April 04, 2007
Honest Rudy
Rudy stands by his position on public funding for abortions. Allah writes:
Suffice it to say, it’s too late for him to flip-flop convincingly, and so, with his two rivals looking squishy in their own commitment to social issues, he figures he might as well position himself as a man of his word who’ll stand on principle. Because if he’s willing to do that for principles conservatives don’t like, he’s probably also willing to do it for principles that they do.
Like many of Allah's commenters, I think "Fred!" when I hear Rudy's socially liberal positions. I love me some Rudy, and I appreciate that he isn't changing his long-held positions now that he's running for president, but I can't see how Republicans choose a candidate with this kind of abortion stance. It's to the left of the Republican electorate in general, and definitely to the left of primary voters specifically. Though I suppose it is testament to the magnetism of Rudy that he isn't automatically dismissed from consideration for voicing opinions like this. We'll see.
Posted by Karol at April 4, 2007 04:29 PM | TrackBackTechnorati Tags: Rudy+Guiliani Fred+Thompson Election+2008
I'm glad to see that, even though you're a pro-Lifer, you would still support a candidate who believes in publicly-funded abortions.
Too many people (on both sides) use that issue as a litmus test.
Posted by: Joe Grossberg at April 4, 2007 05:47 PMTo me that's a fiscal issue and I strongly oppose public funding of abortions (and many other things too). Abortion isn't one of my top issues, but conservative fiscal policy is, so, I don't know. BRING ON FRED!
Posted by: Karol at April 4, 2007 05:54 PM"It's to the left of the Republican electorate in general, and definitely to the left of primary voters specifically."
I don't know Karol. This time around, I think there's gonna be a HUGE turnout. Everyone is more politically active, and even if they aren't, they now want their voices heard.
If we use the abortion issue as a Litmus test, we Republicans are going to be very disappointed. Fred was also pro-choice originally.
Posted by: Brennan at April 4, 2007 07:01 PMBrennan, I am willing to bet that there won't be a significant spike in primary voting.
I have seen no evidence that Fred Thompson was ever pro-choice. But even if he was, he always voted with the pro-life cause and he considers himself pro-life today. Rudy, admirably, has done no flip-flopping but I can't see it not hurting him.
Posted by: Karol at April 4, 2007 07:17 PMThis seems enough out of touch with the base of the Republican party that it dooms his candidacy. Pro Roe they could probably live with, but state funding? I don't think so.
It might help in the general election, but maybe not, too. Depends on how many Republicans stay home.
Posted by: Eric at April 4, 2007 08:17 PM"I think "Fred!" when I hear Rudy's socially liberal positions."
Yep, me too.
Such passionate support of publicly funded abortions is a bridge too far. He could have wrangled his way around it if he had claimed he was conflicted, blah, blah, blah, women's choice, blah, blah, blah.
But to insist that it was a woman's right to use my tax dollars to be used to kill her unborn children... Sorry Rudy, you're not for me.
Posted by: Sean at April 5, 2007 05:03 AM
