Pat Robertson backs RUDY!

[RMNIXON]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Televangelist Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition, endorsed Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani on Wednesday.


"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 conservative GOP orthodoxy, and has been trying to persuade evangelical conservatives like Robertson to overlook their differences on those issues.

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."

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."

Robertson made no mention of his differences with Giuliani on social issues in Wednesday's statement.

"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.

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

Also Wednesday, Giuliani said he asked two GOP friends in Congress, Rep. Peter King of New York and Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, 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.


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Well, this puts a slight dent in the talking points of many on the left who think the Christian Right are dead set against Rudy. Or that they will blindly follow the lead of Dobson and fight his campaign. It is still very much an open playing field, and Rudy does not need to go far to be on the right side of Clinton on Social issues.

[lew]

Yes, it's pretty pathetic.


I wonder who this hurts more? Rudy or Robertson?

[Publius]

Talk about selling out on your beliefs for political expediency!

[Scrum]

Waiting for the news of their gay affair to break any day now.

[garbagemanlb]

This just shows out Robertson, who claimed the abortionists were the cause of 9/11, is a sell-out by now backing someone who supports abortion rights.



I can at least respect Dobson for HAVING some principles, whereas this douche appears to be jumping with Rudy because it appears he is the favorite to win the nomination.

And no, this will definately not change the fact that a large percentage of christian conservatives will have an issue with a pro-choice and pro-gay rights candidate. You can use the 'but he'll appoint constructionist judges!' excuse all you want, but the judicial appointments in NYC were mostly Democrats.

[JaJae]

Lame. I wonder how many Hail Mary's he'll have to recite for putting political aspirations before religious ones.

[motivez]

The evangelical movement has really splintered over the last 7 years, much moreso in the past few.. there's starting to become an evangelical left that cares about the environment, no war, etc.. as well..

It's not a sure thing that these people will continue being a solid GOP voting block anymore. They're coming to the realization that they never get anything for their votes except for lip service, and they're sick of it..

I think it's a great thing, I don't like the idea of religion and politics so intertwined to begin with.

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by motivez

I think it's a great thing, I don't like the idea of religion and politics so intertwined to begin with.

I don't see the problem with it personally. There's no difference to me if someone gets their political/ethical views from God/religious figures or pundits like Michael Moore/Al Gore. It's all the same to me. But if you're a religious icon and you make a "career" on principles you shouldn't go against them for political reasons. That's a shame.

[RMNIXON]

Originally Posted by motivez

It's not a sure thing that these people will continue being a solid GOP voting block anymore. They're coming to the realization that they never get anything for their votes except for lip service, and they're sick of it..

I think it's a great thing, I don't like the idea of religion and politics so intertwined to begin with.

There is plenty of pandering by Democrats to the far left with no result.

But you are right.

Part of the reason here is that they just don't have the influence they once had. I don't think the social policy issues are as important to voters these days with the possible exception of the whole illegal alien business. And both sides live in glass houses on that issue. I would say this will come down to National Security, the Economy, and the Border issue.

The so-called religious right cannot win elections with a firebrand Bible Thumper anymore than the far left can win with Kucinich types.

[Fed Up]

Jumping a little further ahead...I believe the Republican Right thinks that Giuiliani is the only one who can beat Hillary. So the Robertson types would rather have a Republican guy who's not 100% with them on the issues as I'm sure they've conducted a backroom deal, rather than Hillary and all of her social issues that include being pro abortion. Giuliani is closer to a liberal than all of the other candidates, so they are tying to get someone that appeals to some democrats as well. Robertson also says that Giuiliani would be tough on terrorism and that supercedes the abortion issue (something that I don't personally agree with).

Romney doesn't fit their bill as yes, he is a Christian, but he also has this cult that he's a part of and the Robertson types won't go for that.

Thompson, no chance. He's a little late to the party and doesn't carry himself too well. He's good with a joke now and then but his financial support is mediocre at best.

Huckabee, sure, but no financial support to make a difference right now. He is gaining steam.

Ron Paul, they don't even know about him and he is gaining steam. I'm supporting him and voting for him and trying to wake people up to how he trancends political bickering about issues and follows the Constitution while believing in states rights and the rights of individuals (but not the right to kill unborns).

Fed Up

[Galactic Gigolo]

Rudy wants to kill more Muslims.

[AVengeance]

Originally Posted by Galactic Gigolo

Rudy wants to kill more Muslims.

That's the only reason I can see why any Republican would vote for him at all. To kill more Muslims. I wonder how strong the racist hate is in this country today? Did the Elite do a good enough job on 9/11, or are they going to have "another Pearl Harbor" yet again before the elections?

[Observer]

Originally Posted by AVengeance

That's the only reason I can see why any Republican would vote for him at all. To kill more Muslims. I wonder how strong the racist hate is in this country today? Did the Elite do a good enough job on 9/11, or are they going to have "another Pearl Harbor" yet again before the elections?

While I'm not a great sympathizer of extreme Islam, I'm still trying to figure out how far the neocons will take this vengeance for killing 4000 people (not to minimize the deaths), but so far according to some sources, we've killed over one million in retaliation (whether that's true or not, I don't know. I'm sure the number could be refuted).

Another thing that always takes me back to the drawing board: If most of the terrorists on Sept 11th, '01 came from Saudi Arabia, and Osama bin Laden is in Afghanistan, for what reason (other than possible WMDs) did we go after Saddam Hussein in Iraq? And why are we still there now that he's gone? OH! that's right! we're there to set up a democracy! Hell, we can't even straighten out our own problems and we're telling other countries how to run theirs?

"If tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise
of fighting a foreign enemy. Of all the enemies to public liberty,
war is perhaps the most to be dreaded because it comprises and
develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from
these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, and debts, and taxes are
the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of
the few. The loss of liberty at home is to be charged to the
provisions against danger, real or imagined, from abroad." ~ James Madison

Ron Paul wants to and will put America back on track. America was never intended to be a "democracy". It was intended that we had a "republic" and we will be again if Ron Paul is elected!!

If you want more wars, out of sight debt, more killings, higher taxes, less freedoms, out of control inflation, vote for Guiliani, Romney, Thompson, McCain or Huckabee. It's certain they will give you a continuation of "business as usual".

Please read these comments by Ron Paul fans. It about says it all!