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.
I don't give a rat's behind what any sellout thinks. I even less what a RINO-lover like Hannity who went out of his way to get Arnold Schwarzenegger elected thinks.
Some of us aren't mind-numb robot followers and know the lesser-of-two-liberal strategy has failed every time its tried.
I am sincere about defeating Hillary. No doubt there will be some on the right that will resist the logic that staying home, or voting for some third party is in fact helping Hillary.
But at the same time I think Rudy has a chance at pulling votes from some centrists and Democrats that just can't stomach the corrupt and jihadist sympathizer Hillary Clinton.
The question is whether Rudy's pull from across the isle is greater than the loss he will see from people on the far right.
I'm not sure what the answer is, but one thing I know for a fact. Trashing Rudy now is a mistake. People should campaign positively about why their nominee is good, but stay away from the negative about Republicans. Nothing but bad can come from trashing our own.
Only when he wears a dress and blonde wig. The rest of the time he is Bill Clinton.
Let's see. When Bill was in office, Republicans gained 500 seats nationwide and 59 in Congress. So why wouldn't an even more unlikable liberal, who isn't likely to have such a stronger economy behind her, have the same effect?
Jan 2006 my wonderful mother died She would have been 103 in April.
Summary of 300 or so posts.
Only reason to vote for Giuliani - Hillary’s Record.
Only reason to oppose Giuliani - Giuliani’s Record.
You run on your own record not someone else’s.
So they give up after the nomination? Then they are losers. I refuse to be.
The GOP will win or lose the 2008 election IN THE PRIMARIES.
One can believe that. But only if you believe in your own clairvoyance. I don't have that much confidence to believe I'm defeated months before the election. I will fight till Nov '08.
Illegal immigration. Hillary has never filed a lawsuit on behalf of illegals trying to protect them with sanctuary laws. In fact, Giuliani criticized Bill Clinton for singing immigration laws that were too tough while mayor of New York.
Gun control. Hillary has never filed a lawsuit against gun manufacturers.
The Presidential line item veto, which Bill Clinton signed into law and Giuliani filed a successful lawsuit to have overturned. THINK ABOUT THAT ONE FOR MINUTE.
I imagine that Rudy has people on FR and other sites pretending to be conservatives but who are considering voting for Rudy.
I just wonder who it is.
Damn straight! Bring that universal health-care on Hillary baby! Whoo-hoo!
We have no chance of ending Roe or getting strict constructionists on the court with either Hillary or Giuliani in office.
Giuliani appointed liberal judges by an 8-1 margin in New York. He has tried to redefine what a strict constructionalist is by stating one could vote to uphold Roe. And, he has praised Ruth Bader Ginsberg.
A pro-abortion politician is not going to waste any political capital and fight Democrats to get strict constructionalists on to SCOTUS.
You sure ? I thought he was referring to cross dressing and playing hide the bologna.
No, the Christian moral code can't be considered inclusive to include those that believe killing innocent human beings is acceptable or to include those that want to normalize sexual perversion.
The GOP will win or lose the 2008 election IN THE PRIMARIES.
One can believe that. But only if you believe in your own clairvoyance. I don’t have that much confidence to believe I’m defeated months before the election. I will fight till Nov ‘08.
your statement was shared by the party faithful in 1996. That is just peachy. However, you are missing the point in political strategy. If the GOP primary produces the same candidate as 1996, one which the core does not care about, the result will be the same. You are trying to fight a perception which Giuliani's own statements continuously reinforce. Pick the issue and Giuliani has made statements which show the distinction between him and hillary is only in dress size. You MIGHT be able to point out a few bits and pieces that make him better, but then again Bob Dole was head and shoulders better than Bill Clinton in 1996. If AFTER the primary you have to explain your candidate, you lost already. Preparation is everything. Primaries count.
No, I know nothing about you. But one thing I do know is that there are Hillary supporters who will seek to come on FR and likely make some of the same comments as you that will help to divide the party. Odds are you aren't one, but there's almost no way for anyone like me to know.
The other conspiracy theory I've got is that journalists will come here and post similar threats about dividing the party, merely to enable them to write stories that the Republican party is divided, and try to steamroller any such divide. I don't put anything past those people.
People posting anything affirmative about a Republican candidate can't be questioned. But posts against Republican candidates, particularly against the top tier of Rudy, Romney and Fred are always suspect in my eyes as potential Democrat supporters in sheeps clothing.
And conservatives that support him as well.
I doubt that. Rudy will be seeking to keep as much support from the right as he can, while Hillary will owe nothing to the right, and everything to the left.
I doubt there are more than a half dozen potential judges in NY that are conservative. What choice did Rudy have?
Giuliani is not Bob Dole, and Hillary Clinton is not Bill. I don't see any potential Republican candidates that have more chance than Rudy. I see pros and cons with all of them.
Giuliani's stated position is irrelevant. It's his record that matters. And, his record is as far to left as Hillary on most issues and FURTHER to the left than the Clintons on illegal immigration, gun control and the line item veto.
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.