Free Republic

Rudy Giuliani portrayed himself as the heir to Ronald Reagan at the first Republican debate last night, talking tough on terrorism - but struggling to present a clear and consistent position on abortion. Giuliani, who strongly supported abortion rights during his eight years as mayor, said he would not object to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision affirming abortion. "It would be OK to repeal it," said Giuliani, who is courting key anti-abortion voters in the GOP primaries. But he then added that "it would be OK also if a strict constructionist viewed it as...

A majority of respondents to a Crain's online poll agree with columnist Alair Townsend, who wrote in this week's issue that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani doesn't have the temperament to be an effective president. Ms. Townsend wrote that, while she had voted for the former mayor three times, she would not be casting a fourth vote for him, criticizing his "stick-in-your-eye" style. Ms. Townsend said that his strong personality would not translate well when it comes to dealing with international leaders and Congress. About 70% of the 784 respondents to the Crain's poll agree that Mr. Giuliani's...

They are saying that the next GOP presidential candidate might very well be a pro-abortion Republican who promises not to push that issue and is strong on other issues. They hope that pro-lifers will “be reasonable,” not let the perfect be the enemy of the good, and go along quietly. We won’t. Republicans and Democrats in 1980 took radically different approaches to the right to life. Republicans wrote into their party platform that all abortions should be outlawed. Democrats wrote into their party platform that not only should abortion be legal, but families should be forced to pay for others’...