Posted on 11/14/2006 4:12:37 PM PST by Sub-Driver
DNC Statement on Giuliani's Potential Presidential Bid
November 14, 2006
The Democratic National Committee issued the following statement in response to news that former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani may seek the GOP nomination for President:
"It's unclear whether or not Rudy Giuliani will be able to just 'explain away' the fact that he's consistently taken positions that are completely opposite to the conservative Republican base on issues they hold near and dear," said Democratic National Committee Communications Director Karen Finney. "Throughout his career Giuliani has tried to paint himself as a moderate, but now that he's vying for his Party's nomination will he undergo an extreme makeover in an attempt to cozy up to the far-right?"
Giuliani Was A Registered Democrat For Much Of His Life. Giuliani registered as a Democrat and even served as a party committeeman on Long Island when he was 21. [U.S. News & World Report, 3/23/87; USA Today, 12/20/99]
Giuliani Is Pro-Choice. When asked to respond to social issues on CNN's Inside Politics, Giuliani replied, "I'm pro-choice." [CNN, 12/2/99]
Giuliani Doesn't Support A Ban On Partial-Birth Abortions. When asked whether he supported a ban on what critics call partial-birth abortions, Giuliani replied, "No, I have not supported that, and I don't see my position on that changing." Giuliani also told The Albany Times Union that he would not support a ban on late-term. Moreover, when asked "If you were in the Senate and he [President Clinton] vetoed the so-called partial-birth abortion procedure.you would support the president on that." Giuliani replied: "Yes. I said I then that I support him, so I have no reason to change my mind about it." [CNN, 12/2/99; New York Times, 11/26/99; CNN Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer, 2/6/00]
Giuliani Identified Himself As Pro-Gay Rights and Supports Civil Unions and Gay Benefits. When asked to respond to social issues on CNN's Inside Politics, Giuliani replied, "I'm pro-choice. I'm pro-gay rights." When asked whether marriage should be between a man and a woman, Giuliani agreed, but stated "I supported civil unions, however, partnerships, and I signed that legislation when I was mayor of New York City. The distinction is that you protect people's rights."[CNN, 12/2/99; Hardball, 10/13/04]
Giuliani Opposed Bush Tax Cut. "Although Mr. Giuliani is running as pro-gun control, pro-abortion-rights Republican who likes tax cuts, he did shy away yesterday from the large tax cut proposal of his political benefactor, George W. Bush, which has been criticized as too large and favorable toward the rich." [New York Times, 2/04/00]
Giuliani Announced a Publicly Funded Voucher Plan That Would Have Taken $12 Million Out of New York City Public Schools. In his State of the City address in January 1999, Giuliani proposed paying for a school voucher program with City money. In his FY2000 Preliminary Executive Budget, Giuliani proposed spending $12 million over two years to establish the administrative structure for a voucher program in a volunteer school district so as many as 3,000 public school students could attend private and parochial schools in the city. "The money would be distributed through [Giuliani's] office to avoid involving Schools Chancellor Rudy Crew, who opposes the idea," according to The New York Times. At a speech in Miami in March, 1999, The New York Times reported that, "Mr. Giuliani, who is in the midst of considering his political future, has adopted the national Republican Party's enthusiasm for school vouchers. On Sunday, while delivering a speech in Miami, for example, he called it "the most important thing that has to be done with education in America." [New York Times, 4/26/99; 3/4/99]
Giuliani Refused To Endorse Minimum Wage Increase. Giuliani declined to endorse an increase in the minimum wage to $6.50 from $5.50, pending studies that he said were necessary to make certain that a higher rate would not lead to the elimination of many low-paying jobs. [New York Times, 10/17/99]
Giuliani Said It Would Be a "Good Thing" If the Poor Left the City; Said That Was His Welfare Strategy. In April 1995, Rudy Giuliani said that many poor New Yorkers could be forced to leave New York City as a consequence of his welfare reforms, and that it "would be a good thing." WNYC radio then reported that Giuliani said in a press briefing, "That's not an unspoken part of the strategy. That is our strategy." The mayor denied these comments and offered to play them back, but his communications director had not taped the session. [Newsday, 4/29/95]
Source URL: http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/11/dnc_statement_o_9.php
Whatever your problem is, go sleep it off.
Works for me. The President of the United States is, well, an Executive. Positions are important, but his 'brass' means just as much, if not more.
He's not my first choice, but he has amazing leadership abilities that, as a citizen, I must support and encourage. As an engaged citizen, I need to engage the legislature to pass laws, not the Exec.
An uneasy choice, but, when down to brass tacks, I'll go with it. I'll spend the next year or so politically supporting others, but Rudy seems worthy, if not imperfect.
No worries.
So would you like to see Rudy run for President? My dream team is Rudy/Condi 2008. It's time for us to think about the safety and security of our country, as we won't have to worry about the conservative social issues if we don't have a country.
I rather have a big piece of the pie (national security, fiscal conservatism) than Hitlary. I would hope any smart American would.
Sounds to me like they are afraid of Rudy, because they know he can beat anyone they put up against him, including Hillary, which is good news for us. He's a RINO but he's a heck of a lot better than Hillary or any other RAT that's running in 08 is.
Wow .heehee Thank you sinksur.Heehee.
Could you imagine now much $ Hellary would have to spend in NY and the NE and that still wouldn't guarantee her wins up there.
Zell Miller is STILL a Democrat... Pretty amazing huh?
NO candidate is or ever has been perfect. Ditto for every president and yes, that certainly DOES include Washington and all of the other "GREATS"!
Thus far, Rudy is the ONLY known candidate that's worthwhile.
Did YOU ever vote for Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush?
The Perfect is not the enemy of the Good.
No .Why Do you lie about me?
HUNH?
Dear D&C,
Ah thank u so much for ejukatin' me.now ah rally no what Julianee stans fer. An how is ol' crazy, crazy Howie Dean doin'? Ah shur due luv that there ga!
Billie Bob John David Dimwit
You voted for the damned Dems, or did you just stay home?
I voted for the Dems .
That's even WORSE!
I am honest and you lied about me.
I never lied about you' not once. Get someone to read ALL of my posts to you and explain what they say. Either you didn't read most of them, or failed to understand what they said.
Where was Bill Clinton 2 years out from the election? Instead of spending so much time worrying about who is "electable" we need to start looking at who is good. With Hillary's negative numbers I honestly believe that in a two party race any conservative could beat her. Do you really think she could gain a bigger slice of the vote than her husband? He never got over 49% I think she tops out at about 45%.
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