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Rudy Giuliani's Abortion Moderation Betrays Old Views Activist Says
LifeNews ^ | 112807 | by Steven Ertelt

Posted on 11/28/2007 7:13:04 AM PST by Fred

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A leading pro-abortion activist says Rudy Giuliani's attempt to moderate his pro-abortion views during the Republican presidential contest is a betrayal of his hard-core position backing abortion when he was New York City's mayor.

As the mayor of the largest city in the nation, Giuliani could be counted on to support abortion.

He supported taxpayer funding of abortions, gave a donation to Planned Parenthood, and repeatedly spoke in opposition to pro-life laws.

Giuliani appointed Kelli Conlin to the city's Human Rights Commission, an irony not lost on pro-life advocates.

Conlin, the head of NARAL's affiliate in New York, told CNN in an interview that Rudy's attempt to moderate his pro-abortion views for Republican voters, most of whom are pro-life, is a betrayal of his mayoral record.

"He never seemed to have a struggle with the issue as mayor," she said. "He was very proudly pro-choice."

Conlin told the television news station that she finds it disconcerting when she hears Giuliani say he will appoint "strict constructionists" to the Supreme Court.

"It is code for judges who will overturn Roe v. Wade," she says.

Perhaps the biggest change is the former mayor's position on partial-birth abortion.

"I have not supported [a ban] and I do not see my position on that changing," Giuliani told CNN when former President Clinton vetoed a ban on partial-birth abortion.

But when the Supreme Court upheld a national ban this April, Giuliani said, "I must say, Justice [Anthony] Kennedy's opinion convinced me even more that my support for the ban is a correct one."

Whether Giuliani has truly flip-flopped or if he is trying to hide his uncompromising pro-abortion views behind minor issues such as a partial-birth abortion ban, Conlin remembers Giuliani not budging on opposing even the minor ban on a gruesome abortion procedure.

"He spoke at one of our events one time about that legislation and he was very intelligent about it," she told CNN.

She added that Giuliani clearly opposed the partial-birth abortion ban as mayor because he said doctors needed the abortion method in cases when the mother's life is in danger. However, the ban includes such an exception and doctors have said the three-day-long abortion procedure is never necessary to protect a woman's health.

Ultimately, Colin says Giuliani needs to do more to explain why he has changed.

"He owes the American people an explanation of why he's flip flopped so dramatically," she concluded.


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abortion; giuliani; giulianitruthfile; rudyonabortion
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1 posted on 11/28/2007 7:13:07 AM PST by Fred
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To: Fred

Rudy is a little rat.


2 posted on 11/28/2007 7:17:29 AM PST by wastedyears (One Marine vs. 550 consultants. Sounds like good odds to me.)
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To: wastedyears

What is better: that he still favors PBA or that he now opposes it?

I prefer the latter position. I don’t understand why anyone would wish that he still support PBA.

Seems that he is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t.


3 posted on 11/28/2007 7:23:39 AM PST by freespirited (I'm voting for the GOP nominee.)
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To: Fred

One of the things about elected public service is the official is elected to represent and enact the will of the people whom elected him. NYC is a staunchly pro-abortion pro-gun control city, and it is ridiculous to demand that any elected politician go against that. An effective politician tinkers where he can, and leaves the status quo alone where he can’t.

It’s good to see Rudy moderating his position now that he is no longer shackled by the radical politics of NYC. Are we supposed to think that’s a bad thing? Should we prefer he brought NYC social attitudes to the GOP race?

Presidents don’t set abortion policy anyways. Currently, only the Supreme Court does. Rudy has said he would appoint Justices like Scalia, Thomas, Roberts, and Alito. After that, it would be up to the new Justices’ opinions on abortion, not Giuliani’s.


4 posted on 11/28/2007 7:24:21 AM PST by counterpunch
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To: freespirited
I don’t understand why anyone would wish that he still support PBA.

The pro-abort activists don't want any limits on legalized murder of babies.

5 posted on 11/28/2007 7:25:26 AM PST by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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To: counterpunch

WRONGO. The president signed the Ban on PBA.


