Posted on 01/12/2007 7:03:17 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist
Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani on Thursday dismissed his liberal social views--including support for gay rights--his divorces, and his former aides imbroglio as irrelevant to a presidential bid.
Asked about a leaked political strategy memo that cited such issues as potentially insurmountable obstacles to a campaign for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, Giuliani said, "That is not going to be the issue."
"I sure have strengths and weaknesses," Giuliani said on ABCs Good Morning America. "I think that sort of puts me in the same category as just about everybody else thats running. Are my strengths greater or my weaknesses worse? I dont know. You have to sort of examine that. That wont be the issue."
Giuliani, who formed a presidential exploratory committee last year, said he is still weighing whether to run for president. "You have to feel inside yourself there is something special I can do-some kind of special experience I have had or background," said Giuliani, who became known as "Americas mayor" for his response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Giuliani made headlines last week when a copy of his nascent campaigns strategy paper made its way to the New York Daily News. Aides claimed the 140-page document was pilfered from a piece of luggage when a staffer changed planes. The document acknowledged the obvious: a moderate Republican who has supported abortion rights, gay rights, and gun control may be a tough sell to GOP primary voters.
It also cited his stormy divorce from Donna Hanover, one of his former wives, and his ties to scandal-plagued former New York City police chief Bernard Kerik as potential obstacles.
Giuliani almost switched parties after the '94 elections after he prominently supported Cuomo over Pataki. Of course, Pataki was no gem, either...
Yes, as long as they believe doing so will result in Comrade Hillary becoming President.
Steyn was talking about the money Saudi Arabia spends around the world to build mosques, endow chairs at universities, etc. And that everyone just takes their money.
Neither one mentioned that Rudy did NOT take the money from a Saudi prince after 9/11.
He told the prince to take the money and shove it!
Too bad that little fact didn't get into the discussion.
If we're all blown to bits, beheaded, or glowing from a nuke attack, none of our social concerns will be of the utmost importance.
Nope, this is....
Then why have liberals always hated him so much? He was attacked relentlessly up until 9/11 by the left.
Just keep thinking that Rudy. The last election should bear witness to the lack of conservative values on you RINO's part. You just lost thousands of votes from people who think homosexals are sick and that their act is a SIN!
86 this joker, quickly.
Fiscal conservatives wouldn't lose, national security conservatives wouldn't lose. And if it's true that Rudy would appoint judges like Scalia, social conservatives would be served pretty well in the long run too. I'm not saying to support him, but there is no need to misrepresent him either.
"Then why have liberals always hated him so much? He was attacked relentlessly up until 9/11 by the left."
Care to offer any examples of how "liberals always hated him so much?" He ran for Mayor of NYC twice on the Liberal Party ticket as well as the Republican ticket. It seems strange that liberals would nominate someone they hate to run for Mayor.
Giuliani is not in favor of gay marriage ... he's ok with civil unions.
Further left on what issues? There's quite a long list to the left of Rudy on the war alone.
As soon as I saw this thread I scanned down it to find the inevitable Rudy in drag photo. Some of you are truly obsessed! Men have so often dressed in drag...in the military, college fraternities, fraternal lodges, parties and events. For years. It is NOT a big deal for someone to laugh at themselves and have some fun.
Sure he is. Just look how Republicans have morphed over the years from talking about small limited government (even though they really didn't believe it) to fully supporting it, voting for more of it, and calling anyone who dared not to support their waste and spend as 'unconservative'...
The only thing differentiating the Republicans from the Democrats these days is the social issues. But even there they're both big government. One side wants legislation limiting issues such as gay rights, abortion, etc. while the other wants legislation supporting it. And of course neither of these stances is what was intended from the Framers. These issues were intended to be left to the separate and sovereign states.
Unfortunately, you're right. Think what could been achieved with a Republican President and GOP control of both houses since 2001 ... and how little was.
I'll be damned if I'll let the Drive By Media pick my candidate for me!
My time and money will go to Duncan Hunter!
Only if you let the drive-by-media pick your candidate for you.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
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.