Posted on 02/20/2007 9:54:39 AM PST by Spiff
The Republicans, and even some socially conservative and evangelical leaders, are beginning to adjust to the possibility of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani as the GOP nominee for president. But not all.
The Southern Baptist's Richard Land, for instance, predicts massive defections from Rudy in the event of a Rudy Giuliani vs. Hillary Clinton race. Hugh Hewitt, evangelical talk-meister in the syndicated stream of radio shows doubts this; "... If Rudy is persuasive on the judges he will nominate, he wouldn't have a problem with the social conservatives in the general election." So tell us you'll nominate the likes of Scalia, Roberts, and Alito to the Supreme Court, and we will line up behind you no matter your substantial views that run counter to the Judeo-Christian ethic, he and his handlers are undoubtedly thinking.
Well, I won't.
And I bet I speak for hundreds of thousands and perhaps millions when I say that I cannot in good conscience vote for a man with significant moral problems in his personal life, a radically wrong view of abortion (against it personally, but for women making their own pro-abortion choice), and oh-so-very Times Square and Hollywood on the issues of homosexual rights and guns (for and against, respectively).
Can't vote for him, even if his opponent is Hillary Rodham Clinton? No, I cannot.
Aw, c'mon, Team Republican says, nobody who purports to be socially conservative, evangelical, or who voted twice for Ronald Reagan will be able to muster a vote for Hillary over Rudy.
Probably right. But voting for her isn't the only option. When the electorate isn't excited about the candidates, they are capable of staying home -- particularly those who don't much care to think political thoughts 24/7 and are not enthused about the choices. There are others of us who will either leave the presidential portion of the ballot unmarked or decide for the first time in our lives to vote, say, the Constitution Party.
Next argument -- Then you'll just be putting Hillary into office. Next rebuttal -- No, rather, my precious vote won't be responsible for putting into office a man who thinks we will vote for him because he is best suited and capably prepared to keep America safe but can't guard his own soul from moral perdition.
But, in all of this, there is something else to think about. The President of the United States guides his own political party and its platform. And the party of President Rudy Giuliani will soon become the party of the same kind of governing mushiness that has absorbed the Democrats. Give the party to Rudy and the moral code and political sensibilities of Reagan are lost, perhaps for good. Better to lose an election and reload ideologically than try to cheer on and take cues from a man with a worldview radically divergent from your own.
May the primaries be kind to the GOP; and kindness means Giuliani loses.
Matt Friedeman (mfriedeman@wbs.edu) is a professor at Wesley Biblical Seminary. Respond to this column at his blog: evangelismtoday.blogspot.com. Opinions expressed in 'Perspectives' columns published by OneNewsNow.com are the sole responsibility of the article's author(s), or of the person(s) or organization(s) quoted therein, and do not necessarily represent those of the staff or management of, or advertisers who support the American Family News Network, OneNewsNow.com, our parent organization or its other affiliates. The way to electoral suicide -- vote Giuliani
February 20, 2007
You mean will we be blackmailed? The answer is no. I for one will only abandon a candidate if I feel that his election is going to be bad for my country. I will not abandon a candidate because someone is threatening to hold his breath and turn blue if he gets the nomination.
The beauty of it is that it works both ways. I don't expect you to acquiesce to demands to abandon Hunter either. You shouldn't be asked to do so. The pity is that the respect only seems to run one way, but oh well.
.....you are right in that....but many Moderates and Independents love Rudy....and there are polls to show that.... and IMHO, more Dems are open to voting for Rudy then Repubs voting for a Dem....that poll was on FOX but can't remember the name......I'm not disputing you but when anyone makes a blanket statement on FR or anywhere like that, I just cringe....I'm not without emotional reasoning but I tend to like to stick to facts....for instance, if you use polls....alot of people love Newt...me included, but his negatives are higher than even Hillary's
After the loss, it's the fault of the "stupid religious fanatics" for not dutifully trooping to the polls and voting for a man they can't stand, just because he has an "R" next to his name.
