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.
No. You can have the status quo of illegals continuing to come into the country. Ok, we'll build a fence, so then they'll have to overstay visas. Same status quo.
There are innumerable ways that stubborn people unwilling to make compromises can throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Giulaini is counting on the closet pro-abortion, anti-christian women of the GOP. Not a joke they are out there.
The Conservative Taliban will get Hill-Bill Klinton elected.
Rudy isnt my guy by far but Hill-Bill-2 WILL destroy whats left of our Nation. We cant allow that.
I agree 100%! The solution is simple. DO NOT NOMINATE A LIBERAL WHO IS AN ANATHEMA TO CORE, LONG-HELD, BEDROCK, TRADITIONAL REPUBLICAN VALUES AND PRINCIPLES.
Unbelievable. So I guess what Gary Bauer said means nothing to you. I didn’t say this, Gary Bauer said it on Sean Hannity.
You and other delusional conservatives are going to have rude awakening if Hillary wins.
If you think Hillary is going to be an electoral bonanza think again.
When Hillary’s Gestapo comes around, I don’t want to hear any whining and complaining from the likes of you.
C'mon, you should know by now the MSM media loves nothing better than creating a story and pushing it if they see an opening. Doubly sweet if it helps the left. You know who is responsible? James Dobson started this crap issuing a pathetic and limp wristed false threat he cannot possibly follow through on, and so he is responsible for giving the media an opening to divide and conquer the right.
Thou shall not murder... or condone it.
Your response makes no sense. He/she said IF Giuliani wins the nomination, not that they were supporting him for the nomination before the fact.
Can anyone say fariness doctrine? Watch 'em come after websites like FR too.
To be perfectly honest, If I had to vote for either one on the same ballot,I would vote for the beast. At least she is the enemy all the time and can be defeated. Fruit loop changes with the prevailing wind and IMHO is the kind of creature that will stab you in the back all the while telling you what you want to hear.
No question about it. However, this story was not created by the MSM--as it really exists.
Don't panic. You will be safe. We survived 8 years of Bill. Just remember No Giuliani, No problem.
Overstays are different under the law than illegal crossings.
Overstays are inspected through customs when they enter, they are now fingerprinted, they are now photographed, they are now checked against the watch lists.
NOBODY fingerprints someone after they cross the river.
That is the status quo law NOW.
By building the fence we minimize the illegal crossing and now have a far more significant controll point.
IN ADDITION, we now keep track of people leaving the country.
Thus if an overstay gets arrested, the fingerprint will eventually register.
Yes there ARE ways to reach Benjamin Franklin’s noble art of compromise, THAT abomination was no compromise. The Dream Act AMNESTY bill is also no way to sneak amnesty past the public. (just serial immigration with a public school education)
No Giulaini, No Problem.
That is the focus of this thread.
The "Best" at what exactly? I think we need to put up the candidate that has the best chance of winning. I'm not sure who that will be, but Rudy does have a structural advantage in the ability to attract centrist voters that other candidates may not have. And he has the toughness that Fred likely doesn't have, and toughness will be needed against Hillary.
I'm for the best candidate in Nov 2008 against Hillary. No one has made arguments that turn on some other candidate being better in 2008 than Rudy. Only arguments that he's not sufficiently pure enough to swallow for the nomination. Sorry, that's a total lack of foresight. It's thinking with emotion rather than brains.
Hey Rudy!
I care so little about you I skipped the post entirely ,, didn’t read one single lying word of yours and placed this reply... and even this attention is more than you deserve..
“Giuliani asks Values Voters to trust him”
Hey, whatever flips your dress up.
If you vote for and elect Hillary, what is your basis to be so confident that all of a sudden Republicans will rise up and reclaim Washington? This is the type of intellectually void reasoning that appears to be all too common with those that have such a hatred for Rudy. Its absurd to think that somehow Hillary will be better for this nation than Rudy.
Really? Her reach of liberalism would last a generation or more as she would likely replace not only Ginsburg and Stevens, but also Kennedy and Scalia. You would be more comfortable having Hillary make those lifetime appointments?
Your posts continue to prove you are a liberal masquerading as a conservative trying to convince/demoralize conservatives into believing that electing Hillary is the best choice.
If the pro-lifers (which I am one)was so concerned about a “pro-life” candidate, why is Sam Brownback dropping out?? I don’t recall a lot support for him.
“Giuliani asks Values Voters to trust him”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZe1j4csMq8
Yeah. I’d trust him, but then I’m POST-BIRTH.
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