Pat Robertson Endorses Giuliani

Televangelist Says Former Mayor Is A "Proven Leader" Who Will Cast A "Hopeful Vision"

(CBS/AP)  Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson, a prominent Christian leader and social conservative, endorsed former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani for the Republican nomination for president.

"It is my pleasure to announce my support for America's Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, a proven leader who is not afraid of what lies ahead and who will cast a hopeful vision for all Americans," Robertson said during a news conference with Giuliani in Washington.

The former New York mayor backs abortion rights and gay rights, positions that put him in conflict with GOP orthodoxy, and has been trying to convince cultural conservatives to overlook their differences with him on those issues. That makes the support of a high-profile religious conservative like Robertson a particular boon.

Robertson made no mention of the differences on social conservative issues in the statement.

CBS News senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield said that this move makes sense when looked in the context of how Giuliani has been actively courting conservatives over the past few years and also some of Robertson's history.

"Robertson has long been a political player at least as much as a religious leader," Greenfield said. "He's often backed more "electable" Republicans, against the more "pure" social conservatives." (Read more of Jeff Greenfield's analysis on the endorsement in Horserace, CBSNews.com's campaign blog.)

Giuliani is best known to voters for leading New York in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Shortly after 9/11, Robertson released a statement in which he said the attacks occurred because Americans had insulted God and lost the protection of heaven by allowing abortion and "rampant Internet pornography."

"Rudy Giuliani took a city that was in decline and considered ungovernable and reduced its violent crime, revitalized its core, dramatically lowered its taxes, cut through a welter of bureaucratic regulations, and did so in the spirit of bipartisanship which is so urgently needed in Washington today," Robertson said.

In an interview with CBS News after the announcement, Robertson said he expect Giuliani to win the nomination quickly.

"I hope he does well in the caucuses and the primaries. I think it will all be over by February so we've only got a couple more months," Robertson said. "I'm wishing him very well in making victory next fall as the nominee of the party." (listen to the interview here)

CBS News senior political editor Vaughn Ververs said Robertson's endorsement should provide a boost for Giuliani's campaign.

"Conservatives suspicious of Giuliani's positions on issues like abortion and gun control may give the former mayor another look as a result of Robertson's support," Ververs said. "Many other conservative leaders have endorsed other candidates and, as long as they do not coalesce among one single candidate, that's good news for Giuliani."

Evangelicals have split in their support for the leading Republican candidates. Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, a favorite of Christian conservatives who dropped out of the race last month, endorsed fellow Sen. John McCain of Arizona on Wednesday. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, recently announced that Paul Weyrich and Bob Jones III were on board with his candidacy.

Asked about the Robertson endorsement, McCain, at a news conference with Brownback in Dubuque, Iowa, said: "Every once in a while, I'm left speechless. This is one of those times."

When asked about the endorsement during a campaign stop in South Carolina, Romney emphasized the support he had gotten from Jones and Weyrich.

"Everybody has their own choice," Romney said. "I'll tell you the people who have the ultimate say are gonna be the voters. And I sure hope that I'm able to do well with them as I have in the early contacts I've had in the early states."

Robertson, who unsuccessfully ran for president in 1988, founded the Christian Broadcasting Network, the Christian Coalition and Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va.

Also Wednesday, Giuliani said he asked two GOP friends in Congress, Rep. Peter King of New York and Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas, to introduce bills to keep states from giving licenses or similar identification to illegal immigrants.

The Democratic front-runner, Hillary Clinton, was criticized after a televised debate last week when she hedged an answer on whether she supported New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer's effort to grant licenses to illegal immigrants. Her aides say she generally supports the idea in the absence of comprehensive immigration reform.

[dogsoul]

...boy THIS one''s gonna REALLY make the liberals freak out...

[ianlou]

Rudy looks like he just french kissed his grandma.

[honestabe8]

i wonder what kind of compromises rudy had to make to get god''s.....err, pat''s endorsement.

[omega39-2009]

Stick a fork in Rudy, he''s done.

[antoniof123]

One more reason not to vote for this bunch of traitors to America.

