Posted on 02/21/2007 12:06:36 PM PST by Reagan Man
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.]
so if I don't vote for your R candidate or the D candidate
I am being selfish???
The freedom to vote is that fickle huh?
Politicians have to EARN my vote. They are not granted a right to it by the letter next to their name.
And for sure getting somebody like A. Fortas, T. Marshall, R. Ginsburg, and/or S. Breyer? Of course, a Republican president may appoint a 'wrong' person as well, but with a Democrat as a president and Democrat Congress, we'll get 100% liberal. If this happens for 8 yrs, God help us.
Last time I checked, Reagan was still dead. Politics is the art of the possible.
Thanks. I have more on the way, all for appropriate situations / threads.
| "YOU people have no clue what Rudy is all about. YOU refuse to accept his statements and actions on these issues. Grow up." |
| Why would I accept his statements on issues when his actions on the same issues prove he is simply lying to get my vote? Maybe when you grow up you will develop some principals... |
You are right. It is moronic because we haven't had a Conservative Republican president like Ronald Reagan since Ronald Reagan.
We're on the same side :>)
Put me on your ping list please. Thanks!
Actually, NO, I won't vote for Rudy. Under any circumstances. If the Pubbies despise conservatives so much that they'll go for Rudy, then I can bloody well skip that line on the ballot. My Senators and Congresscritter are are okay (usually), and there are local races, but if the GOP wants to hand the banner to Rudy, then they can kiss my vote good-bye. Hillary! can have it. If you're gonna vote for evil, why settle for the lesser evil?
Good gawd!
Rudy isn't fooling anyone. Rudy is a Liberal with a capital L.
That being said, I do not join those who say they would never vote for him. If it comes down to a choice between Rudy, the Liberal, and Hillary, the Communist, I will vote and even campaign for Rudy.
We don't have to change the definition of "Conservative." It is still important to defeat the Democrats.
Did I miss a sacrasm tag?
The author sounds like a spoiled child.
"You 'I'm not going to vote for anybody other than Ronald Reagan" types are morons.'"
Amen to that.
Using Rudy`s record as a guide, its a good bet as Prez he would nominate jurists in the mold of Lawrence Tribe, George Mitchell and Alan Dershowitz, then he would nominate originalists like Scalia, Thomas, and Rehnquist.
LOL!
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