Posted on 05/07/2007 5:25:31 PM PDT by madprof98
Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani in his campaign appearances this year has stated that he personally abhors abortion, even though he supports keeping a legal right to choose. But records show that in the '90s he contributed money at least six times to Planned Parenthood, one of the country's leading abortion rights groups and its top provider of abortions.
Federal tax returns made public by the former New York mayor show that he and his then-wife, Donna Hanover, made personal donations to national, state and city chapters of Planned Parenthood totaling $900 in 1993, 1994, 1998 and 1999.
The returns have been on the public record for years, but the detail about Giuliani's support for Planned Parenthood -- along with e-mailed copies of the returns -- was provided to The Politico by aides to a rival campaign, who insisted on not being identified.
Giuliani's old contributions could echo throughout the 2008 GOP nomination battle, as he seeks to lessen the political impact of his support for abortion rights -- an unpopular position among the social conservatives who in recent elections have weighed decisively in the primaries and caucuses. The issue was raised anew at last week's debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, when Giuliani gave a noncommittal answer to the question of whether it would be a good day for the country if Roe v. Wade were overturned.
"It'd be OK," Giuliani responded, adding that it would also be all right if the Supreme Court decided the other way.
On the campaign trail, Giuliani has a consistent mantra when the abortion issue comes up. "I'm against abortion. I hate it. I wish there never was an abortion, and I would counsel a woman to have an adoption instead of an abortion," Giuliani said last month in Columbia, S.C., in a typical comment.
He also frequently notes that, during his tenure as mayor, the number of abortions went down in New York City and that, as president, he would appoint "strict constructionist judges," a description meant to reassure social conservatives.
Asked how Giuliani could reconcile personal opposition to abortion with a contribution to Planned Parenthood, a Giuliani spokeswoman reiterated the former mayor's stump message and took what could be construed as a shot against former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who has recently become an opponent of abortion rights.
"Mayor Giuliani has been consistent in his position -- he is personally opposed to abortion, but at the same time he understands it is a personal and emotional decision that should ultimately be left up to the woman," said Maria Comella.
Comella added that, "from the start, Mayor Giuliani has been straight with the American people about where he stands on the issues and saying exactly what he thinks.
"Ultimately, this election is about leadership, and it's a sign of leadership to stand by your position in the face of political expediency."
Giuliani's bid will test how far an abortion-rights politician can advance within the GOP. Every Republican nominee since 1980 has opposed abortion.
Opposition researchers for other candidates hope to make Giuliani's life more difficult at regular intervals -- and to help them out, they have a trove of video clips and quotes from Giuliani's time in City Hall showing him to be a vocal advocate of abortion rights.
For example, in 2001, appearing at a NARAL/Pro-Choice America luncheon, he voiced the conservative case for abortion rights, arguing that it "might be more consistent with the philosophy of the Republican Party.
"Because the Republican Party stands for the idea that you have to restore more freedom of choice, more opportunity, more opportunity for people to make their own choices rather than the government dictating those choices," said Giuliani.
Told of Giuliani's contributions to Planned Parenthood, Clemson University political science professor Dave Woodard said, "If he actually gave money to Planned Parenthood, boy, that puts him in a very precarious position, at least in the South Carolina Republican Party."
A Republican, Woodard noted that a personal contribution is something that is difficult to explain away to abortion opponents. "This isn't something like where your position is misunderstood," he said. "An overt act of giving money shows support for a position. That can't be a mistake or misinterpretation."
Merle Black, an Emory University political science professor and author, along with his brother, of a new book on American politics, "Divided America," agreed that the contributions would again push Giuliani "on the defensive" on the issue.
"He's got to change the subject or come up with much more effective answers than he had (at the debate)," said Black.
Still, Black noted that there are "a lot more issues" than just abortion and that Giuliani's strength on national security -- along with the enhanced importance of more moderate states like California, Florida, New York and New Jersey in the GOP primary process -- could lessen the social litmus test.
Amy Walter, a political analyst with the Cook Political Report who is set to take over The Hotline next month, said Giuliani's past contributions and current rhetoric could combine to make him look like an opportunist. The issue threatens to go to "the heart of what opponents of Giuliani are hoping to do, which is undermine him on his greatest strength, which is his credibility and leadership."
The effort, Walter said, is not just to portray him as "not conservative enough, but to try to chip away at the image of a leader and nonpolitician."
Spokesmen for Romney and Arizona Sen. John McCain said their candidates have never donated to abortion-rights groups. (Romney gave to a Massachusetts anti-abortion-rights organization last year.)
Founded in New York City by Margaret Sanger in 1916, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America has 860 locations around the country. In addition to providing abortions, the organization also provides birth control, emergency contraception, testing for STDs and other gynecological services.
In 2005, the last year for which a Planned Parenthood representative could provide statistics, the organization performed 264,943 abortions and distributed more than 1.2 million emergency contraception kits.
I prefer Hunter of those running now. Fred Thompson will be a formidable oponent should he run. As for Rudy, he is beatable - Hillary IS the NY senator after all, not him.
Wow! There you are again, repeating the same garbage verbatim on different threads.
You really love Giuliani, don’t you!
