Posted on 10/20/2007 10:21:39 AM PDT by Ol' Sparky
Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, walking into a political lion’s den, told the year’s largest gathering of social conservatives that he is “not always the best example of faith” but that their similarities are much greater than their differences.
“Isn’t it better that I tell you what I really believe instead of changing all my positions?” Giuliani told an audience of 2,000 at the Family Research Council's Values Voters Summit at a Washington hotel. “I believe trust is more important than 100 percent agreement.”
The audience, generally hostile to Giuliani, recognized the shot at former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and laughter and a few cheers spread across the room.
The former mayor, who left the stage grinning amid applause after his 40-minute speech, went for an authenticity contrast with Romney, substituting his law and order credentials for the family values emphasis of Romney, a long-married father of five.
Giuliani paid obeisance to the group’s concerns by speaking at length about his support for school choice, home schooling, conservative judges and Israel.
All drew earnest – even enthusiastic – applause. He also gave a detailed plan for reducing abortions and increasing adoptions, the meatiest policy element of his speech.
It was the “everything but” approach – he could agree with the audience on almost everything except whether a woman should be able to choose an abortion, which he supports.
"You and I know I’m not a perfect person,” he said. “I pray for forgiveness, I pray for strength.... I feel my faith deeply, although perhaps more privately than others, because of the way I was brought up.” He said he had prayed to God at the toughest parts of his life.
“During our lives, at some time, all of us need forgiveness,” he added. “If we expect perfection from our political leaders, we’re just asking for disappointment .... We lose trust when they’re not honest with us.... I don’t always agree with myself. [Laughter] … You’ll always know where I stand.... I will continue to extend my hand to you. I hope you’ll take it.”
Giuliani showed humor, noting that he almost entered seminary: “I know that’s hard to believe.” Noting that he attended Catholic school, he said the first school he attended where a prayer wasn’t said at the beginning of the day was the New York University School of Law.
He said that on the first day, out of confusion, he made the sign of the cross. “I looked around and realized people were staring at me,” he joked.
Giuliani pointed out that as New York mayor, he reduced murder, drugs, prostitution and other vices. "I don't believe in inevitable decline," he said, adding he shares President Ronald Reagan's belief in optimism.
"You put Republican ideas into action.... We got results. Humbly, I would say, the best results anyone in that time got in government."
"We drove pornography out of Times Square and other public spaces," he said, drawing hearty applause. "The pornographers lost and they were driven out of Times Square."
Instead of pandering to the group, Giuliani held his ground.
“We’ve got to find a way to be more inclusive,” Giuliani said. “Christianity is all about inclusiveness. It’s built around the most profound act of love in human history, isn’t it? … I’m running for president of the United States because I believe I can bring us together. Strong leadership can help us find common solutions to our problems.”
Giuliani drew laughter by saying he spends as little time in Washington as possible: “I’m afraid there’s something in the air here.”
“I’m not going to pretend that I can be all things to all people,” he declared. “I’m just not like that.”
But he added, in another dig at Romney, “I’ll always be honest with you.... You will always know where I stand.”
“You have absolutely nothing to fear from me,” Giuliani went on, adding that he was puzzled by those who make him out to be some kind of liberal activist: “Just read any New York Times editorial when I was mayor of New York City.” That got a big laugh.
Giuliani was speaking to one of the most conservative audiences in American politics. During a Christian worship service from the podium an hour before Giuliani spoke, leader Ron Freeman interspersed the praise hymn “Blessed be the Name” with the hopeful wish:
“We’ve got the right Senate and the Congress!” The prayer included: “We’ve tried hard to make your agenda, our agenda.”
Politico’s Jonathan Martin contributed to this report.
Not that many, though, thankfully.
So tell my how some other candidate will do in Nov 2008 better than Rudy, and exactly why.
If you tell me that hard core conservatives will stay home and not vote for Rudy. Fine. I think Rudy will pick up more centrists and liberals. So tell me why there will be more stubborn conservatives determined to help Hillary win by staying home than there will be gain from picking up centrists?
It was difficult to remember he was even in the race. He wasn’t very good on immigration.
“The presidency is the total sum of the administration, not one man. A Republican presidency will empower the Republican party, bringing Republican judges and helping Republican congressional candidates”
I notice you throw around the word “Republican” a lot, but I don’t see the word “Conservative” anywhere in your post.
LOL.
I think maybe you meant to direct your post to someone who is not voting for the nominee if it’s Rudy or Mitt, or whomever.
You’re preachin’ to the choir posting that to me. I said I understood doing so, didn’t say I agreed with it.
By Jove, I think you got it. A vote for Rudy is a win for liberals.
that's ridiculous..
They have delusional fantasies about what happened in 1994 will happen in 2010. They fail to forget about what the democrats are willing to do, including destroying our country, to grab and to hold onto power.
They say Reagan this and Reagan that, and they failed to remember that once Reagan lost to Ford in 1976 Reagan didn’t pout and go out and form a third party, Reagan then backed Ford because Reagan knew what a disaster Carter was going to be.
Eventhough Carter was a disaster, Reagan’s electoral college landslide was helped by the fact that Anderson challenged Carter from the left.
He was pro-life as pro-life could be.
Yup. Stubborn and small minded single issue voters who insist in their way, or the highway.
You're right. There is a split. I don't know if I want to be associated with those who are so closed minded.
“Giuliani said. “Christianity is all about inclusiveness.”
Has this slilme even READ the Bible?
The argument that somehow Hillary winning will energize the right to retake congress is also bunch of crap. What are the approval ratings for Congress right now? After the immigration fiasco, self inflicted scandals, and disgusting spending of pork, why should there be another revolution expectted to sweep the right back into power under President Hillary. If anything the left is moving closer to a filibuster proof majority in the Senate, which will leave the pro-lifers utterly screwed.
It's not going to happen. She will make things worse, take away more rights and absolutely decimate the causes of the single issue cement heads who decided in their infinite arrogance and short sightedness that the best way to advance their causes is to either not vote or vote for the opponent.
There is a darker insiduious rationale for the pro-life/values leaders to consider allowing Hillary to win: Money and fundraising. Hillary the boogiewoman president will raise a lot of cash for them.
“The only thing that a POTUS can do is appoint judges likely to overturn Roe V Wade and if you think hillary is going to do that, you’re smoking Wacky Tobacky!”
What makes you think Trudy would?
Me too. If he wins the nomination I will absolutly support him. particularly against She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
Try the Democrats, now, you find all kinds of open minded and mindless over there.
I have my eye on the ball. The game is defeating Hillary, and avoid defeating ourselves. Rudy isn't a liberal the way Hillary is a liberal. Or stated differently, if Rudy is "liberal", then Hillary is a genuine communist.
Hillary will be hard to defeat. I think either Rudy or Romney has the best chances against her. Not sure which. But I'll take ANYONE over Hillary, even Rudy. Trashing Rudy now could be a huge mistake because the radical among us will not support him in 2008 if he wins the nomination.
Reagans 11th commandment is still a good one.
If we a country left.
Go back and read my post. Both are enemies, I consider Fruit Loop to be the most dangerous because he is a snake. He will hide and bite you when you least expect it. At least the beast is a beast all the time and you can be prepared.
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