Posted on 11/15/2006 7:30:55 AM PST by 300magnum
Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani enjoys "a lot of good will" from Republicans from his handling of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but his stance on social issues like abortion and gun control make him an unacceptable candidate in the 2008 presidential election, according to conservative analysts.
Giuliani, who announced Monday that he has filed papers to form an exploratory committee as the first step towards a White House run, is "absolutely unacceptable under any circumstances" as a presidential candidate, Colleen Parro, executive director of the Republican National Coalition for Life, told Cybercast News Service.
"The core values of the Republican Party with respect to life issues -- which is where our main concern is -- and the issues of the homosexual movement, etc., cause his candidacy for the nomination to just be dead in the water," she said.
Giuliani has described himself as "pro-choice" and said he would not support a ban on partial-birth abortions. He promoted gun control programs and civil unions for same-sex partners during his two terms as New York City mayor.
While serving in that post, Giuliani saw his private life become a regular subject of media scrutiny, especially in 2000, when he announced at a press conference that he was seeking a separation from his second wife without first telling her of his decision.
"Despite Giuliani's charm and his obvious leadership abilities, as far as social and cultural issues are concerned, not only his personal life but his public views make him unacceptable," Parro said.
Supporters of a Giuliani bid launched a group a year ago called Draft Rudy Giuliani for President.
Co-founder Nicholas Tyszka said in a statement this week that, "with the current climate [of divisiveness] in Washington," Giuliani would be an excellent nominee, as "he has such a broad base of appeal, even cutting across political lines."
The group, whose other co-founder is veteran Republican political consultant Allen Fore, said that "America needs and wants this great man to lead our nation."
"Named Time Magazine's 'Person of the Year' in 2001, Rudy Giuliani has been a proven leader during one of the toughest periods in American history," the organization's website states.
"Giuliani exemplifies leadership, courage and compassion," it says. "Rudy Giuliani has dedicated his professional life to serving the United States, including assistant attorney general in the U.S. Justice Department under President Reagan and as the crime-fighting U.S. attorney in the state of New York.
"He has an unrivaled record of honesty and integrity, always putting the people's interest above politics," the website continues. "His service as mayor of New York City, particularly after the devastating terrorist attacks against our country on September 11, 2001, made him America's mayor. Now it's time to make him America's president."
Although forming an exploratory committee does not guarantee that an individual will run for president, Giuliani's announcement Monday drew a quick response from the Democratic National Committee:
"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 DNC Communications Director Karen Finney in a press statement.
"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?" Finney asked.
The DNC also issued a speedy response after Sen. John McCain made a similar announcement on Sunday.
Brian Darling, director of Senate relations for the conservative Heritage Foundation, told Cybercast News Service that "it's going to be virtually impossible for Giuliani to woo voters who put the Second Amendment and family values as their top issues."
However, Giuliani "clearly has a lot of good will with Republicans, and his goal should be to shore up his conservative credentials on the issues of federal spending and anti-terrorism," Darling said.
Since he was mayor of New York City during 9/11, Giuliani "can trumpet anti-terrorism as one of his major policies. But he also needs to talk about limiting the federal government and restricting out-of-control federal spending so he can shore up support among conservatives who care about pocketbook issues," Darling said.
While acknowledging that Giuliani is "a presumptive front-runner" for the GOP presidential nomination in 2008, Darling said the former mayor is enjoying good poll numbers "merely because he has high name recognition."
Strong approval figures don't guarantee victories when the party's primaries begin, Darling noted.
"Just ask [early 2004 Democratic front-runner] Howard Dean about that," he said.
---""I say fine - let them stay home. Then when President Hillary Rodham Clinton and her VP Bubba Clinton signs into law - HillaryCARE - I don't want to hear one peep out of them!"
How dare YOU apply logic, Five-One?"---
Ummm..
Didn't Rudy sign a Hillary-care style entitlement in NY?
Vote for who you like in the primary. But when the final vote is tallied we have to stick together.
There are too many here on FR who say that Hillary is preferable to Rudy. Get real!
