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.
Kevmo: Then what are you doing on a socon website posting this anti-socon garbage?
Narby: Trying to prevent it from becoming an effective Democrat website by damaging the only political party that will give conservatives the time of day.
***So you admit that you are not operating under the founding principles of this forum. If anything, you are actively operating against it. Please tell all of us why you should not have your posting privileges removed by JimRob, should he choose to go that route. And why should anyone who buys into the founding principles have anything to do with you? You’re basically a roodytoot who wants to spend all the time talking about their hypothetical but won’t address our hypothetical. Your basically admit to being a troll.
Your basically admit to being a troll. = You basically admit...
I admit to attempting to persuade some to avoid damaging conservative power by damaging the Republican party.
There are two parties in this country with any hope of winning elections. One supports conservatives in an imperfect way, and the other spits on conservatives. If conservatives want any influence on how this country is run, they only have one choice. Doing damage to that party by stirring up hatred for a potential presidential candidate is dumb, to put it mildly.
Reagan demonstrated his genius when he came up with his 11th commandment. It's too bad some people think they're being intelligent by ignoring it today.
I admit only that I think for myself.
Name calling will not advance your arguments.
One [party] supports conservatives in an imperfect way, and the other spits on conservatives.
***supports? Now that’s hyperbole. Looks to me like one party spits on conservatives and one particularly bad candidate in our party spits on conservatives.
If conservatives want any influence on how this country is run, they only have one choice. Doing damage to that party by stirring up hatred for a potential presidential candidate is dumb, to put it mildly.
***We are going around in circles on this. Your candidate does more than damage the party, his nomination is likely to be the end of the party. No Giuliani = No Problem.
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You are a troll, and in essence, a self-admitted one. Should you get the zot from the PTBs here on Free Republic, then my arguments will continue and yours will not. We had that historic bugzapper thread and got rid of dozens of trolls like you and I’m hoping it’s high time we had another round. There are too many tootyfruityrudy trolls lately. Go to WideAwake and push your nonsense there, where they like it.
Sorry. I'm still here, and still thinking for myself.
Sorry. I’m still here,
***I’m sorry as well that you’re still here.
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