Posted on 05/02/2006 4:19:06 AM PDT by kingattax
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Raising money for local Republicans even as he ponders his own political future, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said Monday that Republicans must increasingly be "a big party" that accepts divergent views.
Giuliani said that broad-brush themes, like limited government, ought to define the Republican Party -- not hot-button social issues like abortion and gay rights.
"The major thing that we organize around as Republicans is government that puts more reliance on people than government," Giuliani said. "They (Democrats) tend to think of government solutions as most of the answers."
Giuliani was in Iowa to raise money for Jeff Lamberti, a Republican candidate for Congress, and Rep. Jim Nussle, who is running unopposed for the Republican nomination for governor.
Giuliani was also clear he's considering his own future ambitions.
"I am interested in public service again," he said. "My effort this year will be to help Republicans get elected and, quite honestly, a part of it also is saying to myself 'Does it look like I have a chance in 2008?'"
Some strategists believe Giuliani will face significant hurdles in Republican politics because he supports abortion rights and favors tough gun control laws, views that contrast those held by many core Republican voters.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
Will someone please tell this NY'er to go away. He's wasting everyones time.
Well, Rudy is getting back to what it means to be a political conservative.
Of course, if you really want a simply socially conservative government, you can try the Taliban or Iran. Maybe they're more up your alley.
I think he means RINOS are open to diverse views.
...for later...
your inane comment was duly noted and properly ignored.
And if Rudy the Lionhearted Leader is wasting time, imagine what Gov. Pataki is doing. On CSpan they showed him on Road to the White House, campaigning among small groups in New Hampshire. Unreal.
Why do you hate America?
Holy crap! It's Sean Hannity!
Rudy, and most of those looking for expediant ground or political cover, love to over state what we really want.........Just enforce the current law. We don't need new laws, we need politicians with the stones to enforce those we have.
And by the way, Rudy, if there here illegally theres no alledgedly about it they are a criminal.
LOL! Okay, I just blew coffee out my nose!
Rudy, we are all onto cluless you, mouthing meaningless platitudes to advance yourself.
Rudy can't seem to come to grips with the fact that the Most Important Thing is what Republican voters think about a candidate.
Rudy is the most self-serving politician extant today---he even beats some Dims. That's b/c Rudy was (and is) a Dim...he magically added an "R" to his name when he ran for NYC Mayor.
Rudy always does what he feels in HIS best interests----like endorsing Dimocrat Mario Cuomo for governor b/c Rudy calculated it was in HIS best interests to have a Dim in Albany to further HIS political ambitions.
Rudy stepped on so many in his search for power. He never learned the Big Lesson Of Life: "Be careful who you step on, on your way up---because you are going to meet them on the way down."
Beat that strawman. Beat him hard.
He never learned the Big Lesson Of Life: "Be careful who you step on, on your way up---because you are going to meet them on the way down."
There's a slightly different version in NYC politics: Remember who you step on during the way up, so you can step on them again on the way down.
Rudy pimpin' for the party and himself.
Rudy should move to Memphis and run for Mayor!!!!!!!!!
"Giuliani ...favors tough gun control laws..."
And I favor America's 1776 revolution that threw New York City Tories out of the country who tried to impose gun control.
amen, sarge
Rudy, it ain't gonna happen. At least not if you try to run as a Republican.
RINO alert for Rudy.
As a New Yorker I always thought of Rudy as a super-liberal,who did not want to get mugged.He was better than David Dinkins.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.