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.
LOL!!!....Not to mention that the Republican Party disliked him so much that they DID NOT EVEN INVITE HIM TO THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION in '96...lol
The DUmmies have just got to be loving this.
I'm sure they are!!!!
If you want to SPLIT and DIVIDE the Republican Party WIDE OPEN,,,,while demoralizing the base,,,
a LIBERAL like Rudy is the RIGHT MAN AT THE RIGHT TIME!!!
While they love Bill Clinton. Have you ever considered that they don't give a rip about who sleeps with who (unless they're a Republican)?
Just saw the FNC “clip” from the values voters conference.
What a first class arrogant NYker.
He came accross like a lecturing snob.
The only think missing was his wagging finger saying “christians have to accept my abortion view.”
Giuliani is his own worst enemy.
From what I understand, he made that comment based upon a discussion about the nomination process. Republicans gave her a pass remember, and Rudy was saying, hey, it's okay for the Republicans to give Bill Clinton a pass on Ginsberg but the Democrats will filibuster on Bush's nominee?? He was pointing out the historical process that Presidents get to put on the Supreme Court who they choose, given that they are qualified. Democrats have changed that. Now the Democrats wont vote for anyone without a litmus test. That is unconstitutional.
Rudy, said, a strict constructionist like Scalia, Roberts, Alito.
He did not say, like Ginsberg, Breyer.....
You guys don't have very good reading comprehension because I've said this many times. I don't care who wins the nomination, as long as they win in '08. Those who violate Reagan's 11th commandment will be the cause of the downfall of the party.
What percentage of the GOP is pro abortion? I know there is a fringe group of republican women who are pro abortion.
however I expect they are a mole group like the homosexual aleged republicans.
even if ONE republican disagrees, the left (aka MSM) will report it as a 50/50 split. (they intentionally confuse the boolian question vs quantitative question)
And Hillary will be an order of magnitude worse. What is it about winning elections that you guys don't understand?
As they are now report a split in the party over Giuliani, hoping to use the media to steamroller that report into reality. I'm sure they thank you for helping their cause.
Those are Rudy's VERY OWN WORDS!! So we can assume that Rudy will NOT do that? LOL
Thanks for reminding us that Rudy and his apologists promise us that once elected and in office,,,
President Giuliani will abandon his core, long-held, bedrock values and principle!!!!!..lol
Yeah, I've seen him trashing lots of people, spreading talk of splits and such.
So you do not think ROOTY is a socialist?
Yes, because the line item veto is blatantly unconstitutional.
That's like saying Hillary isn't a socialist because Oprah and most of Hollywood like Obama better.
I'm not talking about now. I'm talking about when he was Mayor and they trashed him worse than you people are doing now. Told jokes about him on Saturday Night Live. Compared him with various dictators, etc.
Any long time enemy of the NYTimes is not a liberal.
See 359.
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