-
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Abortion Rights and February 5 States Are Strategery for Rudy
Republican presidential hopeful and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani shakes hands with supporters including Samantha, Ala. resident David Green, left, after speaking to over 800 people gathered for a breakfast sponsored by The Tuscaloosa County Republican Party Wednesday, May 9 2007 at the Bryant Conference Center in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
New York Times: Giuliani Plans to Publicly Embrace Abortion Rights
After months of conflicting signals on abortion, Rudolph W. Giuliani is planning to offer a forthright affirmation of his support for abortion rights in public forums, television appearances and interviews in the coming days, despite the potential for bad consequences among some conservative voters already wary of his views, aides said yesterday.
At the same time, Mr. Giuliani’s campaign — seeking to accomplish the unusual task of persuading Republicans to nominate an abortion rights supporter — is eyeing a path to the nomination that would try to de-emphasize the early states in which abortion opponents wield a great deal of influence. Instead they would focus on the so-called mega-primary of Feb. 5, in which voters in states like California, New York and New Jersey are likely to be more receptive to Mr. Giuliani’s social views than voters in Iowa and South Carolina.
That approach, they said, became more appealing after the Legislature in Florida, another state they said would be receptive to Mr. Giuliani, voted last week to move the primary forward to the end of January.Well, there are NO SURPRISES here.
Rudy is pro-choice and has been for many years. Favoring abortion rights with certain restrictions is the mainstream political position of American voters. Look at the polls here.
The “NEW” strategy has been Rudy’s “strategery” all along and it enfranchises many more GOP voters. The past few Presidential cycles the GOP candidates would have to go to small, less populous states like New Hampshire and Iowa and literally kiss the ass of the local yocals.
Then, the candidate would parlay the electoral momentum of fundraising prowess and name identification (band wagon effect) into Super Tuesday and later primary/caucus victories – winning the majority of delegates. Howver, with major population and delegate states moving up their primary elections the importance of the early small states is diminished.
How does this relate to abortion, you ask?
The smaller states of New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina have heavily pro-life GOP constituencies. Whereas, Florida, scheduled now before South Carolina, does not. Also, pro-choice states New York, New Jersey, Pennyslvania and California have all moved their primary elections to February 5.
Rudy Giuliani leads the polls in those states. Here is the latest Florida poll. In Florida, Rudy leads the closest candidate, McCain by 13 percentage points.
Rudy’s strategy is a sound one.
The main question is: Will the GOP be receptive to a Presidential nominee supporting abortion rights?
Time will tell whether the GOP will be a “BIG TENT” party or like the Democrats who refused to let the pro-life Governor of Pennsylvania speak before their national convention.
Stay tuned……….
Republican candidate for president Rudy Giuliani sits down and eats with guests at The Fish Market Restaurant in Birmingham, Ala. Wednesday, May 9, 2007.
Previous:
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Can Rudy Overcome Pro-Choice Abortion Stand?
Rudy Giuliani Watch: The May 3rd GOP Presidential Debate – Abortion and Iraq?
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy the Front-Runner
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Obama, Edwards Prove Giuliani Right
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy on Offense and Democrats Don’t Like It
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy – “America Will Be Safer with a Republican Presidentâ€
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Conservative Christians Favor Giuliani
Technorati Tags: Rudy Giuliani
-
Mitt Romney Watch: Romney’s Wife Ann Has Donated to Planned Parenthood
Republican presidential hopeful and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (L) and his wife Ann greet supporters before the annual Republican Party of Iowa’s Abraham Lincoln Unity Dinner in Des Moines, Iowa April 14, 2007.
ABC News: EXCLUSIVE: Romney Wife Donated to Planned Parenthood
Pro-Life Republican Accused of Shifting Views on Abortion
Former governor Mitt Romney’s wife, Ann, gave a $150 donation to the abortion-rights group Planned Parenthood in 1994, at a time that Romney considered himself to be effectively “pro-choice,” the Romney campaign confirmed today.
Campaign spokesman Kevin Madden said Mrs. Romney has no recollection of the circumstances under which she donated the money. He said an internal review of Romney’s personal records have not turned up any instances where Romney, R-Mass., himself sent money to groups that support expanded abortion rights.
“The governor has not donated to Planned Parenthood or abortion-rights groups,” Madden said.
Madden said he did not know whether the former governor was aware of the donation, but he noted that Romney was publicly committed to upholding a woman’s right to an abortion until late 2004.