[dogsoul]

Now I''m ALL for ripping into liberals... but I simply don''t GET this? Ya see, it doesn''t matter WHAT a candidate actually stands for to liberals... they''ll scream about ANY Republican... but aside from the fact that he has not allied himself with Al Queda, Giuliani is actually a very liberal Republican - so much so in fact that he''s put off many conservatives... So HOW does Robertson rectify the fact that Giuliani supports abortion rights? On THAT issue alone, I''d think he couldn''t lend his support....

Robertson''s a freak ball anyway - but this doesn''t make sense to me...

[antoniof123]

Oh wait his 900 foot Jesus spoke to him again. He has a marker in his backyard and will only talk to a Jesus that is over 800 Feet.

Hey Pat they have medication now for that condition.

Well, maybe not because you are just a lier.

[rowdytexan2]

Now this just makes you warm and fuzzy!

The goof ball the allowed his felonous buddy to be police chief and a fanatic...

[truthspeake2]

LOL, Rudy just got the nail drilled into his pathetic coffin...RIP Guiliani.

[hungry1968]

Did you happen to notice that they''re standing in front of a "Regent University" banner?

LOL!!!

Standing in front of a banner of one of the worst law schools in the country - they were recently rated at 158 out of 170. These Christian terrorists are just too d*mn funny!!!

[antoniof123]

This is the desperation of the religous right wing now. They know they can''t get another neocon elected so they are hoping for a moderate who they can force to change.

Roberson you religous right wing fascist reactionary wing nut you are an idiot and we see you for what you are. A lier and a false Christan!

[chucktruck2]

Rudy has split the base over the abortion issue .The prolifers swung over to Carter like Tarzan after Jane .Rudy''s law suits against gun manufacturers and outher antigun issue . Rudy''s 3 failed marriages. And progay stances.Pat did you know that Mitt Romney is leading in the first five states ? I have just lost a little respect for you." Evangelicals for Mitt " VS the far leftwing loons. A vote for Rudy is a vote for Hillary. Do the math. Ann Romney will make the best first lady too.

[downtowner97]

In exchange, Rudy may now only dress as women from the bible.

[usayesterday]

...and Pat Robertson officially changes his show''s name from "The 700 Club" ...

...to "The 9/11 Club" in support of Rudy.

[fairandbal]

Pat Robertson is NOT a religious organization, he''s POLITICAL. Why does he continue to keep his tax exempt status?

[rokero69]

And This is news???
An Old Cook with Hallucinations of fire and brimstone,
and Onother old cook with Hallucinations of drag Queens....
Are the Repugs at the bottom of the barrel yet???
getting closer though.

[hungry1968]

In Robertson''s endorsement that was broadcast on tv, he listed about a dozen things that are wrong with this country.

Hmmm - let''s think about this for a minute. The candidate that he endorsed the last time, Bush, has caused these problems that we''re now facing. Now he''s endorsing another candidate - for what? To cause a dozen more new problems? And why should we listen to him, based on the failing record of his last endorsement?

[lfitts1]

Who gives a ***--the televangelists are complete thieves and people stupid enough to listen to them and give these guys money deserve what they get..as far as I am concerned they are completely irrelevant and I questions the judgment of anyone who does listen to them

[jack3213]

http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/funnyquotes/a/patrobertson.htm

[gunownerdan]

Adolf Hitler had help from the "German Christian Movement" and now Rudy Giuliani has help from the "Christian Coalition".
God help us all!
http://www.nobeliefs.com/nazis.htm

[gunownerdan]

Can anyone say "CHRISTIAN TALIBAN"?

[diehardrepub]

You listen to me you liberals: Quit being jealous of people who can keep their pants on.

[pepperp1]

LOL, the Neo Conservation sheeps clothing un masks the Neo Con Puppet Masters and the sham called the political sect called the Christian Right. Moral my patoot, amoral is more like it this guy has sold his soul to the dark side..

[hungry1968]

You listen to me you liberals: Quit being jealous of people who can keep their pants on.

Posted by diehardrepub at 09:56 AM : Nov 07, 2007



Here we go - another genius that can''t say anything logical, so it immediately jumps to the, "Clinton got a BJ" comment. Congratulations - you''re only the 10,000th neo con to do that on these boards. And it still doesn''t explain why Clinton was one of the most popular presidents of our time, and Bush is one of the worst.