6 posted on 11/28/2007 7:30:51 AM PST by Fred (The Democrat Party is the Nadir of Nilhilism)
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To: Fred

And it’s held up in the courts as always, and as always, the courts will write the law on abortion.


7 posted on 11/28/2007 7:32:24 AM PST by counterpunch
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To: MEGoody

More and more, every day, I’m seeing abortion as THE central point of battle between good and evil.

Everything seems to revolve around it. The stem cell issue. Terri Schiavo. Euthenasia.

And here in KC, we have a “movement” that is out to DESTROY the former DA that dared go after planned parenthood and a PBA mill for breaking the law. Seriously, the media is stalking him, his family, his kid’s teachers, etc, in an attempt to destroy his life.


8 posted on 11/28/2007 7:33:06 AM PST by MrB (You can't reason people out of a position that they didn't use reason to get into in the first place)
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To: MEGoody

I’m sorry, I meant anyone here.


9 posted on 11/28/2007 7:35:08 AM PST by freespirited (I'm voting for the GOP nominee.)
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To: freespirited

Rudy was either lying then about his beliefs, or he’s lying now. Either way, he has lied to the voters.

Since Rudy is a liar, how do I know he would actually appoint strict constructionist judges? The answer, of course, is I do not.

If I vote for Rudy, I have to put myself in the positon of trusting a known liar on a vital social issue. Only a fool would do that.


10 posted on 11/28/2007 7:36:49 AM PST by LadyNavyVet (Go Navy, Beat Army!)
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To: LadyNavyVet

“Rudy was either lying then about his beliefs, or he’s lying now. Either way, he has lied to the voters.”

Apparently you agree with the kook fringe in that you assume that when people change their minds it is lying. As if everyone is born knowing the truth. By this criteria, a substantial fraction of the U.S. population, which polls suggest has changed its mind on abortion over the past 30 years, is also lying.

It would be wise to bear in mind that legal abortion is only a beginning. In choosing the lesser of two evils, it is important to remember that we do not, as yet, have blatant tax supported abortions. This is something that the Dems routinely try to change. The other issue is “end-of-life” care. Basically the policy battle there is to prevent government controlled health insurance advocates from allowing Medicare to begin legalizing murder of those who are extremely ill.


11 posted on 11/28/2007 8:21:40 AM PST by cosine
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To: cosine

Please. I wasn’t born yesterday. Rudy changed all of his liberal social positions into conservative ones just in the nick of time to try to appeal to Republican primary voters. Changing one position in mid life could possibly be construed as a genuine change of heart, but changing all of them is cold, political calculation, pure and simple.

Rudy was either lying then, or he’s lying now. I pick now. Either way, I don’t vote for liars.


12 posted on 11/28/2007 8:39:17 AM PST by LadyNavyVet (Go Navy, Beat Army!)
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To: FreeInWV; 383rr; abishai; Afronaut; airborne; Alberta's Child; Alice in Wonderland; Antonious; ...

ping


13 posted on 11/28/2007 10:56:15 AM PST by TitansAFC ("My 80% enemy is not my 20% friend" -- Common Sense)
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To: LadyNavyVet

BUMP


14 posted on 11/28/2007 11:12:16 AM PST by stephenjohnbanker (Pray for, and support our troops(heroes) !! And vote out the RINO's!!)
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To: Fred

As long as Roger Stone’s ex-wife and all the harpies of the far left of the Republican party aren’t screeching about Rudy’s change of position in regard to abortion anytime for any reason as well as paid for by taxpayers, we can be assured that Rudy has not actually changed his abortion position one iota. Otherwise, we would not be able to avoid the noise the Republican “feminazis” would be making.


15 posted on 11/28/2007 11:24:26 AM PST by penowa
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To: TitansAFC
Check DRUDGE

Rudy's got TROUBLE!!

RECEIPTS: HAMPTONS ESCAPADES COST TAXPAYERS

Spread the word.

16 posted on 11/28/2007 11:40:25 AM PST by Condor51 (Rudy has more baggage than Samsonite)
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To: cosine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALDfwXIYUX0

“There must be public funding for abortions...

We cannot deny any woman the right to make her own decision about abortion because she lacks resources.

I disagree with President Bush’s veto...of public funding for abortion.”

