Giuliani Plans to Publicly Embrace Abortion Rights [Rudy declares war on conservatism]

New York Times ^ | May 10, 2007 | By ADAM NAGOURNEY and MARC SANTORA

[Jim Robinson]

After months of giving ambiguous signals on abortion, Rudolph W. Giuliani is planning to offer a forthright affirmation of his support for abortion rights in public forums, television appearances and interviews in the coming days, despite potential consequences among some conservative voters already wary of his views, aides said yesterday.

At the same time, Mr. Giuliani’s campaign — seeking to accomplish the unusual task of persuading the Republican Party to nominate an abortion rights supporter as its presidential candidate — is eyeing a path to the nomination that would try to de-emphasize the early states in which abortion opponents wield a great deal of influence. Instead they would focus on the so-called mega-primary of Feb. 5, in which voters in states like California, New York and New Jersey are likely to be more receptive to Mr. Giuliani’s social views than voters in states like Iowa and South Carolina. They said that approach became more appealing after Florida, another state they said would be receptive to Mr. Giuliani, voted last week to move its primary forward to the end of January.

The shift in emphasis by Mr. Giuliani comes as his campaign has struggled to deal with the fallout from the first Republican presidential candidate debate in which he gave a halting and apparently contradictory responses to questions about his support for abortion rights. Mr. Giuliani’s aides were concerned both because it opened him up to a new round of criticism from abortion critics — who have never been happy with the prospect of a Republican presidential candidate who supports abortion rights — while threatening to undercut his image as a tough-talking iconoclast who does not equivocate on tough issues.

[LFOD777]

This map ranks states by their abortion rates per 1,000 live births. California ranks highest with approximately 575 abortions for every 1,000 live births; Idaho ranks lowest with only 36 abortions per 1,000. The CDC tracks some cities individually as well as in their state totals: New York City gets the prize with 767 abortions per 1,000, with Washington, D.C., not far behind at 706.

[LFOD777]

Bush/Rove managed to win re-election by pushing amnesty, which most citizens are against, so maybe this won’t hurt Rudy too much (unfortunately)

[HardStarboard]

>>>He thinks he can win the nomination without pro-lifers.<<<

This may be a toe in the water, admittedly a BIG toe, for Rudy to gauge his chances of running as an independent.

I think he knows that his chances of getting the Republician nomination are diminishing...and might fade to zero when Fred Thompson gets in!!

Running as an independent, he would boost Clinton's chances measureably.

[conservative in nyc]

Many libertarians don’t like him either, because of his hostility to private property, presumption of innocence, trial by jury, personal liberty and the Constitution. There goes another, say, 10%. So who is going to make up for that 20% loss of traditional GOP constituents?

Southern Republicans tend to be social conservatives. Western Republicans tend to be more libertarian. The two often don't overlap. Nevertheless, there are some Southern and Western states where Giuliani could lose 15% or even 20% to a third-party candidate and still win.

Do you think libertarians would like Hillary! more, were she to become the Democrat candidate? Remember Waco?

[do the dhue]

no, he won’t.

Maybe Rudy will when he losses the nomination.

You may be right though...

[Knitting A Conundrum]

From my POV, they are twins. Neither of’em stand up for what is worth preserving about the US.

[George W. Bush]

Even in the Philadelphia suburbs, where any statewide election is won or lost? Where there are a lot of Italian-American voters?

I think PA is a big question mark. It might be the pro-gun (well, pro-sporting goods) PA voters will defeat a Rudi in either the primary or the general. Personally, I don't see how a Rudi appeals to a Blueing state like PA without the gun and pro-life voters.

Now in Jersey, he has a real chance, I think. Even there though, they tend to vote Dim like clockwork. It would depend on how powerful their memories are of 9/11, Rudi's role, and how threatened they feel by the WOT.

[Reagan Man]

“It squares with my support of the right of choice,” he hold the Huntsville press conference. “I personally oppose it. I support a right of choice.” When pressed, Giuliani explained: “It’s very consistent; it’s just a different view of morality.”

A different view of morality!

If you believe there is a Cosntitutional right that allows a woman to kill her unborn child, then you support Roe v Wade, abortion rights and abortion on demand.Giuliani personally opposing abortion doesn't save one unborn child from death.

What Rooty supports is immoral. He is a repugnant creature.

[stephenjohnbanker]

“Great, now Hannity will be forced to stop chanting his “Rudy will appoint strict constructionists” mantra.”

Yeah, Hannity is a GOP man first and foremost. I never listen to him.

[mylife]

Bwaahaaahaa!

[do the dhue]

[elfman2]

This is not a big issue with me. I couldn’t care less what a candidate’s position is on abortion.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

Bump Dat...

[Reagan Man]

New York City is the abortion capitol of America.

[Eric Blair 2084]

Hi Jim. I’ve been living in a cave for the last 3 weeks and I just got out. What did I miss? It seems to me that you don’t like Rudy. :-)

I think that this speaks to a much larger problem. As if the 2008 Presidential election weren’t a big deal in and of itself. It’s not even just about Rudy even though he is todays’ lightning rod. Here’s the question:

What if anything does a politician have to do to get kicked out of the Republican Party? Not get kicked out of the conservative movement because that is a more exclusive club, but kicked out of the bigger tent that is the Republcian Party.

Do you have to disagree with 80% of the party platform? Have an ACU rating < 10? What?

How can liberals like Michael Bloomberg, Olympia Snowe, and Arnold call themselves “Republicans” and use the brand to embarass everyone? Where do you draw the line?

[Reagan Man]

Deaths from abortion since 1973 are fast approaching 50,000,000!

[Antoninus]

[do the dhue]

Oh that deeply saddens me.

[Politicalmom]

And once again the gun rights’ supporters are totally ignored. The gun rights’ groups are going to completely sink him.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Great tee