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
;)
And it will be really over if large liberal "blue states" like California get first choice. This despite the fact that California's electoral votes are unlikely to go to any Republican.
Then you won't object if I say everything you've written is total Bull$hit.
Uh! there were several years between marriages.
ROFL....you better go and do your homework...7th grade is going to be tougher than you think...
There is not enough difference between Rino Rudy and Hitlary to care. I will vote for neither.
It was the houses of Congress that disrupted the Miers' nomination to the USSC, not the Oval Office and the houses of Congress did it with the voices of the people behind them. It'll be to those whom we'll need to look if either Rudy or Hillery enters the WH and the net outcome from one is really no worse than from the other.
If Rudy happens to occupy the White House, it's my belief members of both halls of Congress will presume Conservatism dead or has little or no support of the people and will adjust their positions toward the left upon every issue. There will be NO ONE remaining in Washington with undergirding support to obstruct left liberalism.
Is THAT where we want to go as a nation? as a people?
Rudy in the White House is akin to a "non-binding resolution" to Repuplicans to turn LEFT or go home.
Vs. what? that powerhouse Duncan Hunter?
Please
I disagree with Rudy on his immigration stance.
If anyone is serious about the war on terror, then I can't see them voting for a person that enables terrorism in the US.
Both WTC attacks are a direct result of our immigration policies, which Rudy wishes were more liberal. You can't fight a war and leave the barn door open at the same time.
...LOL...don't you just love it when a FReeper ends up calling you a RINO, liberal or something else.... Usually they say it so make themselves feel better since their argument does not suffice.... 'I don't like what you say therefore YOU are a POS'.....haha.....they don't realize that in their zeal, They sound more like a liberal since that is the tactic they employ the most.....
They are very "touchy" and know that they are promoting a Candidate that would be Trashed 42/7 if there was a D instead of an R after their name.
As far as I am concerned they get what they deserve on these threads. I pity their foolish choice of Rudy. They have jumped on the MSM Bandwagon and have swallowed the Hook.
I fear they would much rather blame everyone else for marching out of step.
" The Italian-American "
"A hyphenated American is not an American at all.
This is just as true of the man who puts 'Native' before the hyphen as of the man who puts German or Irish or English or French before the hyphen.
Americanism is a matter of the spirit and of the soul.
Our allegiance must be purely to the United States.
We must unsparingly condemn any man who holds any other allegiance."
Theodore Roosevelt, 12 October 1915
Thgere is no such thing as a perfect candidate, and I would be suspicious of anyone that was. They all have warts...so I need to determine who I agree with most, and whether that person has a shot at winning the Presidency.
Since I am so stridently opposed to everything Democrat, it is incumbent upon me to ensure their defeat and to do so I have to "get behind" the Republican candidate. And if that happens to be Rudy, so be it.
So when the screamers are in full-throated roar, I have to scratch the surface and see what they've lost their minds over.
Actually 'bout what I expected, since there is no linkage between conservatism and religion. Marx, Engels? Try Hume and Burke. Let me know if you don't know who they are.
I want to be excited by our candidate, not embarrassed by his positions.
I agree with that 100% - but - there are times when it's meaningful.
In part lead by Jim Robinson, one side appears to be drawing a line in the sand.
The current trends suggest the possibility that they might lose this point (altho absolutely it is too early to tell).
The Ds are going thru the same kind of thing. The hard-core left is opposing Hilly.
I don't know that we've ever had an election with these dynamics before . . . can anyone suggest to me a similar dynamic to research?
Thanks - I'll try to make allowances for them :-)
No sarcasm needed. When Dobson speaks, many on FR listen...and follow.
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