—Rudy Giuliani


17 posted on 11/28/2007 11:54:39 AM PST by calcowgirl ("Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink." P. J. O'Rourke)
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To: counterpunch
Rudy thinks that Ginsberg is a “strict constructionist.&rdquo and has included her as an example of the sort of judges he would appoint. His record of appointments in NYC is dismal, even more so than Romney’s. If you are worried about USSC appointments, then Rudy is definitely NOT your man.
18 posted on 11/28/2007 12:06:41 PM PST by Little Ray (Rudy Guiliani: If his wives can't trust him, why should we?)
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To: Little Ray
Show me where Rudy called Ruth Bader-Ginsberg a "strict constructionist." I would like to see that quote. The only one I can find is this one:
“We need judges who embrace originalism, endeavor to determine what others meant when they wrote the words of our Constitution. Justices like Justice Scalia, Justice Thomas, Justice Alito, and Chief Justice Roberts. That would be my model.”

19 posted on 11/28/2007 12:12:50 PM PST by counterpunch (Hillary'08 :: At Least She's Not Rudy!)
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To: counterpunch
One of the things about elected public service is the official is elected to represent and enact the will of the people whom elected him.

Anyone considering running for political office who has a scintilla of common sense knows where their potential constituents stand on issues before they campaign. They campaign because they share those beliefs of the people on at least a majority of the issues because they know doing otherwise will prevent them from being elected. It's ludicrous to believe Giuliani was so naive that he didn't realize a majority of people in NYC were pro abortion, pro-gun control city when he campaigned and disagreed with their positions. He ran because he could accept those positions.

It’s good to see Rudy moderating his position now that he is no longer shackled by the radical politics of NYC. Are we supposed to think that’s a bad thing?

Are you actually suggesting NYC politics is more complex and demanding than that of the whole country? In case you have forgotten Congress is controlled by the same type of radicals as those in NYC because they were voted in by the people. Moderating is another attempt to spin the fact he is trying to appeal to Conservatives even though he is a Socialist at heart.

Rudy has said he would appoint Justices like Scalia, Thomas, Roberts, and Alito.

Giuliani's past actions say otherwise.

A Politico review of the 75 judges Giuliani appointed to three of New York state's lower courts found that Democrats outnumbered Republicans by more than 8 to 1. One of his appointments was an officer of the International Association of Lesbian and Gay Judges. Another ruled that the state law banning liquor sales on Sundays was unconstitutional because it was insufficiently secular.

A third, an abortion-rights supporter, later made it to the federal bench in part because New York Sen. Charles E. Schumer, a liberal Democrat, said he liked her ideology.

Cumulatively, Giuilani's record was enough to win applause from people like Kelli Conlin, the head of NARAL Pro-Choice New York, the state's leading abortion-rights group. "They were decent, moderate people," she said.


Source: Ben Smith, The Politico, 3/1/07

One judge approved by Giuliani, Rosalyn Richter, had been executive director of a gay rights organization, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, before being named to the bench. After her initial appointment by former Mayor David N. Dinkins, Richter changed the questions asked of potential jurors to be more welcoming to gay and lesbian couples. She was later reappointed by Giuliani.

Another judge, appointed by Giuliani to the criminal bench in 1996, Dora Irizarry, has called herself pro-choice and was later elevated to the federal bench with strong support from Democratic Sens. Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.

A family court judge reappointed by Giuliani, Sheldon Rand, was excoriated on the conservative-leaning New York Post editorial page last week for ruling that city funds be used to pay for a sex-change operation for an indigent New York resident.

And a fourth judge, Paula J. Hepner, appointed initially by Dinkins in 1995, issued a ruling that allowed a lesbian to adopt her partner's child. Four years later, Giuliani reappointed Hepner to New York's family court bench. Hepner was subsequently married to another woman in a ceremony in Canada.


Source: om Hamburger and Adam Schreck, Los Angeles Times, 3/12/07

This is hardly the track record of someone who will nominate Scalia, Thomas, Roberts, and Alito type judges.
20 posted on 11/28/2007 12:25:13 PM PST by Man50D (Fair Tax, you earn it, you keep it! Duncan Hunter is a Cosponsor.)
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