Rudy's Party -- or Reagan's?

Townhall.com ^ | 11 May 2007 | Patrick J. Buchanan

[Aussie Dasher]

"After months of conflicting signals on abortion, Rudolph W. Giuliani is planning to offer a forthright affirmation of his support for abortion rights in public forums, television appearances and interviews in coming days," writes The New York Times.

If true, it marks either the beginning of the end of the Giuliani campaign -- or the beginning of the end of the Party of Ronald Reagan.

For Reagan's party was a pro-life party. Life defined the man. Life defined the movement he led. It was Reagan who insisted that his speechwriters include mention of the life issue in every State of the Union. At one lunch with senior staff, Reagan choked up as he read a letter from a woman who said she daily thanked God she had not had an abortion 45 years before, as she had considered doing, as now the son she had borne was taking care of her in her old age.

Since Reagan, whatever GOP nominees have believed privately, they ran as pro-life candidates.

If Rudy were to be nominated as a pro-choice Republican, millions would stay home or vote third party. For it was the life issue that brought them into the party, or kept them there when they disagreed with the party on almost everything else.

Nor is Rudy's embrace of the pro-choice position going to stop the questions -- like the ones he kicked all over the stage at the Reagan Library.

Asked if he would like to see Roe v. Wade overturned, Rudy allowed as how it would be "OK" with him if it was and OK with him if it wasn't. Though he "hated" abortion, he had funded it in New York. If others don't want to fund it, that's OK with Rudy, too.

Rudy, in short, is treating the issue like a ban on smoking in bars.

A Rudy nomination would bring the culture war right down onto the floor of the Republican convention. For Rudy is not only pro-choice on abortion, he has supported affirmative action, favored amnesty for illegals, turned New York into a sanctuary city where the NYPD was forbidden to ask arrestees their immigration status, has championed gay rights, marched in gay pride parades -- once not all that far behind the big float of the North American Man/Boy Love Association.

He is thrice married, and he used to bring his main squeeze into Gracie Mansion while still married to the mother of his son. When she threw him out, he was taken in by a couple of gay friends.

And Rudy is now suiting up to lead the family values party into battle? Dr. Dobson, call you office.

Rudy's cover on the abortion issue has been his promise to appoint strict constructionists to the Supreme Court, like Antonin Scalia, John Roberts, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, a crucial commitment that would be a huge factor in 2008. For the court is on a knife's edge, and the replacement of the octogenarian John Paul Stevens with a Scalia type could mean the end of Roe v. Wade.

But Rudy's commitment, welcome as it is, raises a question. What does Rudy Giuliani really believe?

If Rudy is honestly pro-choice, how can he name justices certain to overturn Roe v. Wade, thereby restricting choice to millions of women? And if he intends to nominate justices like Roberts and Scalia, why would any pro-choicers vote for him?

Rudy's pro-choice, pro-Scalia stance seems intellectually incoherent and politically inexplicable. He loses part of the pro-life vote and all the pro-choice vote? This is smart politics?

Moreover, simply because Rudy declares himself pro-choice does not mean the issue goes away. Rudy's opponents will bring it up again and again in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. The press will go straight to the contradiction between supporting "a woman's right to choose" and supporting justices who would abolish a woman's right to choose.

And, now, His Holiness has weighed in. Angered over a vote by Mexico to permit first-trimester abortions, Benedict XVI said on his flight to Brazil that the Catholic legislators who had voted to legalize abortion had excommunicated themselves and should be denied Holy Communion.

This suggests the Vatican will not be silent on Rudy's bid to become the first Catholic Republican president. Nor will Cardinal Edward Egan of New York or Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington -- if the latter has any interest in a cardinal's hat.

With the national press trailing candidate Rudy to church every Sunday, quizzing the parish priest and local bishop as to whether Rudy will be denied communion, this should bring the religious issue back to presidential politics as it has not been since 1928, when Democrats nominated another New York Catholic named Al Smith.

Somewhere, Mitt Romney is smiling.

[Aussie Dasher]

Rudy's nomination spells the end for the GOP - and another Clinton presidency!!!

[TxCopper]

I read a book, over the last week, by Patrick J. Buchanan. It was called “Death of the West.” It was, by my measure, the most honest and fact-based testament about the coming future. I am forever a fan and reader.

[Capitalism2003]

"A Rudy nomination would bring the culture war right down onto the floor of the Republican convention. For Rudy is not only pro-choice on abortion, he has supported affirmative action, favored amnesty for illegals, turned New York into a sanctuary city where the NYPD was forbidden to ask arrestees their immigration status, has championed gay rights, marched in gay pride parades"

Ron Paul:

--STRONGLY pro-life

--Favors massive increases in the coast guard, port security, and border security. Wants to deport those here illegally.

--Against affirmative action

--Voted to ammend Constitution defining marriage as between a man and woman.

--Wants dramatic reductions in government spending and taxation at home.

Let's get behind Ron Paul.

[Aussie Dasher]

He sounds good BUT few have ever heard of him.

