Pat Robertson endorses Giuliani

The Politico ^ | November 7, 2007 | Mike Allen

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Pat Robertson, one of the nation's most influential Christian leaders, plans to endorse former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani today, the Politico has learned.

Giuliani has struggled to win support of social conservatives because of his moderate views on abortion and gay rights. But now he has one of the most resonant imprimaturs with Christian voters.

Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), meanwhile, plans to announce his surprise endorsement of former Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for president on Wednesday, a campaign official told Politico.

The endorsement is to be announced in Dubuque, Iowa.

The alliance gives McCain — once a front-runner, now struggling — a crucial bridge to social conservatives, an important constituency that has remained suspicious of him despite his opposition to abortion.

[Mr. Mojo]

Pat announced it on Fox News this morning. This isn’t some MSM-fueled rumor.

[Marysecretary]

I feel the same way. I just hope someone doesn’t go independent (like McCain) and spoil it for the GOP.

[P8riot]

The kiss of death

[ari-freedom]

but none of the other candidates are so clear and strong enough to get everyone to unite behind only one of them.

[rintense]

After the Hillary debacle, I agree.

[ari-freedom]

that’s why Tancredo is the front runner, right?

[rintense]

I think we will see a huge change in the next debate. That last Dem debate changed everything and every strategy.

[Mr. Mojo]

I’d put Tancredo in charge of INS. :)

And perhaps ambassador to Saudi Arabia in his spare time ;)

Hopefully Hunter will get some traction soon.

[Marysecretary]

Yes, they are. I’m trying hard not to criticize them because God really doesn’t approve of our criticizing our brothers and sisters. If they are in a sin, in your church body, yes, you go to them and speak to them about it, but you don’t gossip behind their backs. Same with these folks. If they aren’t doing what’s right, they need to be confronted but not bashed in FR or other places. M

[Marysecretary]

Well, I’m sorry he feels that way but it doesn’t affect what I believe and as a conservative christian, I’ll vote for the best person for the job in the primaries and if I have to vote for Rudy in the election, if he’s selected, I’ll do it just to keep ole Hillary from becoming my president.

[Theo]

This is bizarre. I don’t understand how a Christian like PR could endorse Rudy.

[NativeNewYorker]

Giuliani was the one who handed the NY Senate seat to Hillary

He dropped out of the race due to cancer.

[SergeiRachmaninov]

It is time for Conservatives to unite behind the only true Conservative that has a realy probability of being the dems. Fred Thompson is that candidate. Conservatives can blow this out of the water. Robertson sold his sole for what?

I agree with you about ONE thing: I also hear this announcement in the context of Fred.

And what I hear as that Fred is not attracting the support leaders who have long histories with the Christian right. Over just the last week, Paul Weyrich and Bob Jones III break for Mitt, Pat Robertson for Rudy.

Did these guys suddenly swing moderate or, in Robertson's case, decide to embrace gays and the rest of Rudy's social liberalism?

Of course, not. I don't love all these guys but they are savy, political operators who have been pushing social conservatism for a long time. They are breaking against Fred, because Fred has fizzled. They are afraid...VERY afraid. But not of Fred. They are afraid of Hillary and are trying to find a candidate who can keep her pals from play trampoline again in the Lincoln bedroom. They see clearly that Fred is not that candidate.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

FNORD!

This should help him attract pro-choice moderates, centrists, and Democrats for that inclusive Big Tent strategy, right?

[Retired COB]

I sincerely hope that when I start to show signs of senility similar to Rev Robertson’s I’ll have sense enough to step back out of the limelight.

I think the old saying, “It is better to keep your mouth shut if you are worried about people believing you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt”, applies here.

[Alice in Wonderland]

As a former NYC civil servant, I used to work for Rudy. For personal reasons I can’t stand the guy. But I will hold my nose and pull the lever for him if necessary.

[rintense]

See, in my mind, the Rudy campaign and his sycophants have done a masterful job at brainwashing Hillary fear into the masses, with an assist to prominent (alleged) conservative radio talk show host. The strategy of every GOP candidate should be the opposite of this: stand FOR SOMETHING, not against Hillary yet. Stand for optimism, not fear. Stand for reality, not hysterical rantings.

If any candidate wants to separate themselves from Rudy and the fear Hillary crowd, this is the way to do it.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

They're still a long way from the Promised Land.

[Mr. Mojo]

I don’t understand how a Christian like PR could endorse Rudy.

The only reason that makes any sort of sense is that Pat and Rudy made some kind of a deal -- Pat's endorsement for Rudy in turn nominating conservative SCOTUS judges or something. ...and perhaps a few other promises. Obviously Pat didn't all of a sudden morph into a liberal overnight; he had to get something out of the deal. Pat's a political pragmatist, and always has been. He'd be endorsing Hunter otherwise.

I certainly don't agree with Pat in this matter, but I suspect he endorsed Rudy for the reasons stated above. ...and he probably thinks he'll be the winner.

[wardaddy]

Jesus.