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
He wasn't viewed that way by the country in '96. He was loved by many and he only got 49%.
What did you guys expect. They've smelled blood in the water; heck, they've tasted blood, by knocking George Allen out of the race so completely.
They're moving on to the next opponent.
You may be right. A big part of the problem is Bush's total and obscene fixation on amnesty. He sure doesn't seem to be very concerned about the future of the party considering the new leadership for the RNC, his refusal come to out swinging on anything but immigration. Bush and the RNC is setting us up to lose again in '08.
If you want to vote for a NY liberal... go for it. Just don't expect people to get any more excited over Rudy than they did Dole.
I will not crawl over broken glass to vote for this guy and I will not spend the next 2 years working for Republicans to rehabilitate Rudy's image. You thought conservatives stayed home this election? You haven't seen anything yet. If he is the best Repubicans have to offer then it is all over my friends.
It's great to see conservatives and REpublicans already letting Hillary and the liberals dictate who we're going to put up for the presidential election. (*#%^@*!!!)Rinos like Rudy are what lost us the mid-terms people.
Count me as one of those. I WILL NOT abandon my principles for a dress-wearing, gay-marching, Saturday Night Live skit adulterer with a lisp. I WILL NEVER vote for someone like that to lead the United States of America!! EVER!!
If you vote for Rudy, ever, you are a liberal. I don't think you even believe what you post and you're only here to subvert the conservative mindset. Have some respect and don't call other FReepers morons please.
I agree that Rudy should not run and could not win the republican primary. He's so far left on social issues that Hillary may find herself to right of Rudy.
This is Mathews' way of pumping up the weak-kneed Republicans into liking Rudy. It is a win-win for Chrissy the Muppet as he gets his wishes no matter what. (Open borders, gay agenda, abortion on demand)
DNC: "Don't throw us into that briar patch."
Americans are more than ready for a policy move to the right on abortion policy. Polling over the last 10 years shows solid movement to the right. The status quo is supported by about 20% of the electorate.
There is virtually no room to move to the left on abortion policy, unless you want state funded, compulsory abortions.
I would LOVE to see a TRUE conservative come forward. Who do you propose? And don't give me Romney. Evangelicals everywhere, will run for the hills.
I have been all over different threads asking people to come up with a viable CONSERVATIVE candidate. You give me one and I personally will start a petition campaign to get them into this race!!!!
BTW, notice my tagline...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1595203/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1656591/posts
to name a few who are much farther to the right
Bump.
Let's see the DEM's paint him liberal {which he is} Hillary then runs to the right of Rudy {not a difficult task for her to do by any means}. Hillary beats Rudy by keeping the Conservative DEM base home and disgusting the Conservative base of the GOP so they again sit one out. Rudy will not win against Hillary or any other DEM willing to run to the right of him.
I shan't take kindly to it.heehee.
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