Posted on 03/07/2007 9:02:59 PM PST by Reagan Man
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A Southern Baptist leader said Tuesday that evangelical voters might tolerate a divorced presidential candidate, but they have deep doubts about GOP hopeful Rudy Giuliani, who has been married three times.
Richard Land, head of public policy for the Southern Baptist Convention, told The Associated Press that evangelicals believe the former New York City mayor showed a lack of character during his divorce from his second wife, television personality Donna Hanover.
"I mean, this is divorce on steroids," Land said. "To publicly humiliate your wife in that way, and your children. That's rough. I think that's going to be an awfully hard sell, even if he weren't pro-choice and pro-gun control."
Giuliani married his longtime companion, Judith Nathan, in 2003. They had dated publicly while Giuliani was married to Hanover. His first marriage ended in an annulment.
A Giuliani staff member referred calls on Land's statement to Giuliani's exploratory committee, which did not have an immediate response Tuesday night.
Giuliani already has a challenge in winning over conservative voters who make up the GOP's base. Many of them view him with skepticism because his moderate views on social issues such as gays, guns and abortion are considered too liberal.
Land noted that Republican presidential candidate John McCain has been married twice, but said the Arizona senator has acknowledged his part in the failure of his first marriage.
"It's a molehill compared to Giuliani's mountain," Land said. "When you're a war hero [like McCain], you have less to prove on the character front."
Many polls identify Giuliani as the front-runner in the Republican presidential primary, followed by McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
Southern Baptists have been among the most vocal of conservative Christian groups in support of the Bush administration. But they and other evangelicals are struggling to find a consensus presidential candidate who embraces their stands against gay marriage and abortion.
"It's a molehill compared to Giuliani's mountain," Land said. "When you're a war hero [like McCain], you have less to prove on the character front."
LOL...veterans preference.
I would venture an opinion that Rudy's liberalism is far more critical to the choice of a supposed "Republican" candidate, than the fact he has been married a number of times...it is time to get real, which of course, the MSM will NEVER do.
There are 60 million Baptists in America. Richard Land is perhaps the foremost spokesman for that denomintaion.
If every Baptist showed up to the polls and cast a vote for a conservative candidate in the primary and general election, they could easily swing an election one way or another.
His divorce? Not his stands on "gay rights" and "gay marriage"?
What a joke. This stuff is nonsense. Two marriages is ok?
Not just the divorce, but his entire lifestyle.
.....yeah, on a show yesterday, Land elaborated a bit more on McCain.....saying he can't be trusted because no one ever knows where he is gonna stand.....
Evangelicals never get divorced.
....well where were all those fine Baptists when Bush barely won both elections.....????? Except for maybe African Americans, I dont' think there is any block that is overwhelming enough at this point....and all come out and vote....
I'm even more concerned about his Second Amendment stance. Way more concerned. The divorce issue is not a problem for me.
.......LOL....we've had more then one Pres. playing fast and loose with their libido.....I don't think Rudy would be nailing Marilyn Monroe in the back room like Kennedy....
"fast and loose with his libido"
Just curious. Is Rudy a philanderer like Clinton even now? Or do we know?
While not an influencing factor for me, I can imagine that Joe Six Pack would look at a photo of Mr. and Mrs. Guliani and think, "Whoa! Ruddy's got something going on there! Dude, you got my vote."
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