Posted on 04/05/2007 6:24:39 AM PDT by Ultra Sonic 007
Rudolph W. Giuliani, whose 1989 campaign for mayor at times became bogged down in questions about his commitment to abortion rights, sought yesterday to remove the issue from his 1993 campaign by emphatically endorsing a woman's right to choose abortion without limitations.
Mr. Giuliani, the Republican-Liberal candidate, made his statement at a breakfast meeting organized by his wife, Donna Hanover Giuliani, who as a television news anchor was always Donna Hanover but like another political wife is now asking for an appellation evolution.
Mr. Giuliani, who is challenging Mayor David N. Dinkins, a longtime supporter of abortion rights, addressed more than 800 women and won applause for his stance on abortion, including the right of poor women to have the procedure paid for by the Government.
Response From Dinkins
In a statement yesterday afternoon, Mayor Dinkins sharply attacked Mr. Giuliani, accusing him of lying about the Mayor's position on women's issues and of misleading people about his own.
"Mr. Giuliani's waffling positions simply do not square with his positions and actions as a Republican prosecutor," said the statement. "As a prosecutor in the New York Southern District, Mr. Giuliani handled numerous cases which pushed back women's rights at least 20 years."
"When abortion clinics were under real attack by Operation Rescue last year during the Democratic National Convention, it was Mayor Dinkins who took action to make sure the clinics stayed open," the statement said. "Where was Mr. Giuliani then?"
Opposes Restrictions
Leaflets distributed by the Giuliani campaign at the morning program said that he opposes restrictions to Federal Medicaid financing for abortions and opposes the Hyde Amendment, which is intended to deny support for that financing.
Those statements, though consistent with his stance at the close of his race for mayor in 1989, showed him starting early to gain support among women by avoiding the shading he sometimes used in spring 1989. In March, for instance, he said he "would have difficulty voting on funds for abortion" if he were a legislator, though he said he would have no difficulty enforcing the right to abortion as an executive.
No such distinction marked his statements yesterday. The support given him at the well-attended meeting was in contrast to the reception given his efforts to reach female voters in 1989. That year, a breakfast in early summer drew only 30 women, and larger, more organized events did not come together until just before the election.
Mr. Giuliani, who appeared from behind a curtain after he was introduced during the program, appeared genuinely surprised at the size of the gathering and commented on the difference before thanking his wife and telling a story about his son's pestering the Giulianis about creating a "men's coalition."
Questions from women attending the meeting went to some of the most divisive issues of the last year, particularly in education. On condom distribution and the teaching of the rainbow curriculum, which encourages tolerance for homosexuals, in New York City schools, Mr. Giuliani sought a middle ground, explaining that he backs both but would leave room for for parental discretion.
So he hasn't always supported the Hyde Amendment?
Ooops.
One more Rudy talking point struck down.
For those who keep hearing Rudy supporters say that he’s always supported the Hyde Amendment: here’s proof to the contrary.
More like three Rudy talking points. His current support for publically-funded abortions also decimates his claims to support fiscal conservatism and strictu constructionism.
Rudy wasn’t always supportive of the Hyde Amendment, despite your claims to the contrary.
The more you know about Giuliani, the more you know he cannot be the Republican nominee.
On condom distribution and the teaching of the rainbow curriculum, which encourages tolerance for homosexuals, in New York City schools, Mr. Giuliani sought a middle ground, explaining that he backs both but would leave room for for parental discretion.
The only way this guy could become more pro-abortion is if he performed them with his bare hands, put them in a glass jar and asked for federal funding for his art.
Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic Ping List:
Please ping me to all note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of interest.
A recap of the FACTS I posted last night in case anyone missed it:
Dick Gephardt’s NARAL rating: 30% (somewhat pro-life)
Tom Daschle’s NARAL rating: 50% (moderate)
Rudy Giuliani’s NARAL rating: 100% (VERY pro-abortion)
“Choice” is never going to go away; since 1973 it’s become too ingrained in the culture and legal system. I don’t like it either, especially the partial birth variety. But we are going to have to deal with it. The Court will never strike it down; and if they do, many state legislatures will overturn the Court much like Kelo.
Past time to move on; many, many, other issues need addressing.
Rudy’s sour on many, many other issues as well. But it’d be naive to think his Pro-Abortion stance won’t hurt his chances with the religious/pro-life/socon voters.
The ones that are pushing Rudy the hardest claim to not need the religious/pro-life/socon/pro-2nd amendment voters to win. I’ve yet to figure out who they think they can pry away from the Democrats.
Giuliani believes in the “constitutional right” to an abortion!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1812121/posts?page=1#1
My question in post #7 of that thread remains unanswered.
The GOP tried that in 1996. Didn't work out so well for them.
There seems to be no limit to the contortions Giuliani supporters will use to try to defend the indefensible.
Ping for the Rudy list.
Rudee’s raised more money. He doesn’t need or want the conservative votes. He’s got plenty of liberal voters right here.
By being honest and direct on this issue Rudy cannot lose. He may be denied the Pubbie endorsement for President; however, if he does become our candidate he does not need to hide or obfuscate on this issue.
This is one of his claims to the endorsement process—he is what he is and does not change by the moment according to a particular audience’s desires. He will be more formidable than most suspect.
Especially considering that he's already beginning to flip-flop on this issue.
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