Giuliani stands by support of publicly-funded abortions

CNN ^ | April 4th, 2007

[KantianBurke]

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (CNN) -- Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani told CNN Wednesday he supports public funding for some abortions, a position he advocated as mayor and one that will likely put the GOP presidential candidate at odds with social conservatives in his party.

"Ultimately, it's a constitutional right, and therefore if it's a constitutional right, ultimately, even if you do it on a state by state basis, you have to make sure people are protected," Giuliani said in an interview with CNN's Dana Bash in Florida's capital city.

A video clip of the then-mayoral candidate issuing a similar declaration in 1989 in a speech to the "Women's Coalition" appeared recently on the Internet.

"There must be public funding for abortions for poor women," Giuliani says in the speech that is posted on the video sharing site YouTube. "We cannot deny any woman the right to make her own decisions about abortion."

When asked directly Wednesday if he still supported the use of public funding for abortions, Giuliani said "Yes."

"If it would deprive someone of a constitutional right," he explained, "If that's the status of the law, yes."

[Always Right]

You can’t - it has nothing to do with being President.

Where to start. Reagan stopped federal funding of abortion. Clinton vetoed partial birth abortion bills and provided international funding to support abortion. Bush has signed partial birth abortion bills. The court is probably 5-4 right now in favor of Roe. One appointment can change the whole shape of this debate. Saying a President has no impact on abortion is just wrong.

[Jake The Goose]

Don’t need the money, happy to say - but I like the suggestion.

Would you really select a President on the issue of abortion choice?

[conserveababe]

I wouldn’t vote for Rudy for President, but I might still vote for him for dog catcher.

[areafiftyone]

Rudy has lost my vote.

Ummm Did he ever have your vote?

[NeoCaveman]

"A strict constructionist judge can come to either conclusion about Roe against Wade," he said.

Now that's what I call "strict construction". LMAO!!!

[JustaDumbBlonde]

It is not 100% emotion. Perhaps 100% devotion.

[Chili Girl]

It needs to stop being about the ‘woman’ and become about the ‘baby’. This murder of our little children is out of control. And to call it a ‘constitutional right’??? Makes me sick.

[Jake The Goose]

Ahh yes - you know me don’t you?

I am so fiscally conservative - I read appropriation bills on line.

I don’t believe in public funding of abortion - no way.

So what’s your point - did I miss something?

[Campion]

I was watching CNN at lunch (not by choice) and they described Rudy's position on abortion as moderate.

Taxpayer funding for sucking babies' brains out of their skulls is "moderate," per CNN.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

Fair enough - I accept that - but the court overturned that - didn’t they?

Which makes our point. The President nominates judges. Judges decided cases. Liberal, "organic constitution" judges decide cases wrongly, while conservative, strict constructionist judges decide them rightly. Which makes the President's views on abortion, as well as a whole gaggle of other issues with Constitutional overtones, quite important.

[JRochelle]

Rudy is from New York.

He doesn’t have an effing clue what being a conservative is.

This guy is such a RINO, its hard to tell the difference between him and Hillary.
Especially when the’re both in a dress.

[super7man]

An excellent point. Demonstrating absurdity.

The process of exercising a fundamental right can NOT obligate somebody else to do something.

The tortured court ruling on abortion was a privacy right. NOT a right to abortion. Exercising this “right” can not obligate the taxpayer to pay for it. Pay for privacy?

[Jake The Goose]

I just mean 100% emotion from the standpoint that very few people are able to discuss abortion without hard emotions.

It’s just so heart felt on both sides.

Perhaps some of the National Geographic specials on the filming the womb will change hearts and minds.

[SE Mom]

I tend to agree that it’s not an issue that will ever be decided by a president.

However- it is a question that nominees or candidates will always be asked about.. and I disagree that it’s a false litmus test. How this questioned is answered will tell us much about a candidate’s understanding of the law as it currently stands- and his opinion of the law.

Today Rudy was asked- he answered. I expect he will not be happy with the response.

[Truthsearcher]

Yes, he did. I tend to lean on the libertarian wing of the Rep party.

[SmoothTalker]

I wonder what it what take to get some of the Rudy-bots on here to stop supporting him? He is a flaming liberal on a lot of issues. His position on public funding of abortion is more liberal than that of a lot of Dems.

[Centurion2000]

Rudy Giuliani told CNN Wednesday he supports public funding for some abortions

Thanks Rudy, you just lost the GOP nomination.

[Jeff Chandler]

I can’t afford that AR-15 I’ve always had my eye on. How about a handout Rudy? It’s my right.

Perfect analogy. It's your right, so the taxpayers are obligated to pay for it.

[Jake The Goose]

Ok - then why are we still talking about it.

This has been a personal choice since time began.

[flashbunny]

“Would you really select a President on the issue of abortion choice?”

I would select a president based on several criteria. On just about every one of them, rudy loses. Do Ineed to list all of the things he has liberal positions on, or do you already know the drill from trying to spin those things away too?

BTW, on abortion, it has to do with his view of roe v wade and the constitution. It was a horrible decision from a constitutional standpoint. Rudy believes it is good constitutional law. That makes him a bad candidate for a party that is supposed to be conservative.