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
exactly which one is pro life & pro rkba and staunchly conservative ?
This post could actually be from a Hillary troll!
That's not going to be the case this year. - Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia, Florida, Michigan, and probably Texas and California will all vote one week after New Hampshire.
New Hampshire will be more meaningless than ever.
No, I am an America-bot, and a Constitution-bot, to the obvious chagrin of the theocracy wannabes here. And...no sarcasm intended.
as someone that has not made up his mind whjo to support yet, the most cursory examination of Giuliani's positions shows that your statement is pure sophistry.
the only thing "dumb" about that "hypothetical" is your unwillingness to consider it.
So who do you support?
Hey, I live in Idaho and don't have much of a chance of influencing Iowa or any early primary. Give me someone to vote for in the General election; so far it is Rudy. And as I see it Rudy is the only candidate that the Democrats secretly rail against.
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I'm guessing many will stick with option #2. What many don't realize is that the Democrats hate Giuliani. Between the lack of crossover votes and the lack of support from social conservatives, Rudy's chances are slim for beating Hillary or Obama.
They offer more "Rudy" than Rudy.
Heh, heh. Ya left out Roy Moore....
I am compelled to ask you; which candidate meets with your approval/endorsement?
If you had to list in order all of your desired outcomes of the Primary/Election cycle, what would be your list from best to worst?
If you were to temper your passions/desires (list) with practicality, what would your list look like?
At what point does your Anti Rudy intersect with your worst possible outcome?
um....you'd be the one walking away...and, unless you're not responsible for your OWN actions, you might want to reconsider your statement.
I vote on principle as well, however, on the other side of that coin, Rudy will keep me and my family and yours safe from terrorists. In other words, he can win.
Dear Antoninus,
"I could be convinced to hold my nose for any of the rest (ok, perhaps not Romney--the GOP's version of John Kerry),..."
I keep thinking that perhaps Mr. Romney will say or do something that will easy my fear that he's little more than a complete phoney. Unfortunately, every time he speaks, he seems to confirm that he hasn't yet learned the first rule of holes.
Go, Duncan!
sitetest
Oh brother.
"Its better to lose the White House than to lose the party."
Given our enemies around the world, if we lose the 2008 election, we may lose the Republic itself. Socialists and Islamists will get to write our history.
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