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Cacique's Recomended Reading List for week of November 12, 2007
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Posted on 11/14/2007 8:27:36 AM PST by fweingart
To centrist voters attracted to presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani for his moderate views on social issues like abortion and gay rights, the endorsement of his campaign last week by televangelist Pat Robertson is dispiriting.
The man who infamously assented when the late Jerry Falwell blamed 9/11 on feminists, abortion doctors and gays seems the most unlikely supporter of the former New York mayor. Even stranger is that the chief architect of the evangelical Christian conservative political movement - one of the nation's most strident supporters of prayer in the public schools - would endorse a thrice-married, pro-choice, pro-gay lapsed Catholic.
But who's the real sellout here?
To listen to Giuliani's critics, one would think the former mayor has made a giant leap toward the dark side of Christian conservatism. Wrong. Rather than demonstrating the political pull of Christian conservatives, the Robertson endorsement shows their utter desperation. It was not Giuliani who went begging to Robertson, but vice versa.
The reason: The once-mighty Christian Coalition, founded by Robertson in 1989, is a shadow of its former self. Over the past 10years, it has suffered dramatic losses in membership, annual revenue and political influence.
Robertson's fall mirrors that of the organization. Once a formidable political figure (he even ran for President in 1988, beating George H.W. Bush in the Iowa Caucuses), he is marginalized even within his own movement.
Little wonder a man who claimed flying rainbow flags would bring about the wrath of God is now reduced to supporting a man who annually marched in New York City's raucous gay pride parades.
Sure, Robertson wrapped his official explanation in rhetoric about the existential struggle against fanatical Islamist terrorists (fortunately, he didn't repeat the words that appear on his Web site: "The key to peace in the Middle East is Christ"). But all that was unconvincing. The man desperately wants to pick a winner and is willing to twist his own principles into pretzels to do it.
Doing so could spell political suicide for the Robertson wing of the Republican Party. Thank God, at least, for that.
Think about it. In a general election campaign with Giuliani as the Republican nominee, gays and abortion would be off the table - even against the supposedly "ultra-liberal" Hillary Clinton, who has been careful not to get too far out on a left-wing limb on gay rights or abortion. How ironic that Robertson would support the man on track to effect this potential realignment.
Robertson could have endorsed Fred Thompson, who just picked up the nod of the National Right to Life Committee, or Mitt Romney - who is running ahead in the early states and has remade himself as a right-winger on social issues.
Unlike Romney, there is no sign Giuliani has bargained away his beliefs in order to win Robertson's backing. Yes, Giuliani has committed to appointing strict constructionist judges and sings the praises of Justices Samuel Alito and Antonin Scalia every chance he gets. But there's a mighty long way between "the Constitution is sacred" and "abortion is murder."
It's unfortunate that Giuliani would publicize, never mind accept, Robertson's endorsement. But such are the cynical realities of American politics; candidates often associate with disreputable figures to prove their bona fides to important constituencies.
The Democrats pander to Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson; Giuliani poses next to Robertson, whose endorsement will help shield the former mayor from social conservative attacks. It's all par for the course. What ought to be truly troubling to the supposedly principled right wing of the Republican Party, though, is that one of their leaders seems to have sold his soul in an attempt to be a kingmaker.
In the fight for the direction of the Republican Party, the erstwhile cross-dresser is winning.
Kirchick is an assistant editor of The New Republic.
Centrist voters, like 'moderate' politicians stand for nothing.
Nice sell-out Robertson. That endorsement, hopefully, will come back and bite you!
Like I’ve said, putting power above right and wrong will only drag him down the path to destruction with the “moderate” GOP.
Robertson jumped the shark. He is now rendered worthless.
Oh really? Then why aren't so-called "centrist" Republicans running as the outspoken liberals they are? If moral Republicans are in a state of "desperation" why doesn't Rudy proudly proclaim his pro-gay, pro-abortion views in every speech? Why does he stutter and dodge those questions at every opportunity?
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Cacique's Recomended Reading List for week of November 12, 2007
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Robertson is nothing more than a slightly less crooked Jim Baker.
You left out the LISP! LOL!
The VandenHovel bunch at the New Republic, along with EJ Dione, the O’Donnel’s and Frank Rich despise the thought of any Christian Conservative having any electoral pull in the upcoming elections.
Fortunately, they have nothing to worry about in a Robertson endorsement of Jules, as not to many Christians nor Conservatives give much weight to Mr. Robertson who while being a fine businessman is not such a great endorsement..
I heard Ralph Reed on the Laura Ingraham Show try to justify the abandonment of the pro-life movement, citing that everyone was just choosing their candidate. He couldn’t give a straight answer to Laura when she asked about taking a stand on conservative issues. He’s another weasel.
Giuliani poses next to Robertson, whose endorsement will help shield the former mayor from social conservative attacks.
Oh yeah. Wanna bet.
In the fight for the direction of the Republican Party, the erstwhile cross-dresser is winning.
We shall see what we shall see. The 'Fat Lady' hasn't sung yet.
Would this 'guy' strike fear in the hearts of the Islamo-fascists???
Yeah, like when pigs fly.
Rooty fruity paid too much, whatever it was. Robertson sold out to celebrity a long time ago, making him just another cheap trick in a preacher’s suit.
I love it how on FR no one can have a real thought-—they are all “selling out.” Shades of the uberleft.
I disagree with Robertson's endorsement of Giuliani (I like Hunter and would settle for Thompson), but there are reasonable grounds why Robertson might want to join with Giuliani that don't involve corruption or selling out.
I lost respect for Robertson a long time ago. He has grown weirder and weirder. Wish we had someone who would follow Jesus in the White House to run for president.
It makes so little sense that Robertson would endorse Rudy that I can't help wondering if Rudy's team dug up some good dirt on Robertson and used that as leverage for an endorsement.
Robertson has always been a bum. This is nothing new for him.
He is looking for political cover and he figures roooty is the chosen one.
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