Giuliani To Values Voters: Do Not Fear Me

Speaks To Religious Conservatives Wary Of GOP Candidate's Stands On Abortion, Gay Rights

(AP)  Rudy Giuliani tried to find peace with a restless bloc of the Republican Party Saturday, telling religious conservatives not to fear him for his stand on issues such as abortion or expect he would change purely for political advantage.

The GOP presidential candidate sought common ground with his audience by casting himself as an imperfect man who has asked for guidance through prayer.

He offered assurances that despite his support for abortion rights, he would seek to lower the number of abortions. He pledged that if elected, he would appoint conservative judges, support school choice and insist on victory in Iraq - all issues important to the audience at the Values Voter Summit.

A straw poll released at the event Saturday placed Giuliani in eighth place, second to last. The top vote-getter was former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

In a 40-minute speech received with polite applause, the former New York mayor invoked, as he often does, Ronald Reagan's admonition that "my 80 percent friend is not my 20 percent enemy."

"My belief in God and reliance on his guidance is at the core of who I am, I can assure you of that," Giuliani said. "But isn't it better for me to tell you what I believe rather than change my positions to fit the prevailing wind?"

It was among his better received lines.

But his reception was in stark contrast to the ovations for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a one-time Baptist preacher who is a sentimental favorite of many religious conservatives.

Huckabee mixed humor, biblical references and the rhythms of a man used to the pulpit as he implored the crowd to put values above politics and not make expedient decisions.

He called for a constitutional amendment declaring marriage to be between a man and a woman and decried the "holocaust of liberalized abortion."

"We do not have the right to move the standards of God to meet cultural norms. We need to move the cultural norms to meet God's standards," he said, bringing the crowd to its feet.

Their GOP rivals, in speeches Friday, courted the conservative religious voters, who have a tradition of influence in elections.

In a straw poll of "values voters" conducted online and at the conference by the sponsoring Family Research Council, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney came in first with 1,595 votes, followed closely by Huckabee with 1,565. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas was third with 865 and former Sen. Fred Thompson had 564. Giuliani was eighth, one place ahead of lowest vote-getter, Arizona Sen. John McCain.

People who paid to join the council were eligible to vote in the online poll, which began in August.

For Giuliani, his speech was an important milestone in his search for the Republican presidential nomination. Giuliani supports abortion rights and has moderate views on immigration and gay rights. Married three times and distanced from his son and daughter, Giuliani made a rare reference to his personal troubles.

"You and I know that I'm not a perfect person," he said. "I've made mistakes in my life, but I've always done the best that I could to learn form them."

His front-runner status in the crowded GOP 2008 field has dismayed some social conservative leaders. Some even have contemplated mounting a third-party candidacy if Giuliani is the Republican nominee.

"People of good conscience reach different conclusions about whether abortions should be legal in certain circumstances," he said while vowing to increase adoptions.

"We may not always agree," he said. "I don't always agree with myself. But I will give you reason to trust me."

Giuliani did not mention the subject of gay marriage in his remarks. Gary Bauer, a Christian activist and former presidential candidate, said Giuliani should have addressed the issue. But, he added, Giuliani helped himself by offering assurances on other fronts.

Bauer has been among a group of religious conservative leaders who have contemplated a third-party candidacy if Giuliani emerges as the nominee. On Saturday, Bauer said such a move would be the equivalent of "political suicide."

Still, some conservatives planned to meet later Saturday to continue their discussion.

Some at the conference said Giuliani had helped himself by giving reason for social conservatives to vote for him in a general election even though they might not support him in the primaries.

"He comforted a lot of conservatives," said Bob Kilbanks, an anti-abortion Republican and former congressional candidate in Pennsylvania. "It would be against my conscience to vote for him, but I think he would get a lot of conservative votes and he would come as near to protect life without changing his views and values."

While acknowledging differences with his audience, Giuliani cited his faith, noting he attended Catholic schools and even contemplated entering the seminary. He expressed support for social conservative touchstones such as school choice and made clear his opposition to the removal of religious icons and phrases from public places or public discourse.

[gunownerdan]

"A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his side."
Aristotle - 343 B.C.

[savetheus2]

***** Stop The War & Corporate Corruption *****

Why Don''t You Know Ron Paul?

The corporate media will not give Ron Paul any Exposure. Because, NBC is owned by GE. GE is one of the world''s largest war-makers. They make things that go boom. They make $Billions on war. A Ron Paul administration would be bad for business. CNN is owned by AOL. Majority share holder is Saudi Royal Talal who is also partners with GHWBush in The Carlyle Group. Another major warmaker. And on and on. You get the picture. This is why they are doing a Media Blackout on him. Because they don''t WANT YOU TO KNOW THE TRUTH!

Who is Ron Paul?
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/about

** Ron Paul Won The GOP Debate Lastnight!

Who Owns The Media: http://www.mediaowners.com

RESTORE YOUR LIBERTY & FREEDOM
SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT RON PAUL 2008!

He Will:

** Stop Iraq War Immediately
** Eliminate IRS
** Eliminate Federal Reserve
** Eliminate Government Wasteful Spending
** Restore America''s Work Force & Values
** Restore America''s Freedom!

