Posted on 11/13/2007 7:42:10 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Fred Thompson is the Republican most likely to beat abortion-rights supporter Rudy Giuliani, the National Right to Life Committee said Tuesday, announcing its endorsement of the former Tennessee senator for president.
"While there are various polls, and some are up-and-down, the overwhelming consensus has been that he is best-positioned to top pro-abortion candidate Rudy Giuliani for the Republican nomination," the group's executive director, David N. O'Steen, said at a news conference.
...By emphasizing Thompson's political potential _ he ranks second behind former New York Mayor Giuliani in national Republican polls _ the anti-abortion group played down its own differences with Thompson.
Thompson has been at odds with the group because he doesn't support a constitutional amendment outlawing abortion, a long-standing party platform plank; because he has called the Terri Schiavo right-to-die case a family matter; and because he backed campaign finance regulations that the group considers a restriction of free speech.
The group also considered candidates'voting records and their stances on various issues, O'Steen said.
Giuliani has promised to appoint Supreme Court justices who take a conservative view of abortion, but O'Steen said the group could not overlook Giuliani's support for a woman's right to choose.
He contended that the group's endorsement, which Republicans had telegraphed a day in advance, carries more weight than other recent endorsements by conservatives. Among those: Televangelist Pat Robertson has endorsed Giuliani, and Moral Majority co-founder Paul Weyrich is supporting former Massachusetts Gov. MittRomney.
"This is an endorsement by an organization representing groups throughout the country, 3,000 chapters, and it just can't be compared to individual endorsements," O'Steen said.
In South Carolina, where he gave a speech on the military, Thompson said he didn't know what went into the endorsement.
"I don't know what went into their deliberations," Thompson said. For almost a decade, Thompson said, "I voted with them on every issue that came down the pike. And rhetoric and form and wish lists and questionnaires and things like that float around these things_ that's one thing. But a record is something you can't get around."
Giuliani was asked about the endorsement during an appearance in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale, and said voters should assess his complete record and then decide whether "they agree with enough of that to support me, or don't they?"
"I expect to win the Republican nomination, but believe it or not I do not expect to win every vote, nor do I expect to win every primary" Giuliani said. "I'm going to be myself. I'm going to do the best that I can to explain to the American people what I believe, and then I am very comfortable with their judgment as to whether or not they think that's enough, or they don't."
Today was a great day for Fred!!! BTTT
Why?
Second best news I’ve heard today! :-)
Yay, FRed!!!
You’re comment is about par for the clueless supporters of Huckabee.
“”While there are various polls, and some are up-and-down, the overwhelming consensus has been that he is best-positioned to top pro-abortion candidate Rudy Giuliani for the Republican nomination,” the group’s executive director, David N. O’Steen, said at a news conference.”
I’m really happy to see a pro life group take charge of this mess that was starting to emerge.
They took a decisive leadership role in trying to stabilize some of the fluttering around that was happening in the pro life movement.
Oh, you mean this endorsement.
Did you get the request from the campaign today?
I guess we’ll see if it stops the bleeding.
“Right to Life Says Fred Thompson Can Win”! Ping!!
Oh Huck, am I to look forward to another apology again...
“I guess we’ll see if it stops the bleeding.”
With all the confusing mixed signals from some of the individual endorsements, the National Right to Life Committee’s blockbuster endorsement and support of the conservative Fred Thompson, should give pause to other pro lifers, encouraging them to think twice before making frivolous endorsements for shallow or fearful reasons.
This last of couple of weeks had been a little baffling in that area.
Fairweather Freder...
Bang...
I posted this on another thread.....but it goes without saying that this is what we have seen today.
This was a big deal. NRL is the premier Pro Life group and the heart of the Family Values/Values Voter contingent. There are 3000 Chapters, that is 60 per state on average. We are talking bigger than many other organizations combined.
This is not going to show up tomorrow, but over the next few weeks it will build even more steam, and with more endorsements coming I am sure.
A good day indeed...
Do you mean the ‘$25 donation or sign up 10 friends’ request? I have already bundled over $7K, wrote to several hundred newspaper’s “Letter to the Editor” pages about Fred, signed up many friends, relatives and associates, posted here and elsewhere and donated $500, but I just sent another $100. We need Fred in the White House instead of Hillary/Obama/Pink Sapphire or Rudy McRombee! I exort anyone that leans toward Fred to do as much as you can! How can we look at ourselves in the mirror when the Paulestinians are raising so much more money for what (in my opinion) is a kook?!
Listen you. I haven’t done anything wrong. Geez, yer worse than the friggin’ KGB. I thought maybe he made a big speech or somehow scored something today. I didn’t realize the poster meant the endorsement. And ok, I know, they’re just polls, but you look at Rassmussen or Real Clear Politics, and it sure seems like Fred’s been trending down for a while now. He’s almost become an “oh by the way” in the news stories. Yea, yea, MSM. I know, but so what? It is what it is. I’ve not pronounced him dead. I’ve not knocked him unfairly. This could be a momentum changer for Fred, and his supporters and perhaps the rest of us too should hope so. And by us I mean those that support others or those that are standing around baffled, watching the whole thing, intending to vote for whichever the GOP nominates. A fatalistic, agnostic GOP voter.
Ha! It was the 25 letters request. Your off limits. Thanks :^)
I just remember you were somewhat contrite after a bout of Fred bashing the other week. You seem to move around a lot. Saw on another thread you asking about cancer, something I am more used to seeing from the Mitt crowd. I know you are more conservative than that.
It has been a good day for Fred, this is a big get. Return to your Fred roots and enjoy...
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