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Exactly right.
Quick quiz.
Which conservative idol was a divorced, former Democrat union president from Hollywood who signed one of the country's most liberal abortion laws into effect as Governor?
Bonus hint:
He employed a White House astrologer.
"Defeat him in the primary, or support him in the general" should be our philosophy. Being a member of a "party" means not always getting what we individually want. I'm for whoever is most like Ronaldus Magnus, but I'll vote for just about anyone over SHrillary.....
"Then a turd in the punch bowl would look like a Democrat in the white house"
The point is, you can take something people may want and make it so offensive than none will.
Yes, He is so liberal, if nominated I do not care who the rats run I will not vote for him.
no way, she will be on defense in the blue states just to save those, it would be a Reagan style sweep all over again and IF not the map would look similar(to the 1988 electoral map)
Dear NorCalRepub,
Most moderates and independents are against the war.
They're unlikely to vote for a candidate who stands out from the entire pack - from all the Republicans and all the Democrats - as the most hawkish.
Right now, Mr. Giuliani is running on star power. Right now, only half of Republicans know that he's a pro-abort. When these folks are told that he's a pro-abort, somewhere between a fifth and as much as 40% or more abandon him.
These folks won't vote Dem. They'll sit on their thumbs, or abstain from voting at the top of the ticket, or they'll vote third party.
In the meanwhile, the Dems will hold their base (especially since the overwhelming majority of their base is anti-war, and especially because we're always told around here by the rudybots that the Dems HATE Mr. Giuliani). And if the war pretty much hasn't been won, most moderates and independents aren't going to vote for the biggest war-monger (as he will be painted by the lamestream media).
If the war DOES go well between now and then, it will become a less-pressing issue, and Mr. Giuliani, staking most of his candidacy on the assertion that he would be best to continue to prosecute the war, will have lost his rationale for election.
sitetest
Well, the solid south is no longer voting for people like Jim Talent and George Allen. But that's because they weren't conservative enough, right?
What's really happening is this. We're pussy-footing around with issues like stemcell research and gay-bashing, when we should be talking about the Bush economic boom and killing terrorists 24/7.
As a result, Democrats are given an uncontested monopoly on the most important issues, and it is hurting the Republican Party, and ultimately America. We used to paint people like Max Cleland as fans of bin Laden. Now our candidates have to talk about sexy novels and federal stemcell funding, while with the Dems, it is anti-Bush, anti-Iraq, anti-America 24/7.
With Giuliani, we get a chance to frame events according to a unified, conservative narrative again, instead of a buffet of unconnected wedge issues.
Sigh....
the dems do not hate Rudy, but they HATE hitlery. My sister and all her gay friends are already debating if its rudy vs hitlary (some prefer rudy).
Yeah, yah, they hate the war, but her more. moderate dems who "get it" on the WOT like him too. to be honest the only ones I see really liking rudy are dems (except here on FR).
We need someone who will unite the GOP, not split it. This is total insanity folks.
Okay...i was suppose to be going to the docs. have fun guys:-)
Unless y'all want to relive the last 8 years in the 90's under former President Bill Clinton?
Who cares what this guy thinks? But rather than listen to his whines all conservatives have to do is BEAT Giuliani for the nomination. Since that is easier said than done I expect to hear loads more threats and irrational analysis.
"I don't' think that is fair at all....you mean God is gonna judge someone if they vote for Rudy?"
Go tell that to the Amish. Tell them that abortion is no big deal. Go right ahead. Let me know what they say.
You know nothing about the Amish!
Apparently, Hillary will be the next President.
Sickening, isn't it?
Never seen it before in my 7 years of being a Freeper.
Calling fellow Freepers creeps, DUmmies, left-wing plants...
Childish, and disgraceful.
It seems to me that some conservatives are intent on losing. So fine, lose.
My crystal ball is cloudy today. All I can say is the slick willie came out of no place, so I wouldn't write this guy off.
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