Rudy Giuliani Has His “Dukakis Moment”

intellectualconservative.com ^ | May 18, 2007 | By Christopher Adamo

[Jim Robinson]

By his transparent effort to find "middle ground" on the fundamental issue of human life, where clearly none exists, Giuliani's proved that his recent pronouncement of a decidedly pro-abortion stance resulted neither from any heartfelt belief nor from any desire to promote a certain agenda. Rather, it represents a desperate calculation, designed to hastily settle a brewing firestorm that otherwise leaves him exposed to further controversy.

~~snip~~

During the May 4 Republican debate, liberal "mediator" Chris Matthews hammered him relentlessly on the abortion issue. As a result, the Giuliani camp seems to have concluded that an unambiguous statement on the issue, no matter how adverse to the conservative base, would settle matters more quickly and equitably than a continuation of his former course. Unfortunately for Giuliani however, this latest announcement, when weighed against his previous postures on the abortion issue, is anything but "unambiguous."

Giuliani has since reasserted his belief in a woman's inherent "right to choose." Yet in past months, he has claimed to support the confirmation of Supreme Court Justices who may well eradicate that "right." So now he will be forced to "clarify" his statement on the sort of Justices he would appoint to the high court. This can of worms has only begun to open.

Furthermore, by now taking such a strident stance on an issue about which he diligently sought, until this past weekend to find "common ground" with the base, he shows once again that all of his stances on this issue are merely postures. Thus his political gymnastics beg the question of which other foundational issues are similarly up for debate and reconsideration in the aftershocks of tough questioning from reporters.

Among Giuliani's other "Achilles Heel" issues are his support for same-sex "marriage," amnesty for illegals, and gun control. He can certainly expect no less of a media attack over these clearly non-conservative philosophies in the upcoming months. Yet even the heat he now faces will be minor in comparison to the potentially fatal blow the media will be able to deliver to his camaign if he wins the Republican nomination next year.

In the process, conservatism in the GOP will unquestionably suffer a setback from which it may never recover.

[Alberta's Child]

1. Rudy Giuliani's position on abortion has nothing to do with stare decisis.

2. When dealing with legal decisions that have no basis in fact or in constitutional law, stare decises is a silly, cowardly approach to dealing with contentious issues -- regardless of which Supreme Court justices may have believed it in the past.

[umgud]

It must be frustrationg for him to run for the GOP nomination as a dem candidate. I won’t even call him a RINO.

[George W. Bush]

The leftwing mayor is just pure evil. No different than electing a Xlinton.

[George W. Bush]

No one here is going to buy your argument that Rehnquist's strong pro-life record is identical to Giuliani's wildly pro-abortion position.

Never going to happen.

[Congressman Billybob]

I conclude that you have not read Chief Justice Rehnquist’s last decision on the subject of abortion. It was obviously a painful decision for him to write, but you should read it before you make cavalier remarks like you did to me.

John / Billybob

[burzum]

Free Republic has enough on “Rudy the Reprobate” to bury him several times over : )

People say that, but all that information is already public. And he is still polling the highest. Looking at a quick summary of the polls, I don't see a major drop recently for Guiliani. Even with multiple marriages and his stances on abortion, gun control, same sex marriage, and amnesty for illegal immigrants out in the open, he is still pulling in the money and owning the polls.

I am wondering if it is wise to continue bashing Guiliani. If he is selected as the Republican candidate even with all of these vices then any bashing will only be converted to aid for Hillary or Obama in the election. But then again, any bashing will be old news by then and Hillary or Obama will not be able to capitalize on it. I'll have to think this over a little more.

I'm not really thrilled with any of the candidates right now. I really wish we had somebody like Eisenhower running right now.

[Optimist]

>>>>> he has claimed to support the confirmation of Supreme Court Justices who may well eradicate that “right.”

Wrong! When asked about an abortion litmus test for judges, his statement was that he would appoint “Strict Constructionists” to SCOTUS. Whereas the conservative right interpreted that to mean reversing a bad law that had no basis in the constitution .... by his definition, that means judges who will honor the previous court’s decisions -— ie. won’t overturn RvW.

