Posted on 04/06/2007 9:44:30 AM PDT by veronica
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani ventured to conservative South Carolina yesterday hoping to talk about terrorism and the economy, but instead got hit at every stop with another topic - abortion.
A day after the former mayor said he supports public funding of abortion - sparking a firestorm among conservatives - local media here forced him to elaborate on the issue at events intended to underscore new endorsements.
And although Giuliani, who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination, did not waiver from his central belief that abortion is a woman's right, he responded with some of his most strident comments to date on the divisive topic.
"I'm against abortion. I hate it. I wish there never was an abortion and I would counsel a woman to have an adoption instead of an abortion," Giuliani said at the state Capitol in Columbia. "But ultimately I believe it is an individual right, and the woman can make that choice."
When pressed, Giuliani said he would not change the so-called Hyde amendment, which restricts federal funding for abortion to cases of rape, incest and to save the life of the mother. But he said he would support the right of states to make their own decisions about providing taxpayer-funded abortions, just as New York and 16 other states do now.
His preference to let states decide how they want to restrict certain rights is increasingly becoming Giuliani's favorite way around sticky issues, among them abortion and gun control.
Yesterday's discussion also included a proposed South Carolina law that would require women seeking abortions to first view ultrasound images of their fetus - a first in the nation if approved.
"The legislature of South Carolina should make its decision about that," Giuliani said when asked whether he would support the idea.
He got a much friendlier reception when he headed into the streets of Charleston, where he was mobbed by well-wishers eager to have their picture taken with the man some believe led the nation through 9/11.
"He is strong, he is determined and he does what he says," said Marsha Tokarczyk, 51, when asked why she was seeking Giuliani's autograph.
Tokarczyk, a Republican, added that she typically does not vote for politicians who favor abortion, but of Giuliani she said, "I respect his position."
I'll let the lawyers here argue this, but I think he is wrong. The above is the 5th amendment that I believe says that no one can be deprived of life without due process. I know the argument will be that the framers were talking about punishment for criminal acts, but what does Public Domain have to do with criminal cases? If they are including private property protection in the same sentence, cannot not be also said that they were protecting life and liberty in all contexts as well?
If that is the case, then life in the womb must be protected until that life can defend itself from being terminated in a civil court. Then the US Government must protect that life and that overrides any state law.
I’m so sick and tired of this one issue being played like it’s the only issue!! WE ARE AT WAR WITH PEOPLE WHO WANT US ALL DEAD.
Drugs are illegal now. How do you enforce the current drug laws?
I’m not sure what your point is. Is it; if we can’t enforce the law, then it should be legal?
Don't be a one-issue voter!
He won’t get elected if the people this is important to stay home. Let’s get this out early so we can find someone who will fight the war AND get elected.
I guess this puts slavery back into play.
Who is being a one issue voter now? As I recall almost all the men running for the rep nomination ahve as good or better qualifications to run the war as Rino Rudy.
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No. What he really means is that he'll say whatever it takes to be elected president.
It’s not the only issue, but it is the subject of the article in question. For other issues involving Giuliani, there are other threads.
I have to at least agree with the “up to the states” part. Aside from the actual abortion issue, Roe v. Wade is a shining example of federal encroachment on state sovereignty.
I am opposed to slavery but think it is people’s right to own a slave..... /sar
Then why doesn't Rudy Giuliani put this issue behind him -- and get the support of a lot of folks who might otherwise oppose him -- by saying something as simple and clear as this:
"The notion that we should be spending taxpayer dollars to kill our own children while we are at war with people who want us all dead is preposterous."
OK I’ll stick my neck out: this is a ‘winning’ position for R.G. with fence-sitter voters and it is a practical one. I really think we Repubs have to be more practical. The abortion issue is THE number one issue for most libs and lib-leaning voters. It isn’t going to just disappear and although I too abhore abortion, to think that it is going to be completely outlawed is as naive as trying to re-instate prohibition. It isn’t going to happen. We need to focus on WHO can defeat the Clintoon machine and stay focussed on that.
LOL!
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One of the biggies. :)
This is nothing more than a pathetic, lame attempt to brush a candidate's radical left-wing positions on other issues under the rug.
If this "war on terror" really trumps and encompasses all, then any candidate who runs on this platform should at least be making some recommendations to slash non-defense Federal spending for the duration of the "war."
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