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

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

[stephenjohnbanker]

LOL!!

[WorkingClassFilth]

Rudy is a non-factor. No matter what pandering jackasses and blowhard pundits say, he’s toast. Bob Dole - even without Viagra - would be more exciting to genuine conservatives.

[upsdriver]

“Will the pro-life, pro-family, pro-gun planks be removed from the GOP platform to accommodate Rudy?”

If that happens, I will remove myself from the Republican party! But where am I to go? Will another party spring up to accommodate people like me? I hate what is happening to the conservative movement. And I despise Guilianni and all his stinkin’ little worshippers.

[Paul8148]

Rudy should make it clear he won’t try to changed the party platform..

[GovernmentIsTheProblem]

“His lying didn’t work so he’s now going to try a little stiff arming. Will the pro-life, pro-family, pro-gun planks be removed from the GOP platform to accommodate Rudy?”

This would remove GOP supporters from the platform, too.

Rudy 0’NEVER!

[umgud]

Will he do the same and quit beating around the bush about guns?

[Ronaldus Magnus]

Unless the leftist vote gets split evenly between the democrat nominee and Gore running as Green, Giuliani couldn’t possibly win the general election. The Rockefeller wing of the Republican Party survives only in the bluest of states.

[conservative in nyc]

If he is, the Republicans lose for sure...

I wouldn't be so sure about that. Abortion is a very important to 9%-13% of the electorate - on both sides (but mostly on the pro-life side). It is an issue, but not a dealbreaker, for the rest of the electorate. Even a 10-percentage point defection to a third party candidate isn't going to change the result in most Southern states. On the other hand, Giuliani could put more moderate states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin in play.

[dirtboy]

Rudy should make it clear he won’t try to changed the party platform..

Rudy's nomination would be a de facto change. On the level of demolishing 80 percent of it.

[Mr. Brightside]

The guy has spent a lifetime supporting abortion, raising money for abortionists and speaking at their dinners.

How is he going to top that?

Perform a late term abortion and put the video out on YouTube?

[dirtboy]

On the other hand, Giuliani could put more moderate states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin in play.

Pennsylvania? This is pro-life country here.

[dirtboy]

Perform a late term abortion and put the video out on YouTube?

Basically, that's what he's doing to his candidacy if he does this.

[xzins]

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

Win the battle and lose the war.

[Paul8148]

Penn is the weirdest state in terms of abortion. It has Pro-life Dems in Rural and Central Penn and has Pro Choice Republicans all over the Philly surburns.........

[airborne]

Bad tactical move.

Best used after winning the nomination.

Perhaps he’s using this as an excuse for losing.

[tflabo]

Abortion rights moniker could be Rudy’s achilles heel.

[George W. Bush]

The leftwing mayor is an evil and repellent man.

[Jim Robinson]

No need. I think Rudy just committed political suicide.

[mdittmar]

Thanks Jim.

[Cicero]

He’s finished.

Of course, this is the NY Times, quoting anonymous aides, but I can’t imagine that they would go this far if they were not getting it from the horse’s mouth.

Apparently Giuliani thinks that only a few conservatives will be lost to him if he comes out as a pro-abort. He is very, very wrong about that. His aides add that conservatives are not happy with the other leading candidates, either. And one of them adds a new piece of information of considerable importance:

“It was revealed yesterday, for instance, that Mr. Romney’s wife had also donated to Planned Parenthood.”

Well, that just means that Fred had better run. If he doesn’t, and if Giuliani wins, it will split the party, destroy the conservative coalition, and set things back for about 20 or 30 years.

For that reason I could not vote for him even against hillary. Fiscal conservatives and libertarian conservatives had better understand that the right to life is non-negotiable, basic. And if Rudy had a shot at making perhaps three SCOTUS appointments, think what that would do to our courts for the foreseeable future. For all these reasons, he MUST be defeated in the primaries, or the party will be destroyed.