Giuliani Questioned About Gun Control (and stem cells)

forbes.com ^ | 07.06.07 | RUSS BYNUM

[neverdem]

Associated Press

Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, a strong proponent of gun control during his years as New York mayor, told a Southern audience Friday that he supports the constitutional right to bear arms.

During a town-hall style meeting, Giuliani focused on combatting terrorism, cutting taxes and ending illegal immigration. Several in the audience of some 200 raised questions about issues at the forefront for some conservative Southerners: gun rights and embryonic stem-cell research.

"It doesn't matter if I believe in it or not - and I do - it is the Second Amendment," Giuliani said. "I'm a strict constructionist. The Second Amendment says you have an individual right to bear arms."

Giuliani earned a reputation for strictly enforcing gun laws while New York mayor.

Asked about President Bush's recent veto of federal funding for stem-cell research, Giuliani said he could support government funding with "very, very strict limits" on the use of stem cells from human embryos.

"The strict limits should be that life is not created for the purpose of destroying life and just for the purpose of scientific experimentation," he said to loud applause.

In May, during a Republican presidential debate, Giuliani said he supported stem cell research "as long as we're not creating life in order to destroy it," then added he would back funding for research along the lines of legislation pending in Congress.

However, the bill he cited does not increase federal support for research on embryonic stem cells. Rather, it dealt with adult stem cells.

Earlier in the day, Giuliani campaigned in South Carolina, his first campaign appearance there since his former state campaign chairman, Treasurer Thomas Ravenel, was indicted on a federal cocaine charge last month.

Giuliani said he was shocked to hear about the indictment.

"That's something he's going to have to answer for," Giuliani said.

Ravenel, who was suspended from the treasurer's office he won in November, also stepped down from Giuliani's campaign.

Ravenel, through an attorney, pleaded not guilty to the charge Friday. He is currently at a 30-day rehab program at an Arizona psychiatric hospital, according to court documents.

Ravenel's father, a former congressman who also served in the state Senate, is still working for Giuliani campaign. On Friday, the Democratic National Committee accused Arthur Ravenel of making racist comments, including one in 2000 when he referred to the NAACP as "the National Association for Retarded People" during the state's debate over removing the Confederate flag from the Statehouse dome.

"Giuliani doesn't understand that as president you need to represent all Americans and bring the country together," DNC spokeswoman Karen Finney said in a statement.

Giuliani did not take questions from reporters when he returned to South Carolina later in the day to speak to supporters at an oyster company in Bluffton.

Giuliani campaigned in the state with his wife, Judith, who doesn't often show up on the campaign trail.

[neverdem]

There are more AP stories about other presidential candidates at the source.

[Clam Digger]

Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, a strong proponent of gun control during his years as New York mayor, told a Southern audience Friday that he supports the constitutional right to bear arms.

Liar.

[Kuksool]

In Rudy’s mind, the 2nd Amendement is all about hunting and having fun in the outdoors. Thus according to Rudy’s supporters, he did not infringe on the 2nd Amendement when he was mayor.

[dforest]

Man, if I didn’t know better I would think a conservative apple fell on his head!

Nah...it couldn’t be he wants the nomination...why never.

[Clam Digger]

Absolutely untrue. They are clueless. That’s why I pinged Pharmboy. IIRC, he had his constitutional right to own a firearm in NYC stripped.

[SJSAMPLE]

And, according to some here, The Second Amendment is null and void in NYC because it’s a “large city” and “people here don’t need guns”.

Go figure.

[Clam Digger]

I feel the real need for a gun far more in NYC than I do in the adirondacks!

[Kuksool]

I am merely explaining the thought process of Giuliani. This guy gives Bill Clinton a run for “parsing” words.

[hophead]

“he supports the constitutional right to bear arms.”

No, he does support it. Just like most democraps do. The one catch is to make it near impossible to BUY one. “keeping and bearing” are ok, just prevent all these gun nuts from buying them.
You can say you support the 2nd Article of the Bill of Rights and at the same time stop their sale!

[scory]

He supports the right. Just not the free excercise of the right.

[Sybeck1]

Duncan Hunter on the 2nd Amendment

It seems every election year, some liberal politician dons an NRA cap and grabs a shotgun for a hunting photo-op, as if that means they support our right as Americans to keep and bear arms. I, myself, thoroughly enjoy hunting, having just recently spent a great weekend hunting elk in Arizona. But, the second amendment is not about hunting. It is about the right of you and me to be secure in our homes. We must vigorously defend against all attempts to chip away at the Second Amendment. You know as well as I do that there is one thing criminals prefer over any other: unarmed victims.

[Clam Digger]

Do you have him confused with Bloomberg, who is trying to d just that? Giuliani went directly after alread-registered gun owners and REMOVED their second amendment rights.

[Clam Digger]

I understand and agree.

[Kuksool]

The sad thing is that many gun owners don’t understand the 2nd Amendement either. Remember, 40% of gun owners voted for Gore and Kerry. These people are fine with efforts to protect kids from gun violence (i.e gun grabbing schemes).

[George W. Bush]

"It doesn't matter if I believe in it or not - and I do - it is the Second Amendment," Giuliani said. "I'm a strict constructionist. The Second Amendment says you have an individual right to bear arms."

Ahem...uh, Rudi?...ahem! ------------------------------->

What the Great Pretender doesn't grasp is that it does matter whether he personally believes in it or not.

Notice the parsing, how near he came to expressing his true opinion before he recovered in mid-sentence. Looks like they've been drilling him on these responses. Still very weak.

[SJSAMPLE]

I love that picture.

Even that tard Brady looks like he's thinking, "WTF?".

[neverdem]

Stem cells and natural rights in one ping, it doesn’t get much better than this!

[Pharmboy]

...and a few months ago he even admitted that he was aggressive against law-abiding citizens (like me) in NYC when he said words to the effect of “NYC was a unique situation.” For those who do NOT know, I had a NYC pistol carry for 19 years (through two democrat administrations) but lost it—for NO REASON—during Rudy’s time.

[George W. Bush]

For those who do NOT know, I had a NYC pistol carry for 19 years (through two democrat administrations) but lost it—for NO REASON—during Rudy’s time.

Apparently, it really did matter whether the leftwing mayor believed in your Second Amendment rights. Imagine that!

[Clam Digger]

Thanks for replying, glad i remembered the right freeper name.