Giuliani: No 'Roe' Litmus Test For Judges

(AP)  Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani reaffirmed his "passionate" support for abortion rights and argued against picking Supreme Court nominees based on their view of the ruling that legalized abortion.

"My view is that there shouldn't be a litmus test on Roe against Wade," the former New York City mayor said. "I'm going to select strict constructionist judges. They're free to take a look at Roe against Wade, take a look at the limitations, but I believe I should leave it to them to decide that."

Giuliani repeatedly has defended his positions, which have been criticized as contradictory, on late-term abortion, public funding for abortions and the Roe v. Wade decision.

"I'm very, very passionate about the issue of abortion," he said. "I oppose it. That's a principle I've held forever, and I'll hold it forever. That's not going to change. But I also believe that in a society like ours, where people have very, very consciences about this, it's best to respect each others' differences and allow for choice."

For Republican conservatives who could determine the outcome in the primaries, opposition to abortion has been a litmus test. Giuliani's support for abortion rights has drawn criticism from some in the party.

One president rival, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, has drawn complaints for his switch from supporting abortion rights to opposing the procedure. Another rival, Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, has said that an abortion-rights Republican would have trouble winning the nomination.

Giuliani's interview on "Fox New Sunday" was broadcast Sunday.

[randalds]

Why does it seem so strange to you that Giuliani personally opposes abortion but is in favor of letting others decide for themselves? Where is the double-talk in that? Finally we see somebody who can distinguish between his personal beliefs and what's best for society, and doesn't mix religion and politics. Good for him! I am sick and tired of religious fanatics thinking that the purpose of laws and politics is to force their beliefs upon as many people as possible.
Posted by sy2502 at 12:51 PM : May 14, 2007

Sure gotte agree with you there. Personally I'm against abortion, but am even more in favor of a womans right to choose and I don't see that as double talk. Just because I don't like something on my own doesn't mean I favor taking away another persons right to it and apparntely neither does Rudy. Of course I won't be voting for him becasue I still prefer a strong liberal candidate over him (Edwards or maybe Obama) and besides I don't think he'll make it through the nomination process. I doubt the church mice who have the republican party by the balls will let him be the nominee.

[pattpaulsem]

Sorry to have repeated that post 4 times.
I kept getting a message: "The Publish button will be enabled shortly. We have temporarily disabled it so everyone has an opportunity to comment"
Why the temporary disablement? Should I be taking it personally

This is a confusing protocol.

[pattpaulsem]

Let me understand this, Rudy, you want abortion kept safe & legal so individuals can make their own choices, but you won't give any consideration to preserving that right in appointing judges.

Seems like you support the status quo (Roe vs Wade) as long as it IS the status quo, but if the judges you appoint turn back the clock to criminalize abortion it's no big deal to you.

Sounds like you really stand for nothing..you would not lift a finger to preserve a woman's right to choose.

How is NOT waffling?

What the heck is a "strict constructionist" judge anyway? It's GOP-speak for pro-tax cut & big business, anti-civil liberties & human rights. Oh yeah, and they claim to be against "activist judges", except when those judges overturn precedents to push right-wing outcomes like turning tail on "states rights" to annoint Bush president in 2000.

If we're going to have Repulican New York mayor as president why not Bloomberg?

The best Republican on the Sunday shows was Chuck Hagel, the only one talking sense in the GOP.

[pattpaulsem]

Let me understand this, Rudy, you want abortion kept safe & legal so individuals can make their own choices, but you won't give any consideration to preserving that right in appointing judges.

Seems like you support the status quo (Roe vs Wade) as long as it IS the status quo, but if the judges you appoint turn back the clock to criminalize abortion it's no big deal to you.

Sounds like you really stand for nothing..you would not lift a finger to preserve a woman's right to choose.

How is NOT waffling?

