Rudy Giuliani Could be Just the Ticket for Social Conservatives

American Thinker ^ | March 19, 2007 | J. Peter Mulhern

[FairOpinion]

Can America's mayor win support from enough social conservatives to win the Republican nomination?

Maybe not, but social conservatives should think long and hard before they decide to pass on Giuliani. This may be difficult advice to credit. Giuliani is thoroughly alienated from the dominant concerns of the social right.

Mayor Giuliani delivered what they needed most. He reclaimed New York City from the toxic leftism of his predecessors but in the process identified himself with the moral elements of their leftism.

social conservatives are concerned about social rot and Giuliani is one of the very few executives in the history of the world with a record of reversing rot. This is appealing.

On September 11, 2001 and the days that followed he auditioned for commander in chief and the audition went well. This too is appealing. If we don't bestir ourselves to win our war with Islamic fascism, the moral state of our civilization won't matter. We won't be around to wallow in sin.

Social conservatives could benefit from the presidency of someone who agrees with them less but fights for them more. This is the crux of Giuliani's appeal to the social right and every other Republican constituency. He is a fighter, and Republicans of all sorts are sick and tired of turning the other cheek and seeking common cause with the enemy both at home and abroad.

[HitmanLV]

Yes, I agree Rudy is positioned best to beat Hilly. And I think enough of the GOP electorate is sober enough to realize it. Keep an eye on this one. ;-)

[Victoria Delsoul]

I agree with that.

[rob777]

"Well, if you like McCain, you are going to love Thompson -- because if he is getting into the race, it's to help McCain get the nomination."




It is not a question of "going to love Thompson", I already do. He is a hold over from the days that the GOP actually took limiting the role of the federal government seriously. This issue is my central concern.

As for the conspiracy theories that he is merely running interference for McCain, I have heard this already and do not take it seriously. Sure he supported McCain over Bush in 2000. A LOT of conservatives were VERY wary of a Bush Presidency realizing that he would redefine conservatism to make it more compatible with support for big government. I supported Keyes in the 2000 primaries. While I do not agree with Thompson on his support for McCain, I most certainly DO agree with his not supporting Bush. On the issue of limiting government spending, McCain had a MUCH better track record than Bush. This is an area in which he has remained strong even until this day. Given that this was an issue that then Senator Thompson was concerned with, it is not much of a surprise that he supported McCain over Bush in 2000.

[FairOpinion]

He is STILL supporting McCain -- you didn't even bother to click on the links I gave you.

"Until the middle of last month, however, [Fred Thompson] was a very informal adviser to close friend John McCain, and he would occasionally telephone donors and potential supporters on the senator's behalf."


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1803149/posts

[sport]

Just as he appointed in New York, right?

[PhilDragoo]

Yes, Rudy is the best spokesperson for American exceptionalism because he is the strongest believer--he is a cheerleader: "America has always been about big ideas, not big government."

By preserving the Republic against the Islamofascist onslaught, he insures that the last, best crucible of those ideas is preserved, a crucible wherein a general may propose a stand against immorality--and not a discouraging word will be heard--outside of the candidate from Massachusetts and the usual Senate bloviators.

He made the city safe for all its citizens--and he'll do the same for the country.

And he has personal opinions--but they are not the prime mover; the prime mover is the security-slash-fiscal crisis.

Expect wailing and gnashing of teeth from sectors including but not limited to CAIR, ACLU, Code Pink, Al Gore's Carbon-Offsets-R-Us, et al.

And he's likeable.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Well said, Phil.

Great post, thanks.

[rob777]

"He is STILL supporting McCain -- you didn't even bother to click on the links I gave you."


I did not click on the links because I already was aware of the argument they made. This is an argument that has been debated on another thread. As another poster pointed out, Thompson's getting into the race would not be of any use to McCain, but would draw votes away from him. It is clear that McCain's campaign is going downhill and if Thompson gets into the race, a lot of McCain's support would go to him. His entry into the race would spell the end of a McCain campaign.

[Gracey]

Great Post. Well stated. If we have no security, we have nothing.

[murphE]

Rudy is a leader and a doer.

Rudy is a twice divorced (and remarried twice) philanderer, who calls himself Catholic. If he has not kept his promises to God and his own wife what makes you think he will keep any promises he may make?

[Al Simmons]

[Al Simmons]

On another thread, aligncare wrote: "Yet, the anti Rudy types do nothing but launch personal attacks on their fellow conservatives on the Giuliani boards."

My comment: They are unwittingly taking the bait laid out by Hitlary/Soros and the entire Democrat smear machine - which is where the out-of-context, ancient, misleading 'quotes' and stories' are coming from.

It does not speak well of the members of this forum that they have fallen so gullibly into the 'Toon's machine's trap.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Does not Duncan Hunter have the same position as Rudy on PBA? Who are you supporting in the primaries?

In 2008, I'm voting for the REAGAN REPUBLICAN. I'm voting for former Vietnam Combat Flight Surgeon, and Leader of Ronald Reagan's Electoral Delegation from Texas: In 2008, I'm Voting for RON PAUL!

