The most high-profile national conservative leader to endorse Rudy Giuliani for President so far insists that the former New York mayor's non-conservative stands on social issues such as abortion won't derail his candidacy in the Republican nomination process next year.
It didn't derail Ronald Reagan, and I hope it won't derail Rudy. As governor of California, Reagan not only increased welfare spending in the state, but also signed a law vastly expanding legalized abortion to the point that the number of abortions skyrocketed in California under Reagan's watch within a year. However, in 1976, candidate Reagan running against Gerald Ford made his opposition to abortion clear.
People change just as Reagan did, and his social stances as governor of CA didn't derail him when he ran for the GOP nomination.
What makes Reagan great were his ideals and his indomitable sense of optimism towards America and Americans. As a president, Reagan knew the value of individual enterprise without government handouts. He gave us a sense of pride and faith in the greatness of the America, and articulated the moral obligation that as a nation we need to share American values by our deeds and actions with the rest of the world.
That sense of pride and optimism is prevalent in Rudy Giuliani. His optimism exudes confidence and the realization that he can get things done, as opposed to just talking about it.
Reagan certainly was a great president and inspirational, but it's good to remind his fans that he wasn't perfect, either. I agree that Rudy has seemed to have comparable skill in inspiring and winning over listeners, though I did have my doubts if his act would play well west of the Hudson. So far, it clearly has.