“This is an issue that the governor has changed his position on, that the governor was wrong on in the past and believes he is right on now,” he said.
The issue of past donations to abortion-rights groups has exploded in the Republican presidential campaign in the past few days, with the revelation that former mayor Rudolph Giuliani, R-N.Y., gave six separate donations to Planned Parenthood during the 1990s.
And so?
It isn’t like Planned Parenthood is al Qaeda.
Rudy has been taking a beating from the pro-life folks since last weeks GOP debate. Maybe it is time for them to give it a rest.
Mayor Giuliani is pro-choice and his views and record are very clear. They are mainstream personal views/feelings – which, by the way, are held by a majority of American voters.
Respect Rudy’s opinion, disagree if you must and move on……
Now, leave Mrs. Romney alone.
Update:
DaveG over at Race 4 2008 has some questions for Mitt:
As such, it’s time for Gov. Romney to come clean on this issue to pro-life voters. Personally, I would like answers to the following questions:
1) Gov. Romney, when did you learn of your wife’s de facto participation in extinguishing young life?
2) Do you now or did you ever approve of or sanction this donation?
3) Was there any conflict in the Romney household over this event upon your aptly-timed “conversion†to the pro-life side of the fence? Granted, such conflict would likely have resulted in the governor sleeping on the couch for a few nights, but given Mitt’s strong respect for abstinence, I’m sure he could’ve taken it.
Gov. Romney, these are questions that demand answers. I await your reply. And I await the discovery of whether or not the same folks who were trashing Mayor Giuliani over his own donations to Planned Parenthood the other night turn out to be hypocrites of the highest order.
Previous:
Mitt Romney Watch: Romney Takes the Lead in New Hampshire
Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney
-
Michael Ramirez on Iraqi Parliament’s Summer Vacation
2 months’ vacation for Iraq’s parliament?
Lawmakers divided over whether to keep U.S. troops in Iraq are finding common ground on at least one topic: They are furious that Iraqi politicians are considering a lengthy break this summer.
“If they go off on vacation for two months while our troops fight — that would be the outrage of outrages,†said Rep. Chris Shays, R-Conn.
The Iraqi parliament’s recess, starting this July, would likely come without Baghdad politicians reaching agreements considered key to easing sectarian tensions. Examples include regulating distribution of the country’s oil wealth and reversing measures that have excluded many Sunnis from jobs and government positions because of Baath party membership.
Iraqi politicians said Thursday the break might not happen or may be less than two months, but said it should be of no concern to U.S. lawmakers.Somehow I do not think this resonants well with the Bush Administration.
Cheney in Iraq to demand greater sectarian effort
Dick Cheney, the US Vice-President, made an unannounced visit to Baghdad today to put pressure on the Iraqi political leadership to heal the country’s sectarian divide.
In meetings held this lunchtime, Mr Cheney demanded that Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister, and the Kurdish President, Jalal Talabani, increase their efforts to fight the insurgency and do more to effect a process of national reconciliation. As one of his officials told accompanying journalists: “It’s game time.”
Game time indeed……..
Previous:
Technorati Tags: Michael Ramirez Iraq War
-
Giuliani Notes: Ferretgate and Laura Ingraham
Slate has the audio with a newly created animation of Mayor Giuliani’s call in smack-down of David Guthartz, a ferret-rights activist who was upset over city regulations making it illegal to keep ferrets as pets.
Here is the You Tube Version:
Does this help or hurt the Mayor?
Obvious answer – HELPS
Now let’s turn to Laura Ingraham v. Mayor Giuliani – the throw down of the Mayor on abortion yesterday.
Laura on her show sometime last week was bagging on the Mayor that he never comes on her show and that he did when he was on MSNBC all of the time. Se said her staff had been attempting to book him since January with no success.
Apparently, the Giuliani campaign heard Laura’s whine and booked the Mayor an appearance.
So, you ask what does Laura Ingraham have to do with Ferrets or Weasels?
Exactly, you say.
Laura Ingraham has made it clear on her show that if you are not pro-life like she is that this is not the radio show for you.
Obviously
In fact her own listeners throw Laura down for her attempted smack down of Rudy. Look at her own poll (not scientific, of course, but Ingraham’s):
Flap looks forward to the same treatment of Romney and McCain when they appear on the Ingraham show.
Don’t hold your breath…….
Previous:
Technorati Tags: Rudy Giuliani
-
Day By Day by Chris Muir May 9, 2007
