Posted on 05/06/2007 2:08:43 AM PDT by Jim Robinson
Last week's debate among 10 Republican presidential candidates encompassed all the usual issues and then some, but some of its most striking moments centered on two topics: abortion and evolution.
While his opponents restated their opposition to abortion rights, former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani put himself on all sides of the issue, including staking out a new position — that he would be "OK" with the repeal of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision establishing a constitutional right to abortion.
But he also said he would be "OK" if a conservative judge upheld the decision because it was a long-established precedent.
Giuliani said in the debate that he opposed using public money to finance abortions, but just last month, he told CNN that he supported using public money, the same position he had held as mayor. And while he said he hated abortion, he said he saw it ultimately as a matter of conscience, concluding, "I would respect a woman's right to make a different choice."
Some surprises
As he has ventured into Republican primary territory, often dominated by the party's conservatives, Giuliani has edged toward a more nuanced position on abortion.
Still, his acquiescence in the debate Thursday to the idea of a repeal of Roe v. Wade surprised some longtime supporters.
"I was appalled," said Kelli Conlin, president of Naral Pro-Choice New York, which stayed neutral when Giuliani was a candidate for the Senate running against Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Conlin said that she recognized that it took "courage" to be the only person on a stage to stand up for abortion rights but said that if Giuliani became the Republican presidential nominee in 2008, she doubted that her group would remain neutral again.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
Conlin said that she recognized that it took "courage" to be the only person on a stage to stand up for abortion rights but said that if Giuliani became the Republican presidential nominee in 2008, she doubted that her group would remain neutral again.
http://www.naral.org
I can see this is going to be an objective article...
Whatever one thinks of Giuliani, it's plain that the MSM are going after him since he outpolls HRC and McCain.
I guess Rudy is for or against abortion depending on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is. Where have we heard that one before.
Archives of Rudolph W. Giuliani, 107th Mayor
Opening Remarks to the N.A.R.A.L. “Champions of Choice” Lunch
The Yale Club, Thursday, April 5th, 2001
As Delivered
Thank you very much for inviting me to say a few words of welcome. This event shows that people of different political parties and different political thinking can unite in support of choice. In doing so, we are upholding a distinguished tradition that began in our city starting with the work of Margaret Sanger and the movement for reproductive freedom that began in the early decades of the 20th century.
As a Republican who supports a woman’s right to choose, it is particularly an honor to be here. And I would like to explain, just for one moment, why I believe being in favor of choice is consistent with the philosophy of the Republican Party. In fact, it might be more consistent with the philosophy of the Republican Party. Because the Republican Party stands for the idea that you have to restore more freedom of choice, more opportunity, more opportunity for people to make their own choices rather than the government dictating those choices. Republicans stand for lower taxation because we believe that people can make better choices with their money than the government will make for them, and that ultimately frees the economy and produces more political freedom. We believe that, yes, government is important, but that the private sector is actually more important in solving our problems.
So it is consistent with that philosophy to believe that in the most personal and difficult choices that a woman has to make with regard to a pregnancy, those choices should be made based on that person’s conscience and that person’s way of thinking and feeling. The government shouldn’t dictate that choice by making it a crime or making it illegal.
I think that’s actually a much more consistent position. Many Republicans support that position, but you don’t hear that as often. For example, in a recent poll by American Viewpoint, 65 percent of Republicans supported changing the plank in the Republican platform that calls for a constitutional ban on abortion. That’s 6.5 out of every 10 Republicans. And over 80 percent of Republicans believe that the decision with regard to an abortion should be made by a woman, her doctor, and her family rather than dictated by the government.
[Applause]
In any case, I just wanted you to know that many of my fellow Republicans stand with you on this issue. So I thank you, I thank NARAL for taking the lead in establishing freedom of choice for all of us, and as the Mayor of New York City, I thank you for being here in New York City.
# # #
http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/rwg/html/2001b/champlunch.html
All I commented on was the phrasing of the issue-- "opposition to abortion rights." If you don't think that's a loaded phrase, fine. And where did I say you'd posted anything untruthful?
Relax.
MAYOR GIULIANI DELIVERS REMARKS AT NARAL’S 16TH ANNUAL AWARDS RECEPTION
April 3, 1997
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani tonight joined the members of the National Abortion & Reproductive Rights Action League of New York State (NARAL/NY) for the group’s 16th Annual Gala Awards Reception at B. Smith’s Restaurant in Manhattan.
This year’s awards were presented to Wendy Mackenzie, for her work in several pro-choice organizations; Department of Health Commissioner Margaret Hamburg for promoting a policy that reproductive healthcare must be viewed as part of the overall scope of healthcare; Christy Haubegger, founder of the bilingual magazine Latina, which tackles issues like abortion and birth control; and Claudia Crown Ades, who underwent an abortion in her sixth month of a non-viable pregnancy and has worked diligently to keep this procedure legal.
“As many of you may know, I have a long record of support for the struggles women have endured to gain equality in our society,” said Mayor Giuliani. “And personally, I’ve always had great empathy for the obstacles women have had to overcome throughout this century. Perhaps the most intense struggle has been over the right of choice.
“For 25 years, NARAL/NY has worked legislatively and electorally to protect women’s access to safe and legal abortion and expand the full range of reproductive rights to all women, regardless of age, race or income,” the Mayor added. “I congratulate NARAL/NY for taking the time to honor these outstanding four women and, on behalf of all New Yorkers, I would like to thank each honoree for her strength, dedication, and courageous efforts to ensure that future generations of American women have the right to choose.”
http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/html/97/sp170-97.html
I don’t understand where you got the idea that I think Giuliani is pro-life, or ever claimed he was such.
Let’s face it. Rudy Giuliani is in bed with the socialist scumbags of NARAL. He’s no friend to conservatism and no friend to freedom.
http://www.google.com/search?q=naral+george+soros
My point wasn't that I support Giuliani; my point was that he is ahead in a lot of polls, so the MSM is now trying to hit him. If this results in more attention being paid to Fred Thompson, that's a good thing. But it's hard to avoid the fact that Giuliani is a front runner, and the MSM are gunning for him now that he's a potential threat, as they see it.
I didn’t watch much of the “debate” but Giuliani clearly made a bad case for himself with his comments.
By the way, I think the pro-life establishment (National Right To Life) favors Brownback as the best “pro-life” candidate, but the senator is way back now.
I’m uncommitted but against McCain.
But considering what I did see from this show with questions about “gay hiring” and “evolution”, it seems the whole exercise was designed for opposition research and soundbites to be used against Republicans.
MSNBC doing the Democrat Party’s work for them, as usual.
Almost. According to most of what I read evolution can explain the difference between two kinds of songbirds or between lions and tigers, but not the difference between a lizard and a flying bird, between dogs and cats, or between fish and lizards. Aside from everything else, there has never been enough time for that according to anybody’s version of how old the Earth is, i.e. you’d need quadrillions of years and not millions or billions. The problem involving the lengths of time needed to pass genetic changes through herds of animals is called the Haldane dilemma and arises from studies of population genetics.
Yeah, in the end the MSM is going to do whatever it takes to elect Hillary. Rudy is their friend until he becomes a threat to her.
Rooty is their friend until he wins the nomination. After that they will drop a new scandal or liberal record of his past on him every week.
He is unelectable as a Republican and the MSM knows it. A Rooty nomination would be their dream come true.
The Republican party would do as well if they nominated Mark Foley.
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