"A Republic, if you can keep it..."
Evidently, we can't.
I have no problem with electing someone who has been divorced.
I am Russian Orthodox and we allow for divorce up to three times on the basis of humans being fallible creatures. Of course there are strict rules as to what constitutes an acceptable reason for a divorce but overall it is granted on a case by case basis and it is between the bishop and the couple seeking a divorce.
Not that I know of when he was mayor. Maybe Wacki Pataki did but never heard of it.
A. Vote for Rudy.
B. Vote for Hillary.
C. Don't vote, stay at home. (Improving Hillary's chances)
D. Hold my nose and vote for Rudy.
Sorry, D is the only logical choice for me.
OMG. What a flake!
Persoanlly, based on his past behavior, I would consider John McCain to be an unmitigated disaster in the making.
I base this upon a record of hypocrisy, that anyone can look up and peruse for themselves. McCain is absolutely HILLARIOUS when it comes to illegal immigration (he's played so fast and loose with his positions, it's SCARY), btw. We won't even get into CFR, the Gang of 14, and the anti-Catholic crap during the last presidential primaries.
My pet peeve on this subject though, is that there is a tendency to view politics through the lens of religious orthodoxy. This is what the Taliban does and what the Catholic Church of the middle Ages did. It's stunts the growthof a society because it automatically discounts individuals and discards ideas without giving them a fair and impartial hearing.
With regards to Rudy, there is a record of tax cutting, smaller government,law-and-order crime fighting, and a whole host of what would be laudible in a conservative of more religious stripe, but which goes unnoticed inthis man because of the fixation on his personal and the fact that he dressed in drag once.
We can disagree on abortion and gun control, but we shouldn't be ignoring everything else the man has to offer, or at least have to say.
No. You and the Rudy crowd are making it happen by trotting out Hillary Lite. One week after the elections and before any final and accurate analyzing of the election result causes out comes Rudy. On the majority of his positions there is no difference other than an R after his name. It is like having your choice of executioner. Either way you are dead.
"Hmmm, whatever happened to "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone?" "
That's why we should have left Hitler alone.
Too farfetched, how about, that's why Foley should have been left alone.
God doesn't say we can't make moral decisions, only that we aren't the ones deciding who gets by the Pearly gates.
Dear Wombat101,
"Hmmm, whatever happened to 'Let he who is without sin cast the first stone?'"
I don't think that anyone is suggesting that we kill Mr. Giuliani by stoning him.
There's a difference between showing mercy to egregious sinners and electing them to the highest office in the land.
Those who follow Jesus are obligated to always forgive repentant sinners, no matter how terrible the sin, and to offer forgiveness to the unrepentant, in the hope of inspiring repentance. Jesus' followers aren't obligated to vote for them for President of the United States.
sitetest
too bad, powerful men attact women and nobody is perfect. Personally I am nore interested in advancing the conservative goal of preserving the nation and it's Constitution. And I don't give a damn about my leaders personal life as long as it is not criminal. I like Rudi and would vote for him in the general but not in a primary. Too liberal IMHO, good man but bad on issues important to me. Newt I like.
"I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man." - George Washington
Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the rest is in the hands of God." - George Washington
"Didn't Rudy sign a Hillary-care style entitlement in NY? "
Gee, didn't Rudy kick 250,000 off the welfare rolls? What's your point?
And I don't recall any "HIllary-care style" Health Care entitlement that Rudy signed. Are you sure you don't mean Cuomo? It's rare that the Mayor of New York City would be entursted to create that sort of regime, since that's typically the reserve of the State Assembly and Governor.
Gosh, it must have been some other site, but I could have sworn it was here, that when Clinton was having an affair in the White House people kept saying “character matters”. But I don’t see those posts about Rudy having an affair in Gracie Mansion, or going on television to tell his wife he was divorcing her. Maybe character only matters if it is a Democrat, or maybe Republicans are held to a lower standard.
I've done the "D" option more than I like myself.
Enjoy Hillary, you one issue voter.
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