Rudy is a snake! Understand one thing, he says what he means, means what he says, and will do what he always has. Don’t make the same mistake we did with W and interpret his statements to be what we want them to be. THey need no interpretation...just definition.

[Alberta's Child]

1. What decision are you referring to?

2. There was nothing cavalier about my remarks.

[stephenjohnbanker]

“People say that, but all that information is already public”

True, but most people I talk to aren’t even thinking about a President this early. There is alot of time before Americans start to look carefully at the issues. We FReepers are not the norm on this : )

[Congressman Billybob]

If you are up on abortion law in the Supreme Court, you will have read the last abortion case before CJ Rehnquist died. I read with particular interest his separate decision in that case. It was very sad, but very clear. “Recommend” is the wrong word to use, but I encourage you to find that, and read it.

John / Billybob

[don'tbedenied]

With all due respect, this article is just crap. Rudy’s position is perfectly logical: Roe v. Wade is a terrible legal decision. “Rights” are manufactured by the Supremes using the incredibly tenuous argument that the Bill of Rights has “penumbras” that allow the Supreme Court to create rights they think are appropriate. It is an obvious usurpation of the legislature. Rudy has pointed this out, and also stated that were he in Congress or a state legislature he would vote to make abortion legal.
I understand why people don’t like his position on the latter, but it is not a straddle or a waffle. Roe v. Wade is a disastrous ruling from constitutional perspective, so even if you are for legal abortion an intelligent person should be against that decision and the kind of judges who wrote it.

Its a complex point of view and I’m surprised so few on this site understand the reasoning. If it make you all feel better the Democratic lackey Chris Mathews doesn’t understand it either.

[Liz]

Rudy's is a complex point of view and I’m surprised so few on this site understand the reasoning.

Oh please-----why do you people always resort to the intellectually facile rationales?

Rudy may, in fact, "hate" abortion and he may abhor Roe V Wade BUT he did everything in his power as a public official to advance abortion rights.

Rooty is joined at the hip with abortion extremists like Planned Parenthood and NARAL; Rudy donated to PP and received campaign contributions from NARAL for his efforts.

Now while it's true abortion "rights" were found under the penumbra of the Constitution, the KEY TO LEGAL ABORTION was the finding that unborn children were not "persons " under the 14th Amendment.

Keep in mind that Roe v Wade legalized abortion up to and including the ninth month of pregnancy b/c to do otherwise the court would have to recognize the humanity of the unborn...........to do so would have destroyed the pretense of a "right" to abortion.

Let's see your boy Rudy speak to those issues.

[trisham]

The headline conjured up images of Rooty sitting in a tank dressed in drag...

*********

LOL! Exactly.

[stephenjohnbanker]

“Rudy may, in fact, “hate” abortion and he may abhor Roe V Wade BUT he did everything in his power as a public official to advance abortion rights.

Rooty is joined at the hip with abortion extremists like Planned Parenthood and NARAL; Rudy donated to PP and received campaign contributions from NARAL for his efforts.

Now while it’s true abortion “rights” were found under the penumbra of the Constitution, the KEY TO LEGAL ABORTION was the finding that unborn children were not “persons “ under the 14th Amendment.

Keep in mind that Roe v Wade legalized abortion up to and including the ninth month of pregnancy b/c to do otherwise the court would have to recognize the humanity of the unborn...........to do so would have destroyed the pretense of a “right” to abortion.

Let’s see your boy Rudy speak to those issues.”

He cant

[ya_hew]

“Rudy the Reprobate”

bump.

[ElkGroveDan]

[gcruse]

“You cannot have half an abortion.”

Well, if you can have partial-birth, I don’t see why not. ;)

[Liz]

Rudy can't (speak to those issues I've outlined above).

Probably doesn't "understand" them (/sarc).

[stephenjohnbanker]

Welcome to FR!

[Liz]

LOL-----great job---needs a caption

"Man, I love photo ops that make me look commanding."