Posted on 08/11/2007 7:44:07 PM PDT by monomaniac
By Peter J. Smith
DES MOINES, Iowa, August 7, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - As Republican candidates get ready for the presidential primaries, Iowa will become the first test to determine whether front-runner and pro-abortion candidate Rudy Giuliani can capitalize on his strategy of winning over enough social conservatives to capture the Republican nomination.
Giuliani has banked on a strategy of urging the GOP's "values voters" to focus more on the economy and national security than on his abortion and homosexual rights positions, which he has not explicitly renounced. Iowa is an important battleground for Giuliani, since a Giuliani win on January 14 would effectively predict him gaining enough support from social conservatives in other state primaries to secure the GOP presidential nomination.
The hero-mayor of the September 11 terror attacks has gained large appeal from GOP voters for his tough talk on national security, fighting Islamic global jihad, and strengthening the US economy. Yet to win, Giuliani needs the support of the GOP's crucial pro-life bloc and other social conservatives, which is hindered by his support for legal unfettered abortion.
Newsday reports, however, that Giuliani is betting that enough pro-life advocates will vote for him to secure the GOP nomination.
"Yes, I believe they will," Giuliani said on his way to another campaign stop. "At least enough [of them] so that I'm going to win the nomination."
If he is the Republican nominee, Giuliani believes he would be in a better position to win over liberal states such as California and New York in the presidential election than his pro-life conservative rivals.
Giuliani has employed a twofold strategy to ameliorate his position among pro-life voters. At a campaign stop in Mason City, he emphasized promoting adoptions and reducing a "need" for abortion, while still giving women the "right" to abort their children. This he claims, gives him common ground with pro-life voters and would keep them from hemorrhaging from the GOP should he capture the nomination.
"The common ground here is that I have already a definable record of increasing adoptions and decreasing abortions," Giuliani said. Giuliani said adoptions went up 133% and abortions down 16% through tax-credits and other programs during his tenure as mayor of New York.
"I would expand that nationally," Giuliani continued.
At a stop in Clear Lake, Giuliani stated the second part of his "pro-life strategy" by telling voters that he would nominate "strict constitutionalist" judges like John Roberts and Samuel Alito, who might overturn Roe v. Wade. Giuliani stated he would not seek to overturn Roe.
A Giuliani nomination, however, is likely to signal an end to the influence of the pro-life constituency in the Republican Party, which adopted the pro-life plank to its platform in 1980 and has nominated a pro-life candidate ever since. A pro-abortion Giuliani presidency would also place Giuliani at odds with a pro-life Congress, should Republicans manage to regain control and pass pro-life legislation.
Traditionally the Iowa Straw Poll in Ames on August 11 has had a long record of predicting the winner of the Iowa Caucus in January. Giuliani, however, has bowed out of the straw poll, essentially to give more time to his campaign in Iowa, where Mitt Romney runs strong among social conservatives and has waged an effective advertising campaign.
See previous LIfeSiteNews.com reports on Giuliani:
Lightning Cuts Off Mic Twice During Giuliani's Defense of Abortion Support
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/jun/07060603.html
Republican Candidates Romney, Giuliani, McCain Repudiate Government Effort to Save Terri Schiavo
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/may/07052511.html
Giuliani Defends Abortion Position as He Struggles to Convince Conservatives
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/may/07051408.html
Bush, Clinton, Obama, Giuliani, etc. React to Partial Birth Abortion Ban Ruling
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/apr/07041902.html
Bishop Blasts Rudy Guiliani Position on Abortion as "Pathetic", "Confusing", "Hypocritical"
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/jun/07060405.html ;
Giuliani Outrages Conservatives With "Get Beyond" Abortion Snipe
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/apr/07041705.html
Giuliani has just about an identical position on abortion as Bush.
Reagan signed the first law legalizing abortion.
Enough of this ridiculous garbage about Giuliani.
Find another issue, or study the history of it at least...
Reagan was pro-life. Bush is pro-life. Rooty is pro-abortion.
In 1967 Reagan signed the Therapeutic Abortion Act into law. It was specifically designed for the exceptions of rape, incest and pregnancies seriously affecting both the physical and mental health of the woman. By 1968 the new abortion law was being seriously abused. Reagan said he regretted his decision. Reagan was never pro-abortion.
Btw, This is a conservative pro-life political forum. Free Republic doesn't support or tolerate promoting the candidacy of any liberal. That includes the liberal abortionist, Rudy Giuliani. .
I’m with you.
This slanted crap I keep seeing against Guiliani is really turning me off.
Leave the sliming to the left, it has no business here.
What slanted crap? Giuliani is treated like any other liberal around FR. You've been here long enough to know. Free Republic doesn't support liberalism of any kind. Including, big govt liberals, gun control liberals, amnesty backing liberals, gay rights liberal activists or those who advance liberal global warming idiocy. If you want to defend Rooty Toot, you're on the wrong forum.
Don’t lecture me buddy. You’re not in my league.
Got that right. I don't go around defending liberals.
You're the one running around Free Republic banging heads with conservatives, as you defend a liberal gay rights activist and gun grabbing abortionist named Rudy Giuliani. Obviously defending Rooty Toot is a personal goal of yours. Sorry I'm not impressed, bucko.
The goal that JimRob has set for Free Republic is to expose Rudy Giuliani for the liberal he is and for FReepers to assure Rooty Toot doesn't get the GOP nomination. Period.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
"goldstategop is a shill for Giuliani."
I agree.
“Giuliani has just about an identical position on abortion as Bush.”
Even if that were true, which it isn’t, it does absolutely nothing to negate his stance on other important issues. Each of which is a poison pill.
“There you go again”
Slanted crap is when you cherry pick the facts to support your biased opinion.
I post here because I donate to the freepathons. Also, I have not said a word in support of Giuliani or anyone else. Don’t put words in my mouth there buddy.
And for your info newbie, Free Republic originated as a place in the samizdat where those opposed to the klinton regime could have a free exchange of ideas.
I don’t need you or JimRob or anyone else to tell me how to think.
Goodbye!
>>>>>>This slanted crap I keep seeing against Guiliani is really turning me off.
Conservatives don't post such drivel. There is a new tone around FR and the facts are what they are. Giuliani is a liberal and around Free Republic supporting, promoting or defending any liberal is not in keeping with the forum objectives. If you don't like the new tone, too bad.
Btw, my signup date is Nov.13,1999.
It's not crap when it's the facts.
Rudy is a slimeball liberal, period.
Giuliani has just about an identical position on abortion as Hillary
Here’s to Rudy...The drag queen and wanna-be CINC.
I’LL TAKE RUDY IN A DRESS ANY DAY OVER HILLARY IN A PANTS-SUIT!
Try to keep that in mind while Duncan Hunter is polling 1% and Thompson is trying to figure out who’s on his staff...
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.