Posted on 02/06/2007 4:03:31 PM PST by wagglebee
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A leading pro-life advocate says he thinks Rudy Giuliani is too pro-abortion to deserve support form the overwhelming majority of Republican voters who are pro-life. Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council, says he doesn't think the former New York mayor will be able to capture the party's nod.
Giuliani moved another step closer to a full-fledged candidacy on Monday by filing a statement of candidacy and removing the words "testing the waters" from his exploratory committee papers.
He has a high standing the polls both nationally and in early primary states such as Iowa and New Hampshire but Perkins says that's simply because of his high name identification.
"At this point most people have no idea where candidates stand on the issues, the polls simply reflect name ID," Perkins told CBN.
"Giuliani is known for his impressive leadership in the wake of 9/11, but most pro-family Americans do not yet realize how far outside of the mainstream of conservative thought that Mayor Giuliani social views really are," Perkins added. "Once people focus on this election and the candidates Giuliani's lead will diminish."
Should Giuliani get the party's nod for president, Perkins said it would likely hand the White House over to the Democratic candidate because pro-life voters would have no one to support.
The last several elections have been between pro-life Republican and pro-life Democratic candidates and a Giuliani nomination would change that dynamic.
"If by some chance Giuliani were to gain the Republican nomination it would set up a very similar scenario that we had last November," Perkins told CBN. "A unenthusiastic Republican base which will suppress turnout and set up a Democratic victory."
Republican voters have previously turned away pro-abortion candidates from capturing the primary nod, including former California Gov. Pete Wilson and Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter. Republicans haven't had a pro-abortion nominee since Gerald Ford in 1976.
When asked to respond to social issues on CNN's Inside Politics in a 1999 interview, Giuliani replied, "I'm pro-choice."
In the same CNN interview he also indicated he does not support even a modest ban on the gruesome partial-birth abortion procedure saying, "No, I have not supported that, and I don't see my position on that changing."
Giuliani also indicated he would have upheld President Clinton's veto of the partial-birth abortion ban.
"Yes. I said I then that I support him, so I have no reason to change my mind about it," he told the New York Times in November 1999.
The former mayor also backs embryonic stem cell research, which pro-life groups oppose because it requires the destruction of human life to obtain the stem cells.
Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney are the top two candidates in the polls apart from Giuliani.
Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee are also running and drawing significant support from the pro-life community.
Other potential Republican candidates include pro-life former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, pro-life Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, pro-life Reps. Duncan Hunter of California and Tom Tancredo of Colorado, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, and former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson.
"Uh, why do you think the MSM is attacking Rudy/Romney..."
I've seen no attacking. But it's possible they want Giuliani to win first, then take him down.
Rudy Giliani did nothing to limit abortion in New York. I challenge you right here and now to provide one speech or executive order by Rudy Giuliani meant to limit abortion. In fact he supported state subsidization of same. Now you must be a fiscal conservative right? Economically speaking what happens when states subsidize behavior?
Is that supposed to impress us "stupid one-issue ultra right-wingnut anti-Rudy idiots"?
In case you haven't noticed, Pat Robertson has come out with some pretty wacky stuff lately (this Rudy comment just being the latest one). Remember this little gem?
EAU CLAIRE, Wisconsin (CNN) -- A White House spokesman denied Wednesday that President Bush told Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson that he did not expect casualties from the invasion of Iraq.
Do you think he's smart enough to appoint Mario Cuomo to the SCOTUS?
The GOP has completely abandoned its economic and limited government message. These are the issues that voters are more concerned about, not flag-burning and banning Internet poker.
Yes, there is a war for the heart and soul of the party, but it's not over social issues. Start reforming the tax code, phase-out the entitlement programs, and fight a real war on terror, and the social issues will take care of themselves.
As far as the social issues are concerned, the party is still strong on this and Rudy and Romney aren't stupid to alienate Christian voters.
First, my respect for JulieAnnie is represented by my reference to him - get over it, it's my post.
Second - if that's the candidate YOU wish to support, go right ahead. BUT, and you can pass this around to all your other RINO buddies, if JulieAnnie is the GOP pick, it'll be the GOP expecting me and others to cast votes against the core beliefs that attracted us to the GOP in the first place.
Speaking for MYSELF - it ain't gonna happen if I can help it.
The RudyBots are the real problem. A small contingent of highly vocal liberals spreading their opinions about a liberal candidate for POTUS, on the internets premier conservative website. Go figure! Whatever one thinks of polls, most polls do have some level of legitimacy behind the data. If nothing more then just offering a brief snapshot of current opinion. Right now, Rudy is polling 13.4% of FReepers. That means 86.6% of FReepers would not choose RINO-Rudy if they were given an opportunity. Consider that stat.
You're the one that's panicking, not me.
I'm not spamming the Hunter or Tancredo threads.
Eeeewww ... wash your keyboard with soap, guy.
"McCaintanic"
Stolen for the fabulous dynachrome photo collection.
Speaking of stupid statements, is any of this true:
Perkins has come under fire from various organizations (primarily on the left) for appearing as a speaker at the Louisiana chapter of the Council of Conservative Citizens, one of the United States' most prominent white supremacist organizations, in 2002.
This is what the ADL says about that Council:
http://www.adl.org/learn/ext_us/CCCitizens.asp?xpicked=3&item=12
The Nation claims that in 1996 Perkins paid former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke $82,000 for his mailing list. At the time, Perkins was the campaign manager for a Republican candidate for the US Senate in Louisiana. The Federal Election Commission fined the campaign Perkins ran $3,000 for attempting to hide the money paid to Duke."
The Family Research Council says Blumenthal's claims about Perkins connection to David Duke are false. They say Duke's "connection was not known to Mr. Perkins until 1999. Mr. Perkins profoundly opposes the racial views of Mr. Duke and was profoundly grieved to learn that Duke was a party to the company that had done work for the 1996 campaign." The response to the Nation article does not address Perkins appearance before the white supremacist group, the Council of Conservative Citizens.
Now, I don't know if any of that is true, but if it is, I'll just have to pass on thinking that Perkins has any credibility.
What what a total moron you are.
I have no problem you not being a fan of Rudy and wanting to get someone else the nomination.
But to dedicate yourself to "STOP GIULIANI" is only going to get a democrat in office.
Check your priorities dingus.
Nice. I'm sure you heap lavish praise on Hillary Clinton, though.
Second - if that's the candidate YOU wish to support, go right ahead. BUT, and you can pass this around to all your other RINO buddies, if JulieAnnie is the GOP pick, it'll be the GOP expecting me and others to cast votes against the core beliefs that attracted us to the GOP in the first place.
If Rudy or Romney wins the primaries, you really have no case. That means that your social conservative lost the primaries fair and square.
BTW, if Hunter or any of the other candidates win, I would be more than happy to support them in the general, unlike you spoilsports who wanna throw a snit because your candidate lost.
MOST Freepers can see this. I am still trying to see why anyone would support a Liberal with an ~R~
LOL.
Equating Rudy to Hillary is the same tactic the Left use to compare Bush to Hitler.
You guys, really, are smoking a deadly strain of crack cocaine.
I don't even know who this Perkins guy is that you allude to me putting so much stock in. I am against abortion - I take it he is too.
I was referring to your remark about Pat Robertson. I don't take much that he says very seriously - sad to say, but from what I've heard come out of his mouth lately - I think he might be going senile or something.
I don't look to either man for my opinions. My opinions are my own.
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