By the way neo cons - Robertson DIDN''T support Clinton, but he DID support Bush, and look what it did for this country.

[gunownerdan]

I wonder if Pastor Ted Haggard is going to endorse Giuliani??????

[prinzowhales]

Here is a ''man of God'' who calls for the murder of foreign leaders endorsing a Mafiosi criminal accomplice in the murder of 3,000 Americans on 9-11 who wants to continue the Stupid Peoples'' War for Oil, Israel and Opium. It is no accident that the Israelis supports freaks like Robertson, just as they did the thieving tele-evangelical jokes Jim and Tammy Bakker.

Robertson is the son of Senator who intervened with the Marine Corps to have Pat assigned to the cushy job of making sure the O-Clubs were supplied with liquor and enjoyed the services of prostitutes before returning to the US to pursue a career in God-mongering with study at the New York Theological Seminary. A body builder accused Robertson just this year of threatening to kill him and his family for his complaint about the unauthorized use of his image on in the promotion of a health drink (''guess they couldn''t put Robertson''s mug on it and call it "Crazy Old B*stard''s Health Brew)

http://www.schlatter.org/liquor_officer.htm amd wikipeida used for info.

If you''d like to see all of the ''holy men'' and their political masters giving the old ''el diablo'' sign...

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Wolves/700_club.htm

This article informs us that all the PTL properties were owned by an Orthodox Jew in Canada...most amusing. The Wahabis aren''t the only clowns in the New World Order circus.

[nolalou]

diehardrepub said "You listen to me you liberals: Quit being jealous of people who can keep their pants on."

You mean Giuliani? The same Giuliani who was having an affair , marching arm and arm with his mistress in the St Patrick''s day parade, instead of with his wife! The Same Giuliani who married his cousin! You''re either trying to be funny, or maybe you really are that STUPID!

[marcodele]

Pat Robertson urged his followers to pray that a certain Supreme Court Justice would be striken with cancer.

It is only fitting that one hypocrite endorses another.

[diehardrepub]

I don''t owe you or anybody else any explanation as to my reasoning behind the BJ schizm. For me, its a judgement of character whether or not a man should be able to keep his pants on.

[freedom46-2009]

I find this rather amusing. Giuliani the self proclaimed hero of 9-11 and cossdresser being endorsed
by Pat Robertson....LMAO. For one Rudy is not a hero of 9-11 the FIREFIGHTERS,POLICE,AND INNOCENT PEOPLE who lost their lives are the REAL HEROS. As for the post about Mitt Romney I laughed my *** off also. Romney is the biggest filp flopper out there as a matter of fact I broke mine out when I saw him mentioned.

GO RON PAUL 2008

[diehardrepub]

"You mean Giuliani? The same Giuliani who was having an affair , marching arm and arm with his mistress in the St Patrick''''s day parade, instead of with his wife! The Same Giuliani who married his cousin! You''''re either trying to be funny, or maybe you really are that STUPID!"

To me, and adult is: x. And there''s no reason why I should have to explain myself to you.

[diehardrepub]

If a fella can''t keep his pants on? He''s not a fella. He''s a fruitloop.

[DaveGress]

So rotten Rudy has a crackpot for an endorser. Whoopie! Whose next, the wicked witch of the west?

[simonsez40]

I wonder if the Oral Robert''s family will endorse Guillani next? This is comical - religious nuts and the Republicans go hand in hand........they are all zealots that don''t need to be running a lemonade stand!

[simonsez40]

If a fella can''''t keep his pants on? He''''s not a fella. He''''s a fruitloop.

Posted by diehardrepub

Are you referring to Republican Craig and State Rep. Curtis that have both had their pants down asking for man to man intercourse? LMAO - did you forget about them diehard?

[gunownerdan]

Dr. Ron Paul is the ONLY anti-war and pro-liberty candidate running for president.
ronpaul2008.com

[diehardrepub]

Politics is a very precocious and vicarious sector of vitalities. Character calls are often the dominant ones with regards to who represents ya. And in a hen house it is a sound judgment call whether or not a feller can keep his pants on.

