Posted on 05/13/2007 1:13:20 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani says he feels "very, very passionate" about abortion and opposes picking Supreme Court nominees based on their view of the ruling that legalized abortion.
"My view is that there shouldn't be a litmus test on Roe against Wade," the former New York City mayor said. "I'm going to select strict constructionist judges. They're free to take a look at Roe against Wade, take a look at the limitations, but I believe I should leave it to them to decide that."
Giuliani repeatedly has defended his positions, which have been criticized as contradictory, on late-term abortion, public funding for abortions and the Roe v. Wade decision.
"I'm very, very passionate about the issue of abortion," he said. "I oppose it. That's a principle I've held forever, and I'll hold it forever. That's not going to change. But I also believe that in a society like ours, where people have very, very different consciences about this, it's best to respect each others' differences and allow for choice."
For GOP conservatives who could determine the outcome in the primaries, opposition to abortion has been a litmus test. Giuliani's support for abortion rights has drawn criticism from some in the party.
One president rival, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, has drawn complaints for his switch from supporting abortion rights to opposing the procedure. Another GOP rival, Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, has said that an abortion-rights Republican would have trouble winning the nomination.
Giuliani's interview on "Fox New Sunday" was broadcast Sunday.
Giuliani’s stance on judges is identical to that of George W. Bush, no litmus test, and no asking how they will rule on cases that may appear before the court. Giuliani has some explaining to do (the Planned Parenthood donations), but this isn’t a problem.
Good Bye, rudy. Don’t let the door hit you in the backside on the way out.
Giulian’s stance on abortion is identical to Hillary Clinton’s. And Terd Kennedy, Chuckie Schumer, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Margaret Sanger, et al.
Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out Rudy.....
Woe to the GOP if they nominate this wolf.
"I oppose it. That's a principle I've held forever, and I'll hold it forever.
“We’re about to kick Rudy out of that big tent - he called abortion “choice”, that alone is an anathema to the GOP base”
Amen, brother!
I didn’t know Hillary was advocating Federal subsidies for abortion.
Well, she wouldn't publicly admit to it. That'd be immediate and instant political suicide for any Democrat.
“He keeps saying that but why are we supposed to care? Since it isn’t relevant to him in his execution of the job, why should it be relevant to us?”
It shows Rudy’s character. Rudy HAS no character. Rudy is a liar. Rudy will appoint liberal judges. Rudy is a gun grabbing, pro homo, pro illegal immigrant liberal turd!
I tend to agree with this way of thinking. I can only see abortion as an option in very specific, extremely limited situations, but it is still a moral issue to me - not a political one. Honestly, I could care less where a “to-be” Supreme Court Justice stands with regard to Roe v. Wade when many of our rights, like freedom of speech and a citizens right to firearms, are under attack on a constant basis.
It makes about as much sense as his muddled blathering on abortion.
That may well be true. However, we KNOW how “W” will do with the selection of judges — i.e. aside for his Harriet snafu, he’s done well. And, we KNOW that Rudy has a history of selecting liberal judges — but, more importantly, we KNOW that Rudy differs significantly from “W” regarding the import of the question of when life begins. The President knows the answer to that question and what actions must follow that knowledge. Rudy won’t say what his view is, but allows that other people may have a different view and, therefore, a different view of the moral issues surrounding abortion (or “choice” in his words.) I would doubt that Rudy would continence infanticide, but there’s really nothing in his abortion position that would suggest his lack of support for such a practice. This he has in common with most abortion advocates and it’s a real concern.
Both Rudy and the President are liberals with some conservative principles — but, the President holds many of the most important conservative principles dear and Rudy thinks only a few of them are important.
As long as the left insists on an abortion litmus test for judges, the right really has no choice but to insist on a litmus test of its own. At the least, we should insist that the legislative system, preferably at the state level, determine the country’s course vis a vis abortion. Rudy can’t commit even to that position.
That'd be immediate and instant political suicide for any Democrat.
Here on freerepublic, where abortion is the only real issue facing America and the world, many have decided that any choice in that matter is anathema to them. And, consequently, have decided that Rudy must be defeated, even though that might give a victory to Hillary, a Stalinist who will sweep away our constitutional rights in a heartbeat and sell out our country to third world status in record time. Do those freerepublic conservatives really have their thinking caps on?
Yeah, that pesky right to life. Way down on the list.
To quote Jerry Rafferty and Stealer's Wheel, "here I am stuck in the middle with you".
Rudy's colors will show and be his demise before the '08 elections.
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