Rudy Makes Up His Mind on Abortion
The New York Times reports that former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani is going to clarify his position on abortion:
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 least, however, this finally shows some integrity, which was always Rudy's greatest selling point. Some will perhaps turn their support to him for this reason.
But many, many, many more will stay away permanently.
Look at it the other way: imagine that a Democratic candidate for president stated his or her steadfast opposition to legalized abortion and called for the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Such a candidate could get support but could not possibly win the nomination.
The great majority of single-issue voters regarding abortion are pro-life. That means Rudy's position is a net loser even among the general population, and definitely a big loser among Republicans.
All of this suggests that Rudy is hoping to gin up enough support among Republicans, and among Democrats crossing over to vote in Republican primaries, so as to show sufficient support so that he can run as a third-party candidate next year.
Comments
I have to believe based on this that Rudy doesn't really want the nomination. To those of us who are pro-life, "choice" isn't just another policy position, and I have to believe that a majority of Republican primary voters would agree. We want to give him the benefit of the doubt, but he isn't making it easy, and based on that he doesn't deserve our vote.
Posted by: Mike D'Virgilio | May 11, 2007 08:51 PM
If Rudy turns into the spoiler that some are suggesting, it could redound to benefit those who are pro-life, but it will take some strenuous political realignments.
I think due consideration must be given redefining Left and Right, such that Prolife is in the Right, and Pro-Death is sinisterly in the Left.
Posted by: Pascal | May 12, 2007 09:33 PM