Posted on 04/20/2007 9:07:37 AM PDT by Mr. Brightside
Rudy: Switching on guns, abortion
BY CRAIG GORDON
craig.gordon@newsday.com
April 19, 2007, 9:21 PM EDT
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Rudolph Giuliani Thursday linked the 1995 bombing of a federal building here to the Virginia Tech massacre by speaking in the role he wants Republicans to remember -- the leader who guided another terror-battered city through tragedy.
But this week's events highlight another side of Giuliani -- the presidential candidate who once bluntly rejected some of his party's core beliefs, only to switch his stances now to walk in step with GOP faithful.
Giuliani this week issued statements on gun control and late-term abortion that differ sharply from his previous positions, opening him up to "flip-flop" charges by activists. The gun control switch seems particularly stark.
As New York mayor, Giuliani didn't just support tough controls -- he became former President Bill Clinton's go-to Republican to lobby a GOP Congress to back an assault-weapons ban.
Later, Giuliani joined a lawsuit against gun makers and called for a "uniform law passed by Congress" to regulate handgun ownership.
This week, however, his campaign didn't mention that. Instead, spokeswoman Maria Comella said, "He supports reasonable restrictions and believes that in most cases it's best left up to the states to determine what those restrictions are."
Giuliani said Thursday the Virginia Tech massacre calls out for solutions, but he ducked questions about whether one such solution would be greater gun control.
On the abortion issue, Giuliani issued a statement praising the Supreme Court for its decision Wednesday upholding a ban on so-called partial-birth abortion. But as recently as 2000, he was still voicing support for allowing the procedure.
During the campaign, Giuliani has stood by his support for abortion rights more broadly. Comella defended Giuliani's position now, saying the ban upheld by Congress is "fundamentally different" from the one he opposed in the past, because it now includes scientific findings about protecting the life of the mother.
Charles Cook, an independent political analyst in Washington, said the perception that Giuliani is switching positions for political convenience could cause him trouble with Republican voters -- though he's already in trouble with some for his initial positions on gun control and abortion.
"Whether people see him as a flip-flopper, or whether people see him as out of the Republican mainstream, either way it's a problem," Cook said. "The more the gun issue is in the news, the more abortion is in the news, the harder it is for Rudy Giuliani."
Slip slidin’ away...slip slidin’ away...
I see Rudy’s chances, slip slidin’ away...
Now he’s a liar AND a liberal.
What a terrible choice for any position.
I wouldnt vote him dog catcher.
Move to the right for the primaries, move back to the left for the general election. These views will last until the day after the primaries.
See tagline.
Yes, but that was long before the Democrats turned into Commies, Socialists, and America-Haters. He also recognized when they began to change to what they are today and changed parties.
“But he promises to fill the judiciary with strict constitutionist flip/floppers.”
I’m sure he wholeheartedly believes that Sara Brady is a strict constitutionist and would make a fine justice.
However, should Rudy win the primary and represent the Republican party in the general election, I think we should all be ready to support him totally against the Hildabeast.
I would therefore warn against this constant Rudy bashing. Let’s save our ammo for the general.
Maybe he’s just a whore...
Nope... The six adult members of my family here in Idaho won’t. We’ll campaign for a third party.
Rudy is a pathological liar!!
I always thought Rudy would modify some of his positions on abortion and gun control, once he got away from the liberal bastion of NYC and into a national campaign.
I’m not sure the word “lying” applies as directly and strictly in the world of politics as it does in the private life of most working American citizens.
Although I am a conservative, I like Rudy and think we could do worse (McCain). I think he is pulling in his horns (heh heh) on these issues a little bit; the “state’s rights” gambit gives him cover. Seems like good politics to me.
If Fred Thompson or Newt Gingrich get into the race, I’ll consider them very seriously, but right now I like Rudy. The main goal is defeating the Dims. They are the true enemy.
And, being an optimist, I think there is always the possibility that Rudy is gaining wisdom, and evolving into a more conservative individual!
See my tagline : )
Rudy the RINO is starting to squirm. He’s realizing more and more Republicans and conservatives are seeing his liberal Dem positions and looking for other candidates. He’s a flip flopper doing this to garner the conservative vote. He’ll switch back after the primary when he and Sen Cankles run campaigns on nearly identical platforms. He’ll never get my vote.
With all due respect, I will continue to hold onto my conservative ideals and only cast my vote for candidates that share them. Unfortunately Rudy has many problems in the conservative arena. You sir may campaign for Rudy elsewhere. How bout you ping Jim Robinson with your thoughts, I bet he would love to hear from you.
“Oh, don’t worry. He will also claim to be 100% consistent during the general election (if he manages to emerge the Republican nominee, *gag*) when he drifts back to his natural home on the left and extols the virtues of gun control, taxpayer funded abortion on demand, and nanny-state government policy.”
And the Rudy-Bots here and elsewhere will tell you that it is your patriotic duty to vote for a gun controlling, taxpayer funding abortion on demand, and nanny-state government policy wonk, or you are not a true “conservative.”
I admire Guiliani, and he demonstrated he’s a ‘good man in a storm’ during and after the 9/11 attacks.
But I won’t vote for a nominee that has his track record on the Second Amendment and gay rights.
As for his judicial preferences....what he’s claiming isn’t supported by his own acts while holding previous jobs, as this article demonstrates clearly.
He’ll do well in a cabinet position in a GOP administration.
“However, should Rudy win the primary and represent the Republican party in the general election, I think we should all be ready to support him totally against the Hildabeast.”
If a disgusting liberal puke is going to destroy this nation, I’d just as soon the letter after their name NOT be an “R”.
His response to the 1997 Empire State Building shooting was to call up then-freshman Dem Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (now the leading gun-grabber in Congress) to invite her to a presser calling for more federal gun control laws.
So his ducking the issue as to what he'd do about the VT shooting sets off alarm bells.
Reasonable restrictions? Given Rudy's past history, his idea of reasonable restrictions is more in line with the Brady Center than the rank and file of the GOP.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.