GET UP AND GET ACTIVE TODAY!!!
Paul Is America''s Last Hope!

Join The ReVoLuTiOn In Your City Stand Up America:
http://ronpaul.meetup.com/cities/

[hwy71so]

I''m hoping Hunter will turn it on though.

[hwy71so]

Well, I''ve said over and over that I wouldn''t vote for Guiliani. But, if there''s no better choices, I guess I have to opt for the better of the poor choices...

I think many of us are heartily sick of ''values voters''. These are the culprits who put George W. Busdh in office, thanks to public apathy at the vting booth and thanks to terrible polling place conditions that discouraged a lot of would-be voters.

Values voters tend to be south of the Mason-Dixon line, highly hypocritical, bigoted and short-sighted knee-jerk reactionaries that support the same politicians who give us all the economic shaft.

I think the country is sick to death of values voters.

[antoniof123]

What is a value voter again. They have some nerve my vote is a valuable as theirs in fact in this election it will be more valuable. Only sad part is we can''t get rid of any more Republicans then we all ready have where I live.

[starleo146]

Posted by ConDumism at 08:35 PM : Oct 20, 2007

I am sorry I read your post wrong you are not for Ron Paul, He does have some strong supporters and You are right he believes in cutting gov heavily I didn''t want to say all that because everyone has a right to support their candidate and I am curious where these voters would go. I can''t see them going republican can you at least I hope not.

[starleo146]

Posted by ConDumism at 08:26 PM : Oct 20, 2007


ConDumism if Ron Paul doesn''t get the nomination who do you like after him? Are you still in the republican column? The reason I ask I wonder where Ron Paul voters might go.After him I do not see any republican that knows the constitution like him or will follow it. I think he has a hard climb,but he is a good man

[likeitis5050]

But only Rudy can walk downstairs in heels...and even that isn''t enough reason to have either one on the ticket.

[hermit22]

goodby rudy, go away.

[walt1944-2009]

Rudy (9/11) Giuliani is busy trying to convince the religious right that he is their man. One would think that he would be busy trying to convince the 75% of voters in the USSA who hate the Great Emperor Bush, that he was THEIR man.

Doing that, however, would make 9/11 Rudy look like an evil Democrat, even though he says he is a true Conservative. Still, some of his thoughts on ***, abortion, and his frequent marriages are unsettling to the religious right.

Strange the religious right can''t seem to find fault with people like Oral Roberts!

[condumism]

Posted by Milton07722
This article explains why I support Ron Paul for President.

Ron Paul represents the most extreme elements of the Conservative agenda. Ron Paul wants to eliminate Social Security in its entirety. Not many people know this about Ron Paul. But if this Republicon extremist picks up steam, they will.

[milton07722]

This article explains why I am supporting Ron Paul. He is the only one with moral stamina and his economic policies are sound. All the rest of the candidates are a joke.

[milton07722]

This article explains why I support Ron Paul for President. He is the only one of them all who has any moral stamina and has economic sense too.

[condumism]

Posted by perception5
Go Mitt !!! This vote today should be the "thing" that closes the deal for the Christian Right to announce that they will be backing Mitt Romney for president.

Ever done business with a GOP Mormon or a Neocon? Both have the character of a used car salesman, tell ya anything that they think you want to hear to make the sale. My advise, never do business with a GOP Mormon or a neocon. These lying psychos have the same character as any used car salesmen

[jerr11]

"The GOP presidential candidate sought common ground with his audience by casting himself as an imperfect man who has asked for guidance through prayer."


I love this!

A genuine sleazeball appealing to a bunch of self-righteous farts!

What do you call a Republican front runner?

An adulterer who made millions from the deaths and misery of 9/11!!

[perception5]

Go Mitt !!! This vote today should be the "thing" that closes the deal for the Christian Right to announce that they will be backing Mitt Romney for president. This vote today will validate the desire of Christians to support a fellow Christian in Mitt Romney.

While this is extremely good news for Mitt Romney watch America''s corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack press down play Mitt''s win. They will probably only focus on Huckabee''s second place finish just like they did in the Ames Poll. No............... our liberal wolfpack press only gives Mitt news..............when it''s bad news. This is really sad but completely true. Mitt''s in it to win it!!!!!!!!!!!!

If Hillary Rotten Clinton runs against Mitt Romney he''ll win in 2008 in a historic landslide.

Hillary Rotten-Clinton isn''t even qualified to run.............and where''s all that dirty Chinese money coming from prestoniewis?

Really sad indeed to be a Democrat if they didn''t have their pals in our corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack press "proping" them up constantly they wouldn''t even exist.....

[j-whitman]

hypnotoad72,,,, In all the countries Bush is pushing his trade policies have you noticed the public rage against it ?? His trade policies work against thier people & ours & only benifit the top 1% & our corrupt stock market.

[j-whitman]

SharnCedar,,,, Yep, And Hillary looks a lot better in a skirt or pants than Rudy does, & she''s a hell
of a lot more of a man.

[nmsuip]

What do you call 20 Republicans in a freezer?

Frosted flakes.