Posted on 05/24/2007 1:00:37 PM PDT by calcowgirl
- Jeffrey T. Kuhner is the editor of Insight (www.insightmag.com).
Rudy Giuliani’s candidacy threatens to shatter the Republican Party. The former New York mayor remains the party’s front-runner for the 2008 presidential nomination. If this trend continues, his victory will mark the end of the modern GOP.
Ever since Barry Goldwater, the Republicans have become the country’s conservative party. The party stands not only for limited government, low taxes, capitalism and strong national defense, but for something even more fundamental: God, family and bourgeois civilization. The GOP has been the only national political institution willing to defend Judeo-Christian morality from the relentless secular liberal onslaught of the 1960s. At the core of this defense have been abortion and the traditional family. Giuliani’s brand of social liberalism will fundamentally alter the nature of the party.
He is often portrayed in the media as a hawkish conservative. He is nothing of the sort. Rather, he is a type of Republican that has become increasingly fashionable (and influential) over the last decade: A Big Government corporatist, who champions plutocracy, open borders and the rights of big business. As mayor, he had many accomplishments—cutting taxes, cracking down on crime and reducing welfare dependency. Yet he also transformed New York into a safe haven for millions of illegal immigrants; he refused to substantially slash the bloated and scandal-ridden municipal bureaucracy; and he cashed in on his reputation as “America’s Mayor” and “Mr. 9/11” to make out like a bandit after leaving office.
Pundits have gushed over his berating of Ron Paul during the recent candidates’ debate on FOX News, insisting Giuliani demonstrated his "toughness" on national security. He did no such thing, except make several glib statements. The media, however, is refusing to confront this fundamental question: If Giuliani is so tough on national defense, why has his lobbying firm been taking massive amounts of money from Saudi Arabia? His firm, Bracewell & Giuliani, has been lobbying on behalf of countless clients. Like many prominent politicians, Giuliani has made lots of money by entering the sleazy world of lobbying.
This presents an obvious conflict of interest. Yet even more troubling is the fact that the Saudis have become a major client of his firm. Giuliani’s firm has helped him acquire his vast personal fortune. However, his millions have come with a heavy price: He has been bought and paid for by the Saudis. These are the same Saudis who are the world’s largest financial sponsors of terrorism; the same Saudis who bankroll nearly half of Hamas’ budget; the same Saudis who have sent millions to al Qaeda and their affiliates worldwide; and the same Saudis whose regime recently denounced the U.S.-led war in Iraq as an “illegal occupation of a foreign country.” Hence, if Giuliani is such a patriot and someone who is so tough on national security, why has he gotten into bed with the America-hating, Jew-baiting, Wahhabist Islamists in Riyadh?
Even more troubling is his support for abortion rights. Abortion is the seminal issue of our time; it is today what slavery was in the mid-19th century. In fact, there is a considerable historical parallel between the abolitionist and pro-life movements. At their core, both share the same objective: To protect and uphold each individual’s basic human dignity.
The great sin of slavery was that the system denied the essential humanity of America’s black population. Encoded in law was the pernicious—and evil—principle that an entire class of people was less than fully human.
The same barbaric logic applies to abortion. It denies the essential humanity of unborn babies, consigning an entire class of people to be murdered because they are falsely viewed as being less than human. The results have been devastating. Nearly 50 million babies have been slaughtered since Roe v. Wade became law. The pro-life movement is not simply a religious crusade, but, like slavery, it is about ensuring human rights for the weakest and most oppressed in our society. Slavery was a cancer that was eating away at America’s social and moral fabric; abortion is a cancer—a leukemia, in fact—that is corroding and sapping the moral sinews of our society.
There is nothing more defenseless (and more innocent) than a tiny baby. This is even more so when he or she is still in the mother’s womb. It is simple human decency to oppose the killing of babies—born or unborn—in cold blood. If a politician cannot stand up for such a basic, simple principle as the sanctity of unborn children and all human life, then what principle will he stand up for? Ultimately, the answer is none.
