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."
Isn’t that like saying “I’m opposed to murder but if others choose it who am I to try to stop it?”
“but the Feds should pay for it”
- Rudy
that is a far cry from his previous “it’s a constitutional right” stance. Saying it is up to the states means Roe v. Wade being overturned. Is that what he really means?
He only hates that he has to answer this question.
It’s a civil rights issue. Therefore, it is a federal matter
If RINO Rudy believes the issue is up to the states, why did he just state to CNN two days ago that he didn’t feel obligated to nominate judges to the Supreme Court willing to overturn Roe?
Giuliani "hates" abortion so much that he has been quoted as saying that he would pay to have his own grandchild aborted.
He's using Clintonesque parsing of language to try to appeal to the pro-life Republican Party (see the platform) while not revealing his true pro-abortion position. It is clearly deception and lies.
The Artful Dodger.
Not only have the wheels fallen off the Rudy Wagon, there is no wagon. It’s just Rudy holding the reigns, sitting in the desert by himself.
It’s too late for me, Rudy.
The most shocking sound byte I’ve heard these past few days has been Rudy’s rather firm assertion that welfare types DESERVE free abortions...that it is their constitutional right.
Now perhaps he didn’t mean it quite as outrageous as it sounded to my ears or hey, sure, we understand Rudy that you’d rather NOT have abortion at all.
Besides the abortion clinics, I daresay most of us feel as if NO unwanted pregnancy was preferable to abortion.
But the way he said that...”Let me make it clear that those of limited means are entitled to a “choice” as well as those with more means....” I paraphrase but I’m close.
HOW ABOUT WE GIVE THEM FREE BIRTH CONTROL AND LET THEM FUND THEIR OWN ABORTIONS, RUDY?
You gonna make taxpayers pay for a procedure that kills unborn babies? But of course! An abortion is every American female’s constitutional right!
What he said, how he said it, how revolted I was by the whole concept.....go with me....Rudy’s OFF my list.
Maybe the loss of my vote and others thinking like me will be offset by all the votes he gets from welfare moms looking for free state paid abortions. It has to be why he said it....surely Rudy had to know he would turn off conservatives of even a mild pursuasion with those words.
Turn it over, Rudy....yer done.
“Is that what he really means?”
No, what he is trying to do is get people opposed to his pro-abortion belief to vote for him by clouding the issue...
The president doesn't have the power to change the Hyde amendment.
Here's the real question Giuliani should be asked:
"If you were president and a Democratic Congress passed a bill overturning the Hyde Amendment, would you veto it?"
This is the question that needs to be asked because Giuliani has never -- in all of his years in politics -- been able to muster up the strength to say these simple words: "I support the Hype Amendment."
He’s lying. He supports NARAL and Planned Paretnhood. NARAL and Planned Parenthood most certainly DO NOT want it left up to the states.
In addition, it was left up to the states prior to RvW. Rudy supports RvW as “constitutional” and “good law”.
Rudy will lie at anytime to support his incoherent leftists positions, while trying to paint himself as a conservative.
If abortion is a states right issue to him, then how is it really a constitutional guarantee worthy of federal funding that he only supports because it’s (abortion) a constitutional right? Seems like circular reasoning. Unless he means it’s a constitutional right now.
What he’s saying is “up to the states” is to decide whether or not to publicly fund the abortions of poor women.
He’s repeatedly stated that abortion is a constitutional “right,” so obviously, in his mind, the legality of abortion isn’t “up to the states.”
As well, his view is that even if it should be up to the states to fund abortions for poor women, nonetheless, states should do so. He believes in public funding of abortions generally. While Mayor of New York City, he was quite adamant in continuing the funding of all abortions for poor women.
sitetest
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