Posted on 11/07/2007 6:41:35 AM PST by xzins
Robertson to Back Giuliani By LIZ SIDOTI Associated Press Writer
MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) - Pat Robertson, a prominent Christian leader and social conservative, will endorse Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, GOP officials confirmed Wednesday.
The former New York mayor backs abortion rights and gay rights, positions that put him in conflict with GOP orthodoxy, and has been trying to convince cultural conservatives to overlook their differences with him on those issues. That makes the support of a high-profile religious conservative like Robertson a particular boon.
Giuliani, the front-runner in national popularity polls, and Robertson will make the endorsement official later Wednesday at a news conference in Washington. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid publicly pre-empting the announcement.
The endorsement is a blow to rival Mitt Romney, who has been making inroads with the powerful network of social conservative leaders. Romney recently announced that Paul Weyrich and Bob Jones III were on board with his candidacy, and he had been seeking Robertson's support.
Robertson, who unsuccessfully ran for president in 1988, founded the Christian Broadcasting Network, the Christian Coalition and Regent University in Virginia Beach.
“He cleaned up NY”, to Hell with the fact that he stomped all over The Constitution. You’re going to miss that Constitution, when it’s gone!
I don’t think Romney believes the weird part of mormonism but just takes the good. And part of the reason we are at war is because of the mass baby murder that goes on every year in our country. God’s protection is not great due to that, I believe, and having a strong pro life president will make a big difference. Rudy isn’t willing to protect the unborn by law...that is not republican or Godly.
pragmatism.
“I don’t think Romney believes the weird part of mormonism but just takes the good.”
I agree. I’m a Catholic for Mitt. Believe me, there were some pretty awful abominations that occured in the past history of the Catholic church but that doesn’t mean that the Catholics today were or are a part of that. Abe Lincoln was an atheist. Should we hold that against him? That being said, Mitt Romney being a Mormon is not even a concern with me - at least he believes in Jesus Christ.
I’ve been expecting this, believe it or not.
It doesn’t surprise me a bit. It’s a disappointment, but not surprising in the least. My gut has been telling me for months that he would pick this guy.
Sad.
I am sure Lincoln learned to believe in God...did he not? How could he fight the civil war without it?
I just called 700 Club to register my displeasure with Pat Robertson’s endorsement of Rudy Giuliani. The phone number is 1-757-226-7000 should any of the rest of you wish to follow suit. Tell the operator you wish to complain about PR’s announcement today and leave word on his voice mail.
I’ll agree that I wish Rudy had a stronger Pro-life stance. I have listened to his answering of the questions though, and, at the very least, he doesn’t LIKE abortion or agree with it’s practice. I just wish he was more willing to go up against those who practice it. As for Romney - I don’t know. I just don’t trust him — he seems too dang slick and polished. I want someone who is real. We’ll see — I like a LOT of the guys in the field of candidates for different reasons. There are a couple who would not get my vote no matter what, and if they are the candidate I will have to do some extreme soul searching.
AMEN, brother!!!!
He has proven to be ignorant and unprincipled...
And some call his money grubbing ministry 'capitalism'. He's just another sell out.
I am NOT a "Rudy supporter", but.....
There is simply no denying his record of accomplishment. Even the torrent of cheap little sound bites that swamp any Giuliani thread on FR - by the same tawdry and vicious crew every time - can't erase the dramatic improvements he made to NYC (which gains my attention since many of my relatives are/were from there, and I have fond memories of the city).
His position on abortion I find just barely tolerable - and maybe not at all - and the same for the 2nd Amendment. His prior record on illegals is disturbing. However, I will give him the benefit of the doubt as mayor of our largest and most problem-ridden city, and he did what he needed to do within the existing law.
As for Robertson's endorsement, this most likely comes from G's unfailing support of Israel, and his recognition of the Islamist threat. His positions there are much stronger and more unflinching than anything we have heard in the debates.
In a speech broadcast on C-SPAN from a Jewish community center in Silver Spring/Wheaton MD, G was asked "What will you do about the Big Lie", in other words the Arab Muslim lie that Israel is "Palestinean land" for some a-historical and incoherent Muslim reason.
G basicaly said that he'd talk to every Arab leader to make sure they understood that (a) Israel is NOT and NEVER WAS and "Arab land", and that (b) he'd let them know very pointedly that Israel is America's ally and that we would never, ever walk awway from defending Israel whenever and however necessary.
It was the clearest and most coherent and complete answer I've ever heard about Israel, by any pol from any party.
>I just called 700 Club to register my displeasure with Pat Robertson’s endorsement of Rudy Giuliani.<
Me too!
Thanks for the link.