This is clearly the case with Giuliani. His fundamental problem is that his reach exceeds his grasp. He was a good mayor of New York. He is nothing more and nothing less. Giuliani doesn’t have the moral character to be president of the United States. To his campaign’s dismay, many Christians are starting to realize this.
James Dobson, the founder and chairman of Focus on the Family, a prominent religious conservative group, vows that he will sit out the 2008 presidential election if Giuliani becomes the Republican presidential candidate.
"I cannot, and will not, vote for Rudy Giuliani in 2008. It is an irrevocable decision," he wrote in a recent column for WorldNet Daily.
"If given a Hobson's—Dobson's?—choice between him and Senators Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, I will either cast my ballot for an also-ran—or if worse comes to worst, not vote in a presidential election for the first time in my adult life. My conscience and my moral convictions will allow me to do nothing else."
And it is not just the evangelical Christians who threaten to abandon the GOP in case of a Giuliani candidacy. Millions of practicing Catholics—a key pillar of the Republican Party in recent years—will leave as well. Pope Benedict XVI has thrown down the gauntlet. He has said that support for abortion will no longer be tolerated by the Catholic Church. The Holy See has made it well-known it is the duty of Catholics, both public officials and voters, to speak out boldly and unequivocally in defense of the unborn and the culture of life.
By electing Giuliani to be their nominee, Republicans will be committing political suicide. Millions of Christian conservatives, the party’s shock troops—the ones who volunteer, man the phone banks, pass out leaflets, pound the pavement—will detach themselves from the GOP. The party’s base will be fractured—perhaps, permanently.
There is a common saying in Washington that the Democrats are the Evil Party and the Republicans are the Stupid Party. A Giuliani candidacy will fundamentally alter that equation: The Republicans will become the Evil and the Stupid Party. It is the political path to Hell. Republicans take it at their peril.
I agree with this article.
“A Giuliani victory will drive Christians out of the GOP”
Isn’t that the real goal?
Ain’t gonna happen. What with his support for gun control, illegal immigration, abortion, the homosexual agenda etc. etc. he isn’t going to be nominated.
Not to mention the millions of GOP voters who get registered and encouraged to vote in their churches!
I don't.
A Giuliani victory will drive Christians out of the GOP USA
There, now I agree with it.
The Christians will only be the starting point.
Good point.
Me, too. I can not and will not support him in any way.
The Rooty supporters have made this a fact in their contempt for the religious and social conservatives.
Unfortunately, the GOP is self destructing with their support of open borders, too much corruption and disrespect for their base.
Perhaps the time has come to support a Constitution Party and dump Republicans off the flotilla!
Sign me up, Indylindy!! I’m bailing from the GOP.
Ding Ding Ding
Only ten posts until the REAL issue emerges.
Illegal immigration.
Haven’t you heard? According to Hannity, take away abortion, gun control, and the homosexual agenda, Rudy is a conservative. (sarcasm on)
No, there are literally a dozen issues or more. The illegal immigration issue is the current hot topic, but the socially conservative Religious Right is concerned with pro-life and anti-homosexual issues as well. Lots of them.
Ding, Ding, Ding, You win, Bingo! Its only a part of the self destruction of the GOP who has apparently joined with the Democrats!
Take away multiple marriages, philandering, hanging around with multiple criminals and his lying, and Rudy is a saint.
I know. it really is silly how people try to rehabilitate him.
He is mayor of New York ergo we must elect him.
(Member since 2005.)
Sort of support Christian conservatives forming their own political group. On many issues, they can ally with Republicans, but can also champion morals, a Christianization of society, (and support Creationism without as much insulting—though some of the nastiest mudslingers are fellow Christians), etc. Somewhat similar to the CDU in Germany or the BQ in Canada, except instead of being specifically regional, they could align themselves or split up from the Republicans as they see fit.
Right now, the choices are very slim in the Constitution Party. I will vote GOP if Fred Thompson gets into the race.
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