Giuliani is Playing to the Left of the GOP on Abortion

Mayor Rudy Giuliani gave a speech in front of a very conservative pro life audience in Houston and dared to venture to the side of the isle that for the most part should be the third rail for any Republican candidate for President. In my opinion it was a brilliant political move to stand up for what he believes in and set him clearly apart from the other Republican candidates. Where others amongst his party fear the strong arm of the Christian right he has shown to the people that they are not the only voice in the Republican Party.

It is a political fallacy to dream or think that all Liberal Democrats are Pro Choice when many of us are not. If we were then all of us die hard Catholics and Christian party members should turn in our right to vote and abandon politics all together. In the same context it would be just as wrong to assume that all Republicans are die hard Pro Life. I give the former Mayor of New York City credit for the guts it took to put this part of his personal belief and opinion on just this issue alone with the audience he had to address.

Giuliani reaffirms his support for a woman's right to choose abortion
He also repeats belief the act is "morally wrong."
From Associated Press
3:42 PM PDT, May 11, 2007

HOUSTON -- Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani forcefully reaffirmed his support for abortion rights today and argued that his divergence from conservatives on the issue should not disqualify him from being the eventual GOP nominee.

"This is a matter of deep and profound judgment," he said in a speech at Houston Baptist University. "It's a matter of morals. It's a matter of your interpretation of how laws should operate, your interpretation of how respect for the rights of others should operate. But in a country like ours ... I believe you have to respect their viewpoint and give them a level of choice. I would grant women the right to make that choice."

The former New York City mayor has struggled in the last week to explain his personal opposition to abortion with his long public record of favoring a woman's right to choose. He has defended his positions — and some say contradictory comments — on late-term abortion, public funding for abortions and the 1973 Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion.

But Giuliani left few questions about his position today, telling about 500 students and faculty at the small conservative school that — despite his belief that abortion was "morally wrong" — he believes the decision should ultimately be left to individuals and their decisions should be respected.

Opposition to abortion has been a litmus test for conservatives within the Republican Party, who hold considerable sway in the primaries. Giuliani has drawn criticism from some in the GOP for his abortion rights support. One of his rivals, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, has switched from supporting abortion rights to opposing the procedure — a shift that also has drawn complaints. – LA Times

Politically, Giuliani had to face this demon in the flesh and in an audience such as the one he did. Abortion is not the only issue America is facing in this election cycle and he made that fact known. There are many issues in this nation that needs a voice and pretending that all Republicans are self righteous and lacking sin is by far not the truth. On many issues Giuliani is hitting the target of the Republican message as defined by George (I’m the Decider) Bush. I think the Mayor is taking his own message and I honestly think that he is pandering to the left of the Republican Party. That makes him a direct threat to two other serious candidates in this race, McCain and Romney. Both of them are touting that they are “Me too W”!

This move by Giuliani is interesting because of the fact that it is not only drawing the attention of the left of the Republican Party but it is also drawing the interest of the right of the Democrat Party. That my friend is a classic game of chess with serious thinkers and players moving the pieces around the board with stealth plan that ultimately can lead to being elected to the Presidency. Not since the days of Ronald Reagan have these knights, rooks, pawns and bishops have been executed with a strategy toward gaining the middle so cleverly.

It will be interesting to see what the rest of the Republican Party throws at Giuliani.

Papamoka

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