So's this!
Posted on 10/20/2007 10:21:39 AM PDT by Ol' Sparky
Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, walking into a political lion’s den, told the year’s largest gathering of social conservatives that he is “not always the best example of faith” but that their similarities are much greater than their differences.
“Isn’t it better that I tell you what I really believe instead of changing all my positions?” Giuliani told an audience of 2,000 at the Family Research Council's Values Voters Summit at a Washington hotel. “I believe trust is more important than 100 percent agreement.”
The audience, generally hostile to Giuliani, recognized the shot at former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and laughter and a few cheers spread across the room.
The former mayor, who left the stage grinning amid applause after his 40-minute speech, went for an authenticity contrast with Romney, substituting his law and order credentials for the family values emphasis of Romney, a long-married father of five.
Giuliani paid obeisance to the group’s concerns by speaking at length about his support for school choice, home schooling, conservative judges and Israel.
All drew earnest – even enthusiastic – applause. He also gave a detailed plan for reducing abortions and increasing adoptions, the meatiest policy element of his speech.
It was the “everything but” approach – he could agree with the audience on almost everything except whether a woman should be able to choose an abortion, which he supports.
"You and I know I’m not a perfect person,” he said. “I pray for forgiveness, I pray for strength.... I feel my faith deeply, although perhaps more privately than others, because of the way I was brought up.” He said he had prayed to God at the toughest parts of his life.
“During our lives, at some time, all of us need forgiveness,” he added. “If we expect perfection from our political leaders, we’re just asking for disappointment .... We lose trust when they’re not honest with us.... I don’t always agree with myself. [Laughter] … You’ll always know where I stand.... I will continue to extend my hand to you. I hope you’ll take it.”
Giuliani showed humor, noting that he almost entered seminary: “I know that’s hard to believe.” Noting that he attended Catholic school, he said the first school he attended where a prayer wasn’t said at the beginning of the day was the New York University School of Law.
He said that on the first day, out of confusion, he made the sign of the cross. “I looked around and realized people were staring at me,” he joked.
Giuliani pointed out that as New York mayor, he reduced murder, drugs, prostitution and other vices. "I don't believe in inevitable decline," he said, adding he shares President Ronald Reagan's belief in optimism.
"You put Republican ideas into action.... We got results. Humbly, I would say, the best results anyone in that time got in government."
"We drove pornography out of Times Square and other public spaces," he said, drawing hearty applause. "The pornographers lost and they were driven out of Times Square."
Instead of pandering to the group, Giuliani held his ground.
“We’ve got to find a way to be more inclusive,” Giuliani said. “Christianity is all about inclusiveness. It’s built around the most profound act of love in human history, isn’t it? … I’m running for president of the United States because I believe I can bring us together. Strong leadership can help us find common solutions to our problems.”
Giuliani drew laughter by saying he spends as little time in Washington as possible: “I’m afraid there’s something in the air here.”
“I’m not going to pretend that I can be all things to all people,” he declared. “I’m just not like that.”
But he added, in another dig at Romney, “I’ll always be honest with you.... You will always know where I stand.”
“You have absolutely nothing to fear from me,” Giuliani went on, adding that he was puzzled by those who make him out to be some kind of liberal activist: “Just read any New York Times editorial when I was mayor of New York City.” That got a big laugh.
Giuliani was speaking to one of the most conservative audiences in American politics. During a Christian worship service from the podium an hour before Giuliani spoke, leader Ron Freeman interspersed the praise hymn “Blessed be the Name” with the hopeful wish:
“We’ve got the right Senate and the Congress!” The prayer included: “We’ve tried hard to make your agenda, our agenda.”
Politico’s Jonathan Martin contributed to this report.
By the way, it's terrific to see and read a little sanity. Great posts..
No, you wouldn't. You would have helped in a back handed way elect Hillary, a woman that no doubt violates all of your principles. You're merely deluding yourself that it's otherwise.
All I can tell you is good luck. If Rudy is the annoited nominee, don’t hold you breath. You best count on those that no one can count on to turn out. You won’t even be able to count on your own party to turn out.
Hell of a deal. A losing one, at that.
As defined by Man50D. Here endeth the lesson.
Don't need to read anything further. The first comment is silly enough.
And Bush said lots of nice things about Bill Clinton when they hung that painting of him in the WH.
You believe Hillary would have cleaned up 42nd street? Do you?
So's this!
Hillary will be so proud....
Well, I agree with Mr. Robinson. No liberal will get my vote.
Like you tagline. LOL!
The reason is that many on this site will not vote for a liberal like Rudy.
And you will be helping encourage them to stay home.
I think the Republican party will be remaining the stupid party for decades.
I won’t feel dirty at all when I get home from the polling place!
LOL!
No. They don't.
But you can keep on saying that all you want. People will follow the one who says something the loudest and most often, even if they're completely wrong.
Give me an acceptable, conservative nominee and you will see just that.
But, when it ends up being an adulterous, liberal Republican flip-flopper vs. the wife of a Democratic version of the same thing, the election ceases to be about right or wrong or conservative vs. liberal anymore.
You know good and well that there are many things about Rudy that we do not like.
All I know is that when Rudy was the Mayor, the NYTimes and the glitterati from the upper west side hated his guts.
Any enemy of them is a friend of mine, and Mr. Robinson will have a hard time convincing me otherwise.
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