<<”I have seen several people say she starred in the role but this seems to indicate she never actually performed. Do you know the correct answer?”>>
As I recall, Hanover definitely performed in the play..the “subsequently” would be after her perfomrances were under way. I have no idea how long she did it, but it was something she was known for.
No surprises there! I think everyone would find the campaign finance reports interesting reading!!! State and National level.
I’m not a social conservative, and abortion isn’t my priority issue. My problem with Giuliani is his complete lack of understanding about how the Constitution works, and/or his complete contempt for it.
For me, the relevance of this story is that it disproves the myth that Giuliani is a tough, straight-talking person — his words and his actions are completely at odds.
I think I will be voting for Romney as I can hear that he is for real and has great business and family success. I heard Fred the other day giving a boring speach. I don’t think he would be a great choice. If we get another Dole type of candidate I think we will lose and we cannot afford to lose this time.
So what?
At this point, Rudy is the only rep candidate with the slightest chance to win POTUS. And anyone with an open inquiring mind realizes that. Why politicians like Newt realize it. The 2008 election will be impossible for an unknown rep to win.
I guess your philosophy is “surrender now, and then I won’t have to later”.
You heap scorn on so-called “purity” and make fun of conservatives who are “right wing extremists”. Well, hon - I don’t gamble, but if I did, I’d bet you that if Rudy runs, he’ll drive away so many actual conservatives that he will lose.
Of course, if he wins, WE lose.
But your defeatist attitude is even worse than his liberalism.
When Clinton ran, very few people had heard of the governor of Arkansas, either. Of course, without Perot he wouldn’t have won, so the analogy is not totally apt. Name recognition can happen - ever heard of “advertising”?
Anyway, I know why you really like Giuliani - because his views actually coincide more with your views than an actual conservative Republican. I know this because I decided to read some of your comments. Liberal RINOS like other liberal RINOS. It’s that simple.
I am not ready to support Romney yet. I am strictly for platform at this stage - I want all I can get in one package.........and I have heard Fred speak and loved him.
-the only negative on Fred so far is his much younger wife and child.
The OR is fast and furious. This is gonna get real f'n ugly -- on both sides of the aisle -- in the next wight or nine months. So stock up on popcorn.
Any genuine conservatives still planning to vote for this fraud?
Like it or not, in order to survive, the republican party must become the big tent party that Reagan talked of. Chasing out all who disagree will just end up putting the DEMOCRATS IN PERMANENT POWER!!!
HELLO!
Reagan DID NOT talk about any sort of “big tent” he believed in running on conservative values and winning. Read this speech of Reagan’s and see for yourself:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1735897/posts
Nor did Reagan subscribe to any “commandment” about refraining from speaking negatively about other Republicans. Reagan was the ONLY Republican in modern times to challenge a sitting Republican president for the nomination and he did it because Ford was too liberal and pro-abortion in particular.
But hey, you keep drinking the Rooty Rooter Kool Aid and telling yourself that only Rooty can beat Hillary. But while you’re doing that, consider these little facts:
- If Rudy can beat Hillary, then why was he unwilling to run against her in 2000 and 2006? And forget all of this nonsense about recovering from cancer in 2000, because being mayor of NYC is more stressful than running for the senate.
- All of the Rooty Rooters act as if Hillary’s nomination is a foregone conclusion. However, the last non-incumbent (either president or vice president) Democrat who was the clear favorite a year out from the nomination to actually get nominated was Adlai Stevenson in 1952 and 1956. The last non-incumbent (either president or vice president) Democrat who was the clear favorite a year out from the nomination to actually get nominated and go on to win the election was Grover Cleveland in 1892. However, Cleveland is peculiar because he had previously served a term as president. So, the last non-incumbent (either president or vice president) Democrat who had never been president who was the clear favorite a year out from the nomination to actually get nominated and win the election was Andrew Jackson in 1828.
From what I’ve seen lately, most of the Rooty Rooter FReepers actually support Rooty because HIS LIBERAL VIEWS ARE TOTALLY IN LINE WITH THEIR OWN.
I don’t know alot about Fred but I saw a little of a speech he gave and thought it was pretty hum drum. And he looks a bit tired to me. Romney has more charisma and is very conservative.
That's what I told her, and that is my conclusion as well. All this jive about "he's the only one who can win against Hitlery" is just smoke. They know it. We know it. They just can't bear the thought of a real conservative running for (or winning!) the presidency.
They are one and all self proclaimed social liberals. I read some of tkathy's comments and she proclaimed herseld a social liberal. They have nothing but scorn and contempt for social conservatives; just like their hero Giuliani.
bill clinton had charisma some years ago, I still didn’t fall for him. I am looking at the issues, not the slickness of the candidate.
No genuine conservative will vote for Giuliani. Note wagglebee’s and my comments above.
They like him because they LIKE his values [sic]. This “he’s the only one who can win” is a lie and they know it, just like homosexual activists who used to use the “one in ten is gay” lie. They knew it was a lie but they used it to gain their ends. Same type of lie.
It is generally acknowledged that Hitler was extremely charismatic. Charisma is only positive if the person’s agenda is also positive.
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