[saveliberty]

No thanks

Check out this item from yesterday

http://ace.mu.nu/archives/225943.php

May 10, 2007
Ron Paul Aligns With Rosie O’Donnell: US Government Will Phony Up New Gulf of Tonkin Incident To Contrive A War With Iran

[Bogtrotter52]

It is WAY too early for the media to be having him as the shoe-in GOP candidate. We WILL get someone who is acceptable. No one can be another Ronnie....but they can at least aspire to be and hold like values.

[saveliberty]

There’s video of Ron Paul in Post 5, posted by Ace of Spades. It’s not good.

There’s more on the item from HotAir
http://hotair.com/archives/2007/05/10/video-ron-paul-bircheresque-crank/

[Ronin]

Rudy has no chance of getting the nomination.

[Aussie Dasher]

I sure hope you’re right!

[x_plus_one]

Rudy’s nomination would spell the end for Rudy if’n he’s a Roman Catholic. The pope and the powers that be are glacialy moving in the direction of enforcing a non-communion ban on apostate politicians who are pro-abortion.

[highlander_UW]

I’m registered as an independent. If the GOP chooses Rudy as their candidate they can be certain they won’t be getting my vote. As Rudy supporters attempt to triangulate “moderate” votes that such a candidate might net them they better be sure to account for conservative and Christian voters such as myself who they will be losing.

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Pre-9/11, I’d go for Ron Paul.

Not post 9/11. Noninterventionism isn’t viable anymore.

I’ve got my conservative in Duncan Hunter.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

For Reagan's party was a pro-life party. Life defined the man. Life defined the movement he led. It was Reagan who insisted that his speechwriters include mention of the life issue in every State of the Union. At one lunch with senior staff, Reagan choked up as he read a letter from a woman who said she daily thanked God she had not had an abortion 45 years before, as she had considered doing, as now the son she had borne was taking care of her in her old age.

Good lord. After all these year's, Pat Buchanan's finally written something sane, rational and true.

God bless the Law of Averages.

[Josh Painter]

It’s a rare occasion when I find myself agreeing with Pat Buchanan. This is one of them.

[saveliberty]

LOL

[Vaquero]

[Joe Boucher]

If it becomes Rudys party then it is time for a new REAL conservative party.

[ridge]

After reading Fred Thompson’s legal intrepretation as well as Rudy Giuliani’s legal intrepretation, how are those intrepretations of abortion different? Giuliani has already defined the type of SC Justice he would nominate. And he hasn’t changed his own personal beliefs unlike some candidates. As far as I’m concerned William Kristol and his cabal of media pundits can go to hell along with McCain.

[Neville72]

“After reading Fred Thompson’s legal intrepretation as well as Rudy Giuliani’s legal intrepretation, how are those intrepretations of abortion different? Giuliani has already defined the type of SC Justice he would nominate. And he hasn’t changed his own personal beliefs unlike some candidates. As far as I’m concerned William Kristol and his cabal of media pundits can go to hell along with McCain.”

Rudy’s NARAL rating————100%

Fred thompson’s NARAL rating———0%

Nuff said.

Let’s look at what’s going on while Fred’s “mulling” his decision.

Rudy’s had a miserable last two weeks/month. He’s had the revelation of the six Planned Parenthood donations which effectively nixed his attempt to be seen as at least neutral on the abortion question. It’s gone so badly that apparently he’s decided to go ALL IN WITH A 2-7 OFFSUIT and proclaim proudly his support for the pro-choice position effectively ruining him with the base. His candidacy is imploding.

Mitt Romney, despite his 1st Quarter fundraising, is still mired in forth or fifth place (7% and 5th in the latest Marist poll) and had the revelation of his own/wife’s donation from their JOINT CHECKING ACCOUNT to the primary supporter of infanticide——a fact that will only increase suspicion of him as a johnny-come-lately “conservative” and a political chamelon only too ready to say anything to anybody to get their vote.

McCain? Well he doesn’t appear to be going anywhere, up or down but he’s done little to increase his appeal outside of his hard core support.

Seems to me that Fred’s playing this about right. Letting Romney and Giuliani’s campaign’s self-destruct while he remains above the fray and continues to introduce himself with position papers, speeches and essays that strengthen his bona fides with the party’s base.

True, he can’t wait forever but I believe he’s playing this one out just about right.

[Chuck Dent]

the beginning of the end of the Party of Ronald Reagan

Rudy is simply nationalizing Arnie's California campaign. Why is this so difficult for people to grasp? Or does Pat see it, but is still under deadline pressure to write something?

I mean, how difficult is it to realize what's happening? Why aren't we seeing columns inches devoted to this occurrence? Where is Spiff's chart outlining Rudy & the GOP? He should do one between Rudy & Arnie.

If you want to see what's in store for the GOP, look no further than California. With Florida now in the mix as well, Rudy is going to run straight up the middle and lock up the nomination in the big blue states over a span of a few weeks in early 2008.