[hungry1968]

I don''''t owe you or anybody else any explanation as to my reasoning behind the BJ schizm. For me, its a judgement of character whether or not a man should be able to keep his pants on.

Posted by diehardrepub at 10:04 AM : Nov 07, 2007



If some 20 year old offered me a BJ, would I take it? Hell Yeah!! Why not?

As for character, how does someone that launches a "pre-emptive war" stand? Don''t forget that Hitler launched a "pre-emptive war" against Poland in September 1939, and Hirohito launched a "pre-emptive war" against America in December 1941, much in the same way that Bush launched his "pre-emptive war" against Iraq in March 2003.

[simonsez40]

And in a hen house it is a sound judgment call whether or not a feller can keep his pants on.

Posted by diehardrepub

So Craig and Curtis are using sound Republican judgement when they solicit SEXX in the bathroom or hire a male prostitute?

Are you referring to Republican Craig and State Rep. Curtis that have both had their pants down asking for man to man intercourse? LMAO - did you forget about them diehard?

[simonsez40]

..oh yeah and Curtis had on women''s clothing while he paid for male sexx........is that a Republican standard judgement call? Hmmmm

[diehardrepub]

"If some 20 year old offered me a BJ, would I take it? Hell Yeah!! Why not?"

How could you have sexxxx with someone ya never met before?

[skyk-2009]

Politics is a very precocious and vicarious sector of vitalities. Character calls are often the dominant ones with regards to who represents ya. And in a hen house it is a sound judgment call whether or not a feller can keep his pants on.

Posted by diehardrepub at 10:10 AM : Nov 07, 2007
+ report abuse

I''m more concerned about IF he will tell us the truth about issues and situations that ARE inportant to WE the People. Who YOU care to spend your time with after work is NONE OF MY BUSINESS! When we get back to that concept of American Life, we will be far ahead. When you think that it was BILL CLINTONS *** life that gave us George Bush, no one who cares any at all for our constitution should have any doubt about what that has done to this ONCE great nation. Let''s try to focus on the FACTS and UNITE our people for once. Hasn''t there been enough Personal Attacks to last us a lifetime?

[diehardrepub]

You know how raunchy that is? "Hi." "Hi." "Whats yer name?" "Ursula." "Lets have sexxx."

What kind of weirdoes do that anyway?

[skyk-2009]

Dr. Ron Paul is the ONLY anti-war and pro-liberty candidate running for president.
ronpaul2008.com


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by gunownerdan at 10:10 AM : Nov 07, 2007
+ report abuse

DR. PAUL is the ONLY Canidate running who says we should TRASH Social Security.... get real here!!

[diehardrepub]

I gotta know somebody fer 35 years, before I have sexxx with them.

[simonsez40]

How could you have sexxxx with someone ya never met before?

Posted by diehardrepub

Again diehardrepug - how did REPUBLICAN Curtis and Craig pander for sexx when they don''t know the other males? Craig was trying to get some toe-tapping action in a bathroom and Curtis actually paid for SEXX while in women''s clothing from a male prostitute - or are you just IGNORING like REPUGS DO?

[newz4i]

Right On ! ! !

A noun, a verb and an endorsement from a fundamentalist Christian blaming the ACLU, abortionists, feminists, ***, and the People For the American Way for of all things...9/11.

[diehardrepub]

And even then its wearing a trenchcoat.

[hungry1968]

How could you have sexxxx with someone ya never met before?

Posted by diehardrepub at 10:13 AM : Nov 07, 2007



I have two possible answers for that:

"That''s even better yet!!"

-or-

"Very Easily"

[omega39-2009]

Decency and intelligence have departed Republican ranks. The party%u2019s shrunken base consists of ignorant and fearful people who believe Muslim jihadists are going to murder them in their beds, rapture evangelicals who believe that war in the Middle East is the prelude to their being wafted up to heaven, the military-security complex reveling in power and fortune, and resentful and frustrated people who can freely vent their anger and hate on %u201Cterrorists.%u201D

This collection of fear, delusion, greed, and resentment comprises the 30 percent of Americans who constitute Bush%u2019s base. The Republican Party has made itself so unattractive that Democrats believe that it is now possible for a woman or a black to win the presidency.
Paul Craig Roberts