OK, my last post was "four strikes against the womb" by Rudy. Now, this is "strike two" for you intentionally mis-stating Rudy's position on abortion. First, you said he is "unclear" on his stand. No, Rudy's been quite clear. Now, you claim he has some kind of "pro-life stance." You say, "I wish Rudy had a stronger Pro-Life stance". Well, I wish Rudy had any kind of pro-life stance!
Those who try to quibble some middle-ground position on abortion are like those who think a woman is more pregnant just because the little one in the womb has grown over the previous month. Those who try to quibble some middle-ground position on abortion are like those who think King Solomon would have been correct to slice the baby in half & give half to each woman who claimed to be "Mom."
I have listened to his answering of the questions though, and, at the very least, he doesn’t LIKE abortion or agree with it’s practice.
You know, a lot of positive things can be said about the faith of Robert E. Lee. In fact, he even gave up his slaves prior to the Civil War. But I wouldn't vote for a Lee-type candidate. He may personally refrain from slavery; but his public support of the framework of the industry (legal foundation; legal bypasses; $) means that just as Lee was militarily pro-abortion, Rudy is politically pro-abortion.
I just wish he was more willing to go up against those who practice it.
"More willing?" That's like looking over a candidate, seeing that they gave $ to the KKK, and then saying: "I just wish he was more willing to go up against those who practice racism."
As for Romney - I don’t know. I just don’t trust him — he seems too dang slick and polished. I want someone who is real. We’ll see — I like a LOT of the guys in the field of candidates for different reasons. There are a couple who would not get my vote no matter what, and if they are the candidate I will have to do some extreme soul searching.
I agree with you, especially with Romney. As for Romney - I don’t know. I just don’t trust him — he seems too dang slick and polished. I want someone who is real. We’ll see — I like a LOT of the guys in the field of candidates for different reasons. There are a couple who would not get my vote no matter what, and if they are the candidate I will have to do some extreme soul searching.
Bull, he did no such thing. The ignorance of folks here on a claiming political site is truly mind blowing.
You seem to think Robertson just gave his support to Rudy, and got nothing in return... The likelihood of this is well... lets just say snowballs have better chances in hell.
Robertson as I stated before probably got something, and something very important in return.
If for example he did get input on Judicial Nominations, that’s a HUGE win for social conservatives. If any judicial nominee or supreme court nominee must be blessed by Robertson before its presented to the Senate for confirmation, that’s going to do more for social conservatives than anything else available.
Now I don’t know what was said between the two, but they are both intellegent experienced leaders, and I know damned well whatever was discussed I’m sure it was something that Robertson valued or he wouldn’t have made the deal.
So you have 2 ways to view this.. Robertson sold out (the ignorant and naive view) or Robertson got something worthwhile enough to give his endorcement. Now if you view the latter you can take the cynical view that what he was promised was nothing for the causes hes fought for his entire career, but simply personal greed related, or he got something that helps and advances the causes he’s dedicated his life to.
The choice is yours, but I highly doubt that Robertson didn’t get something very very important to the causes he has dedicated his life to for his endorcement.
Though I don’t identify myself as evangelical, born-again, or anything of the sort, I’ve been watching Robertson for 25+ years off and on, mainly as a curiousity.
Anyone who thinks he’s “stupid” or “ignorant” is self-deluded. He’s the son of a US Senator, went to military schools for most of his upbringing, magna cum laude from Washington and Lee, a Marine officer, and Yale Law School. Robertson is no dummy.
Like it or not and just looking at the facts, for as long as he’s been around Robertson has been an ardent supporter of Israel (but for apocalyptic reasons many of us wouldn;t subscribe to). Yeah, his reasons may be millenial, but the end result is a deep-down concern that Israel must be defended by America, no matter what the cost.
Israel is easily a Top-5 issue for Robertson.
IMO this intersects with Giuliani’s uncompromising support for Israel but for entirely different reasons (and in this case reasons close to my own). Without all of the detail, I understand G to believe that we have many historic, legal, and social reasons to keep Israel intact. Most importantly, they are an ally by treaty, and a (revived) construct of the West.
Anyone who has ever paid any attention to Robertson knows that regarding Israel he thinks of “the long term”. In fact, the Very Long Term.
IMO he found a kindred spirit in Giuliani, even though they arrive there from completely different directions.
REASON, COLD, CALCULATING, UNIMPASSIONED, REASON , must furnish all the materials for our future support and defence.--Let those materials be moulded into general intelligence, sound morality, and in particular, a reverence for the constitution and laws: and, that we improved to the last; that we remained free to the last; that we revered his name to the last; that, during his long sleep, we permitted no hostile foot to pass over or desecrate his resting place; shall be that which to learn the last trump shall awaken our WASHINGTON. Upon these let the proud fabric of freedom rest, as the rock of its basis; and as truly as has been said of the only greater institution, "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
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