What the heck is a "strict constructionist" judge anyway? It's GOP-speak for pro-tax cut & big business, anti-civil liberties & human rights. Oh yeah, and they claim to be against "activist judges", except when those judges overturn precedents to push right-wing outcomes like turning tail on "states rights" to annoint Bush president in 2000.

If we're going to have Repulican New York mayor as president why not Bloomberg?

The best Republican on the Sunday shows was Chuck Hagel, the only one talking sense in the GOP.

[pattpaulsem]

Let me understand this, Rudy, you want abortion kept safe & legal so individuals can make their own choices, but you won't give any consideration to preserving that right in appointing judges.

Seems like you support the status quo (Roe vs Wade) as long as it IS the status quo, but if the judges you appoint turn back the clock to criminalize abortion it's no big deal to you.

Sounds like you really stand for nothing..you would not lift a finger to preserve a woman's right to choose.

How is NOT waffling?

What the heck is a "strict constructionist" judge anyway? It's GOP-speak for pro-tax cut & big business, anti-civil liberties & human rights. Oh yeah, and they claim to be against "activist judges", except when those judges overturn precedents to push right-wing outcomes like turning tail on "states rights" to annoint Bush president in 2000.

If we're going to have Repulican New York mayor as president why not Bloomberg?

The best Republican on the Sunday shows was Chuck Hagel, the only one talking sense in the GOP.

[pattpaulsem]

Let me understand this, Rudy, you want abortion kept safe & legal so individuals can make their own choices, but you won't give any consideration to preserving that right in appointing judges.

Seems like you support the status quo (Roe vs Wade) as long as it IS the status quo, but if the judges you appoint turn back the clock to criminalize abortion it's no big deal to you.

Sounds like you really stand for nothing..you would not lift a finger to preserve a woman's right to choose.

How is this NOT waffling?

What the heck is a "strict constructionist" judge anyway? It's GOP-speak for pro-tax cut & big business, anti-civil liberties & human rights. Oh yeah, and they claim to be against "activist judges", except when those judges overturn precedents to push right-wing outcomes like turning tail on "states rights" to annoint Bush president in 2000.

If we're going to have Repulican New York mayor as president why not Bloomberg?

The best Republican on the Sunday shows was Chuck Hagel, the only one talking sense in the GOP.

[pattpaulsem]

Let me understand this, Rudy, you want abortion kept safe & legal so individuals can make their own choices, but you won't give any consideration to preserving that right in appointing judges.

Seems like you support the status quo (Roe vs Wade) as long as it IS the status quo, but if the judges you appoint turn back the clock to criminalize abortion it's no big deal to you.

Sounds like you really stand for nothing..you would not lift a finger to preserve a woman's right to choose.

How is this NOT waffling?

What the heck is a "strict constructionist" judge anyway? It's GOP-speak for pro-tax cut & big business, anti-civil liberties & human rights. Oh yeah, and they claim to be against "activist judges", except when those judges overturn precedents to push right-wing outcomes like turning tail on "states rights" to annoint Bush president in 2000.

If we're going to have Repulican New York mayor as president why not Bloomberg?

The best Republican on the Sunday shows was Chuck Hagel, the only one talking sense in the GOP.

[generey]

For abortion, for queer rights and against guns. No vote from me. I'll write in Fidel Castro before I vote for any of these shmucks.

[sy2502]

Why does it seem so strange to you that Giuliani personally opposes abortion but is in favor of letting others decide for themselves? Where is the double-talk in that? Finally we see somebody who can distinguish between his personal beliefs and what's best for society, and doesn't mix religion and politics. Good for him! I am sick and tired of religious fanatics thinking that the purpose of laws and politics is to force their beliefs upon as many people as possible.

[briannorwood]

By the way...

I watched the interview with Chris "the smirk" Wallace this weekend.

I don't think I've seen a bigger case of "flop sweats" since Nixon in 1960.

Rudy was clearly none too comfortable during the Roe-v-Wade discussion!