Giuliani Is Endorsed By Pat Robertson (Analysis)

The Atlantic ^ | November 7, 2007 | Marc Ambinder

[2ndDivisionVet]

The Why

Both Giuliani and Robertson share an apocalyptic worldview about the clash with [radical] Islam; for Robertson, it is religious and based in biblical prophecy. For Giuliani, it is secular -- but given his 9/11 experiences, just as personal.

Evangelical Christians cite the war on terror as their chief policy concern, and it is not that surprising that Giuliani, who is more identified with an aggressive prosecution of that war than any other candidate, is doing well among evangelicals. It's not that they ignore his views on social issues; it's that they see the war on terror like he does: black-and-white, good-versus-evil, a struggle for the soul of civilization.

Robertson's legacy is greater than his influence these days, but remember: in 2000, it was John McCain's attacks against Robertson (and Jerry Falwell) that arguably doomed his campaign after South Carolina. Social conservatives may be warier of Robertson than they once were, but he is a pillar of their movement and is greatly responsible for legitimating their political activism.

And here's why this endorsement matters politically:

Unlike Paul Weyrich, who endorsed Mitt Romney yesterday, actual voters have heard of Pat Robertson. Actual voters in Iowa helped place second in the 1988 Iowa caucuses.

Robertson is the most significant conservative Christian to endorse, and his endorsement goes to Rudy.

What does that tell you about the state of the GOP race?

[2ndDivisionVet]

It tells me that the fix is in. The elite establishment wants us to have two choices in the primaries (Mitt and Rudy) and two in the general (Rudy and/or Mitt versus Hillary & Obama or Richardson)

[Vigilanteman]

I'll take the advice of the President of Bob Jones University before I'd trust Pat Robertson.

He is just the latest in a series of faux conservatives stampeded into thinking that the country has turned sharply left and the only way to prevent the disaster of a Hitlery reign is to pick a Hitlery lite.

Amnesty is Rudi's achilles heel. Once it is driven home that he not only supported anmesty, but made NYC a sanctuary city to impose it on the rest of the country, the 78% or so of the country who doesn't wish for the United States to become Mexico Norte is going to reject him.

[ex-snook]

Don’t faze me, Bro.

[Perdogg]

..an apocalyptic worldview about the clash with [radical] Islam.

I think this is a no brainier. The Islamofascism has already stated it wants a war with the west. Iran wants the apocalypse with the west to usher in the hidden Mahdi. The question is, who is qualified to fight this war?? Hillary - No, Obama - No, The Breck girl - No.

[Long Island Pete]

Posted many many times today. We get the point.

[roses of sharon]

LOL, Robertson is not the “elite establishment”.

BTW, who is in on this conspiracy? The “vast elite establishment”?

Laura Ingraham was upset at the “elites” backing RG today, then Lou Dobbs was on her show to complain about the “elite corporations” backing RG and Hillary.

But they did not name names, but it is popular to use this parlance.

The fact that the polls in the primary states are from those citizens, not elites.

And the primaries are VERY fluid, endorsements don’t make a candidate.

[Reagan Man]

Its kinda looking that way more and more. All I can say is, if the powers that be within the GOP, want either an abortionist named Rudy, or a recent converted abortionist named Romney, as the GOP nominee in 2008, then there is no doubt. The Republican Party has betrayed its conservative roots and its pro-life agenda. Sad and pathetic. Hard to believe the Republican Party is so willing to embrace liberalism.

[mission9]

Next headline - Pat Robertson travels with Bono and Paris Hilton to Dafur to raise consciousness about the impact of AIDS on Global Warming.

[Responsibility2nd]

Robertson is the most significant conservative Christian to endorse, and his endorsement goes to Rudy.

BS.

Pat is a used-to-be. He is irrelevant.

FWIW, Dr. Dobson is THE most significant Christian.....

[Rennes Templar]

After all the emphasis on the abortion issue, do you really think RG or MR will appoint pro-abortion judges? I just don’t think they would pull a Souter.

[Sudetenland]

and your proof of that is...?

You "reason" like a Liberal. Go ahead, make up your statistics. Hatred is not a Conservative trait, it is not even a Christian trait, it is a knee-jerk emotional reaction.

[Sudetenland]

Dobson is a nobody. He doesn't speak for me or most Christians. He speaks for the lunatics who are closet Hillary lovers-you know the people who deep down inside want Hillary to win because their brains are so warped that they would rather hate Rudy than prevent Hillary from destroying the nation.

Dobson belongs to the Buchanan wing of the tin-hat brigade. The most notable characteristic of them is self-worship.

[Reagan Man]

Liberals are not to trusted. Especially on the abortion issue. I don’t trust Rudy. Period! And Romney hasn’t showed me exactly WHY I should trust him. When I look at Massachusetts Mitt, I see someone who places political expediency above all else. Frankly, I don’t buy his recent conversion.

[ex-snook]

"Dobson belongs to the Buchanan wing of the tin-hat brigade."

Hey I may write in Pat's name. If he were elected the last time, we would have avoided 9/11, sending jobs to China, and illegal immigration. Plus his views on gay marriage and abortion are right on. Pat come back, the country needs you.

[rintense]

The GOP candidates need to do to Rudy what the Dems did to Hillary in the last debate... attack and expose.

[Califreak]

This could be a silly theory, but maybe his support could draw fire away from a probe into the financial dealings of his ministry?

[ari-freedom]

duncan hunter too liberal for you?

[LibLieSlayer]

Dobson speaks only for Dobson and those that are still deceived.

LLS

[ex-snook]

"duncan hunter too liberal for you?"

He's a close second. Rudy is at the rump end.