"The greatest champion of conservative principles we have seen in Congress in the past quarter century."
(David T. Pyne, Esq., Vice President of the National Federation of Republican Assemblies.)

[Al Simmons]

[Blackirish]

Real republicanism with Rudy? What a hoot, one of the biggest socialist, left wing asshats to ever call himself a republican. The only real thing we will get with him in the WH would be real communism

---

On a current thread...does this count as RudyHATING or should I get more examples?

Maybe one can disagree with Rudy for POTUS but he did take down the mob ...did turn around NYCity ...helped carry America through 9/1 and to receive this kind of treatment on FR is disgraceful.

[dmw]

"Real republicanism with Rudy? What a hoot, one of the biggest socialist, left wing asshats to ever call himself a republican. The only real thing we will get with him in the WH would be real communism."

You asked me if this counts as a Rudyhating thread? This comment seems to me to be someone expressing his strong opinion about Rudy, so unless you are able to judge this person's heart and motives, I don't think I would classify this comment as being hateful. I'll leave the judging on that one to you since you seem to know how to read people's hearts and minds.

" or should I get more examples?"

If you want to pull some more examples of what you consider to be hateful comments from the Rudyhaters, as you call them, I will pull two hateful comments from the Rudybots for every one you pull. Your side has no problem dishing it out, but you sure have a problem when it's dished right back to you. Sorry, your side can't claim moral superiority when it comes to dishing out hateful comments. It seems that when anyone here disagrees with Rudy's positions that your side is quick to attack them by calling them Rudyhaters. Not everyone here hates Rudy, we simply don't support his liberal policies.

By the way, I looked up asshat and here is one of the definitions:

A person, of either gender, whose behavior displays such ignorance/obnoxiousness that you would like to make them wear their own ass as a hat.

Lots of people would agree with that about Rudy. Why would that be hateful? There is another thread going on right now from the Rudybots proudly boasting about Rudy's brashness, obnoxiousness, rudeness, meanness, etc. If the Rudybots think these are good qualities to have in a president, well fine, see if you can get him nominated.

[finnman69]

As a Giuliani supporter who lived in NYC before, during, and after Giuliani was mayor of NYC I can equate with exactly what this author describes. I think Giuliani's challenge will be to articulate what he did in NYC and his vision for America using the same style of leadership and his excellent speaking abilities. It's very hard to find someone who has personally listened to Giuliani speak and not be impressed with the man.

I consider myself to be a South Park Conservative, right of center on family and social issues, but not preachy. If you do it in your own home fine by me, just leave me out of it. I have gay friends and it does not bother me. I think abortion is disgusting and more often than not the consequences of poor judgement and responsibility. But I think it should remain legal in the 1st trimester, the rest should be up to the voters and the state to decide. I detest rampant political correctness. I'm in favor of the right for people to have guns, but also believe some control and regulation/registration is intelligent and non-intrusive (although many here will argue any regulation is intrusive and constitutionally prohibited).

At, it's heart the federal government is bloated, wasteful and intrusive. It's a paradox. We need the government for many things, the top priority being the defense of the greatest nation on the planet. But I also find taxes crippling, and cringe at the wasting of my tax dollars.

To me the #1 issue for me will be a strong leadership style in combination with the continued war on terrorism. Period. Everything else is meaningless and tertiary.

Perhaps it was the fact NYC was and is a very liberal place to live, and that Giuliani could win and be relegated after making a mortal enemy out of buffoons like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. Giuliani is a law and order hard nosed leader. He is decisive and even a bit confrontational which I love. Giuliani is not a career Washington insider which to me is a huge positive. Pre-Giuliani, NYC was the Wild Wild West. Unlawful, out of control, and found myself becoming frightened and ashamed to live in the city where I was born.

Many Freepers are actively trying to discredit Giuliani and chop him down, and they have the right to do that. However, I believe Rudy Giuliani is only going to grow stronger as a candidate, not weaker.

What I do fear is many social Christian conservatives are so panicked about Giuliani winning the nod, they are laying the groundwork for some really ugly infighting by the fall of this year. Fortunately I think the Obama/Hillary battle is going to intensify so both sides of the aisle are going to engage their circular firing squads. Debate is healthy, the more spirited the better, and in the end it's one of the reasons Giuliani will come out on top and win the nomination.

[finnman69]

Mayor Giuliani delivered what they needed most. He reclaimed New York City from the toxic leftism of his predecessors"

Exactly. Having lived through the changes I can closely relate to this author.

[finnman69]

I love W, but this is true.

And unlike Pres. Bush, Giuliani is an eloquent powerful speaker. It's one of the things that has dissapointed me most about W, and I think a prime reason his polling is so poor. Pres Bush is a strong decision maker, but his leadership abilities are negatively affected by his communication skills.

[jjm2111]

Still not voting for him. Rudy is Hillary in drag.