Posted on 10/20/2007 10:21:39 AM PDT by Ol' Sparky
Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, walking into a political lion’s den, told the year’s largest gathering of social conservatives that he is “not always the best example of faith” but that their similarities are much greater than their differences.
“Isn’t it better that I tell you what I really believe instead of changing all my positions?” Giuliani told an audience of 2,000 at the Family Research Council's Values Voters Summit at a Washington hotel. “I believe trust is more important than 100 percent agreement.”
The audience, generally hostile to Giuliani, recognized the shot at former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and laughter and a few cheers spread across the room.
The former mayor, who left the stage grinning amid applause after his 40-minute speech, went for an authenticity contrast with Romney, substituting his law and order credentials for the family values emphasis of Romney, a long-married father of five.
Giuliani paid obeisance to the group’s concerns by speaking at length about his support for school choice, home schooling, conservative judges and Israel.
All drew earnest – even enthusiastic – applause. He also gave a detailed plan for reducing abortions and increasing adoptions, the meatiest policy element of his speech.
It was the “everything but” approach – he could agree with the audience on almost everything except whether a woman should be able to choose an abortion, which he supports.
"You and I know I’m not a perfect person,” he said. “I pray for forgiveness, I pray for strength.... I feel my faith deeply, although perhaps more privately than others, because of the way I was brought up.” He said he had prayed to God at the toughest parts of his life.
“During our lives, at some time, all of us need forgiveness,” he added. “If we expect perfection from our political leaders, we’re just asking for disappointment .... We lose trust when they’re not honest with us.... I don’t always agree with myself. [Laughter] … You’ll always know where I stand.... I will continue to extend my hand to you. I hope you’ll take it.”
Giuliani showed humor, noting that he almost entered seminary: “I know that’s hard to believe.” Noting that he attended Catholic school, he said the first school he attended where a prayer wasn’t said at the beginning of the day was the New York University School of Law.
He said that on the first day, out of confusion, he made the sign of the cross. “I looked around and realized people were staring at me,” he joked.
Giuliani pointed out that as New York mayor, he reduced murder, drugs, prostitution and other vices. "I don't believe in inevitable decline," he said, adding he shares President Ronald Reagan's belief in optimism.
"You put Republican ideas into action.... We got results. Humbly, I would say, the best results anyone in that time got in government."
"We drove pornography out of Times Square and other public spaces," he said, drawing hearty applause. "The pornographers lost and they were driven out of Times Square."
Instead of pandering to the group, Giuliani held his ground.
“We’ve got to find a way to be more inclusive,” Giuliani said. “Christianity is all about inclusiveness. It’s built around the most profound act of love in human history, isn’t it? … I’m running for president of the United States because I believe I can bring us together. Strong leadership can help us find common solutions to our problems.”
Giuliani drew laughter by saying he spends as little time in Washington as possible: “I’m afraid there’s something in the air here.”
“I’m not going to pretend that I can be all things to all people,” he declared. “I’m just not like that.”
But he added, in another dig at Romney, “I’ll always be honest with you.... You will always know where I stand.”
“You have absolutely nothing to fear from me,” Giuliani went on, adding that he was puzzled by those who make him out to be some kind of liberal activist: “Just read any New York Times editorial when I was mayor of New York City.” That got a big laugh.
Giuliani was speaking to one of the most conservative audiences in American politics. During a Christian worship service from the podium an hour before Giuliani spoke, leader Ron Freeman interspersed the praise hymn “Blessed be the Name” with the hopeful wish:
“We’ve got the right Senate and the Congress!” The prayer included: “We’ve tried hard to make your agenda, our agenda.”
Politico’s Jonathan Martin contributed to this report.
I see this claim over and over again, yet at least the Rudy camp has numbers (via polls) to back up their claims that they will do better against Hillary than any of the other candidates.
So you sit out the election. Ok. All of us knew there would be stubborn holdouts that will "stand on their principles" even to the extent to help Hillary.
So the question is whether Rudy can draw enough centrists and Democrats to vote for him. I think it's a foregone conclusion that he'll draw more than other Republicans. How much support he loses from the right will determine if Hillary wins.
You think what you like. I am an American, I will fight for US citizens. We fought against this kind of oppression many years ago, and we can fight it now.
Give up, go ahead. Hand your kids down a shameful legacy because you are submissive and weak.
What will they have left to be proud of. Losers.
Neither are socialists, but Hillary is a communist (and hides it well).
You people amaze me.
You will gladly cut off your nose to spite your face.
Rudy has his faults but I will gladly take him over Hillary Clinton.
Yeah, why the hell don’t you waste your time on “centrist sites”.I believe that would make more sense.
Centrists are like whores they hate getting screwed but they need the money.
Nonsense. So what is it you're getting from the Hillary! campaign?
You are 100% correct.
What info do you have that says that Fred, or any of the other candidates for that matter does any better in the general election than Rudy does?
I see this claim over and over again, yet at least the Rudy camp has numbers (via polls) to back up their claims that they will do better against Hillary than any of the other candidates.
So you will cash in whatever conservative principles, ethics, morals and beliefs to support the liberal that can “win.” What happens to you when he loses to Hellary? You all who traded your principles, ethics, morals and beliefs will have NOTHING.
Now if Thompson (who I’d vote for) were nominated and also loses, I will have lost along with him just as you would have lost along with Trudy. But I didn’t have to trade my principles, my ethics, my morals or my beliefs.
I’d still have them. What the heck would you have? Who would YOU be? Do you even think of that? Or is the problem that you don’t have the principles, ethics, moral or beliefs other than “winning” to begin with?
No such thing as a Christian Jew, I hate to point out. You may want to redefine Judaism, but that doesn't qualify as fact.
Besides I fail to see how your comments that clearly indicate that Christianity is not inclusive of, amongst others, Jews shouldn't offend me. That qualifies as a high horse? You really need to calm down.
Besides, the last thing I need from the likes of you, is a diatribe on why Christians are not required to be inclusive, which not such a far cry from intolerance.
As for lecturing you, hardly. Read your comments...who's the lecturer, Mr. Pontication?
You should chill, Sparky.
Spreading division in the Republican party helps Hillary.
And you think I'm a baby raping drug addict why, exactly?
That “thing” is an abomination! LOL!
I'm not the one advocating the division of the Republican party because I don't get my way. Those who do are the one's who are giving up. I will support my party next november no matter who the nominee is.
Rudy Giuliani Quote (NY Post, 1996) "Most of Clinton's policies are very similar to most of mine."
You might want to check into how judges are nominated in NYC.
But apparently, Rudy is evil. We're evil...only you are good. I'm on a high horse. You're right. Case closed.
Goodnight Gracie...way to have a discussion.
Welcome President Hillary... blame those who voted for Rudy, not those who voted on "principle".
I will not vote for Rudy. No way, no how.
He already has said that he will. Prepare to be disappointed.
As I will mine, just mine will not include a vote for a liberal. I may have to write mine in, but that is easy enough.
There are no centrist sites. By definition, they don't make up their minds until the last minute, which is why they hold the key to the election.
If Hillary captures it, she wins. If our nominee catches it, he wins.
That is unless those preaching hatred against Rudy manage to split the party to an extent that the centrists don't make up.
How noble and totally unprincipaled. Also a losing mantra.
Hey, have you been to those “centrist” sites yet?
They are waiting for Rooty Rooters to win them over.
Instead of expecting conservatives to vote for a liberal, all those “centrists” are waiting to be courted.
Go for it.
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