Posted on 04/04/2007 7:07:11 PM PDT by Ol' Sparky
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (CNN) -- Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani told CNN Wednesday he supports public funding for some abortions, a position he advocated as mayor and one that will likely put the GOP presidential candidate at odds with social conservatives in his party.
"Ultimately, it's a constitutional right, and therefore if it's a constitutional right, ultimately, even if you do it on a state by state basis, you have to make sure people are protected," Giuliani said in an interview with CNN's Dana Bash in Florida's capital city.
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Giuliani also vowed to appoint conservative judges to the bench, though denied such a promise was a "wink and a nod" to conservatives in support of overturning Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision on abortion.
"A strict constructionist judge can come to either conclusion about Roe against Wade," he said. "They can look at it and say, 'Wrongly decided thirty years ago, whatever it is, we'll over turn it.' [Or] they can look at it and say, 'It has been the law for this period of time, therefore we are going to respect the precedent.' Conservatives can come to that conclusion as well. I would leave it up to them. I would not have a litmus test on that."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Sheesh. He signed a permanent assault weapons ban.
and once it returns to the states - and the social conservatives see how few states, through their elected legislative process, are going to outlaw abortion for adult women in the first trimester - those same voices will be looking for an activist SCOTUS to restrict states’ rights on the issue. I guarantee it.
I think we both agree that the pro-life movement is limited in what it can acomplish. Once Roe is overturned, only a few states will ban abortion outright. Just limiting abortion to the first trimester and giving parents some say in the decision, would take most of the wind out of the pro-life sails. It would not become a federal issue again.
Wow. He bought a couple of Christian Coalition hacks. What an accomplishment.
Not the same thing at all...
The God-given, unalienable right to life will always be a federal issue.
Do you think the states should be able to legalize murder, under our founding documents?
Do you think a state can ban religious expression, political speech, peacable assembly, private property rights, the right to keep and bear arms, etc.?
Why would anyone place the right to live at a lower level than other rights? After all, without the right to life, no other liberty matters much.
It is hard for me to believe that, after years of catholic and evangelical Christians pounding the sidewalk, writing checks, and voting in droves for the Republican party, that they are prepared to throw it all away.
We are finally seeing what the unborn mean to our party leaders in Washington who are quietly lining up behind Giuliani. Unborn babies apparently mean nothing. Power is all that matters to them - and any issue, even life or death for a baby - is subverted for use in the party machinery, to maintain a death grip on power.
There has to be one candidate that will stand up and save this party from itself, and can win the Presidency in a way that makes it worthwhile.
The God-given, unalienable right to life will always be a federal issue.
Do you think the states should be able to legalize murder, under our founding documents?
Do you think a state can ban religious expression, political speech, peacable assembly, private property rights, the right to keep and bear arms, etc.?
Why would anyone place the right to live at a lower level than other rights? After all, without the right to life, no other liberty matters much.
All good points. I personally believe that abortion should be outlawed except for the life of the mother. I wouldn’t support a rape exception. However, given that most American voters will only go so far, I don’t believe abortion will ever be outlawed at the federal level.
Goodnight, EV. I’m going to bed.
But I think you’ll be unpleasantly surprised when the republican primaries are all over...and pleasantly surprised at the Nov. ‘08 election results.
"I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever." - Thomas Jefferson
Great post. Amen.
People who are not even marginally aware of Giuliani’s stand on this issue, are people who don’t watch the news on TV, and buy the paper just to read the Sports section.
If Giuliani had flipped on his well-known stand on abortion, the he would have been attacked as a liar, and accused of flip flopping/pandering for votes. Additionally, he would have seen a drop in the polls anyway, as those who support him BECAUSE he is a pro-life Republican would be turning their backs on him.
So, you can’t accuse him of flip-flopping, lying, or pandering for votes.
So politically speaking, doing what he did was the only sensible thing to do.
I think you're already asleep and dreaming.
Power is all that matters to them - and any issue, even life or death for a baby - is subverted for use in the party machinery, to maintain a death grip on power.
You’ve nailed it. That’s why many conservative politicians have the morals of an animal. The issues are just tools they use to gain power.
What is it says in the bible,you reap what you sow? This country and the world is heading in the direction of doom because not enough of us care for the most innocent! You are right in your decision and I also will not vote for anyone who thinks abortion is not wrong,I mean evil!
if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great; de Tocqueville
This quote sums it up. There is hope for this country but it will require humility and maturity.
NO...you tell me.
Who do you support?
You know the field, you know where they stand on the issues...who is it?
If you don’t have access to any of the candidate’s stands on any issue, whether they are officially running or not, let me know and I’ll get you links to any and all of them as fast as you can ask me for them.
Surely, a political “professional” such as yourself MUST support SOMEONE for the office at this stage.
So politically speaking, doing what he did was the only sensible thing to do.
The truely sensible thing for him to do is to realize that he doesn’t fit well in the GOP and run as a Democrat. He’d be gauranteed the White House.
The more anti Rudy stuff I read, the funnier it gets.
Makes it all the more fun to support him.
Yet, he has the support of the GOP, and a good chunk of its membership in spite of all that...why should he change?
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