poor women. I really have a hard time with that one..
I’ve always respected Rudy- and am paying close attention to him during this period. I’ve never been a Rudy hater- but am finding myself unsettled about him.
I too will never vote for Rino Rudy. I will go third party first. And fro the record that tired old scare tactic of vote rino or a rat wins is not working on many of us anymore.
Stating verifiable facts and positions in direct contradiction with core conseravtive values is unreasonable now?
***Mrs. Clinton is grateful for those who think like that.***
Ironically, he doesn't seem to be paying much of a political price, as he continues to be the hands-down frontrunner. It appears that the extreme religious right does not have anywhere near the influence with the voters they pretend to have. In fact, their disdain is a political plus for Rudy, even in the primary.
The only question remaining is whether the religious right wants to have its phone calls answered after the election.
What part of it is not factual? Funny you interpret the actual events of Rudy’s life in such a negative way. Maybe it’s because he’s a POS scumbag!
Wow - interesting.
Last week I saw a lot of posts where Rudy was suddenly “toast” because he once again stated his personal view on choice.
No change in the polls -
I think people respect a man who holds his beliefs - whether we agree with those beliefs or not.
It is getting more and more to be a race of voting for the lesser or two or more evils. There is no one so far that really is worth voting for. For myself I would never vote for a Demomarxist under any circumstance however it is pretty disheartening to have the poor list of Repub candidates that we have to choose from. Rather than bright-flaming liberals (the Demos) we get to choose from lower-flame liberals (the Repubs). What a choice.
Would you support Fred Thompson - if I may ask?
If not - who might be your ideal candidate?
I think his point is that IF abortion is legal (which it is) then poor women should not be consigned to coat-hanger abortions in back alleys, while rich women get to go to fancy offices where the procedures are safe. IF some of our taxes go to social services (which they do) then it stands that some of that money should go to protecting the rights of poor women not to be butchered. I think that is the argument. I don't think it's "willingness" as much as pragmatism.
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