Alarming News: Don't do it, Rudy

May 24, 2005

Don't do it, Rudy

John Podhoretz recommends Giuliani have a change of heart on abortion, and quick:

The record is plain. A pro-choice candidate can win in the GOP provided he has a change of heart and goes pro-life. The change of heart does not even need to be all that believable. It just needs to be.
Such a shift in position needs to be handled adroitly, but it has been done, it can be done and it must be done if Rudy Giuliani actually wants to be president.

No one need question my Rudy love, but I don't think this is going to work. Rudy isn't like the other shifters-on-abortion mentioned in the article, like Steve Forbes or Bush I. For one thing, a change in position from completely pro-choice, including late-term abortions and including government funding for abortions, to anything the pro-life side would accept is just too big a leap to make, especially in such a short time. And secondly, have we forgotten Rudy Giuliani's character? He was an amazing leader but he was that because he was not a waverer. He didn't bend to public opinion, he said what he believed and he stuck to it. I have friends that think Republican is a bad word but love (and voted for) Rudy because they find him trustworthy. If he makes that kind of huge ideological shift for political gain, if he becomes like the mealymouthed politicians that are a dime a dozen, he'll lose his biggest asset: the fact that people trust him.

Comments

What if Rudy switches party registration, runs as a Dem, and brings the left back towards the center.

Would you vote for him?

Posted by: Sean at May 24, 2005 11:22 AM

Maybe. It would be the end of Democrats as we know them and really just make the choice between liberal and conservative Republicans. I could live with that.

Posted by: Karol at May 24, 2005 11:25 AM

A "change of heart," for calculated political reasons, is really not a change of heart at all.

But still, during Rudy's mayoral term, it's hard to imagine he'd ever be considered "too liberal" for anything.

Posted by: Steve at May 24, 2005 01:06 PM

IMO taking a hard line on judges will get him most of the way there.

Abortion shouldn't be a federal issue anyway.

Posted by: someone at May 24, 2005 02:58 PM

hahahaaahahhahahaah It would be the end of Democrats as we know them and really just make the choice between liberal and conservative Republicans.

ooh and then can we have the democratic primary consist of giuliani v. mccain?

Posted by: Not Dawn Summers at May 24, 2005 03:12 PM

I saw Rudy Giuliani Saturday night in St Paul, MN at a dinner to benefit The Center for An American Experiment (a conservative think tank). He gave an excellent speech on leadership that could guide you whatever you do in life.

He also said that there are no Republicans in NYC. I jumped up and yelled, "What about Karol and her 12 friends?" As the cops dragged me out I continued to scream, "Rudy, you have got to meet her"

Just one of the many sacrifices I make to further your career, Karol.

Posted by: Jake at May 24, 2005 08:37 PM