Conservatives should abort Rudy’s bid
Call it the Rudy abortion test. Will Republicans and conservatives pass or fail?
While there obviously are pro-choice Republicans around, the GOP generally ranks as the pro-life party due to its presumed conservative roots. Conservatism sees intrinsic value in each individual - no matter the person’s stage of development - and defends his or her right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Therefore, opposition to abortion serves as a conservative policy pillar.
But what about all that conservative talk in favor of individual choice and against government interfering in people’s lives? Those conservative principles still stand tall, but abortion is no mere personal choice. The line must be drawn against snuffing out innocent human life. The first job of government is to protect such life.
Unfortunately, some New York Republicans have been anything but pro-life conservatives. That includes former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who not only seeks the Republican nod for president but has led the race in recent polls.
Based on his record running for and serving as mayor, it’s fair to say Giuliani was not just pro-choice, but pro-abortion. He supported government funding of abortion, opposed a ban on the partial-birth abortion procedure and objected to parental notification before a minor could get an abortion.
And in April 2001 Giuliani sealed his pro-abortion credentials by speaking at the radical National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League’s (NARAL) “Champions of Choice” lunch. He said it was “an honor to be here.”
Fast forward, and presidential candidate Giuliani is flip-flopping all over the place on abortion. He no longer supports partial-birth abortion, and now favors parental notification. And on Fox News in February, he said, “Where I stand on abortion is, I oppose it. I don’t like it. I hate it. I think abortion is something that, as a personal matter, I would advise somebody against.” He didn’t mention this to NARAL. For good measure, Giuliani claims to oppose judicial activism.
The Associated Press reported that Giuliani said earlier this month: “If I’m going to appoint strict constructionist judges, which I’m going to do, for the reason that they are going to strictly interpret the Constitution, then, as president, I have to be a strict constructionist.”
But he continues to favor some taxpayer-funded abortions and to call abortion a “constitutional right.” Only someone subscribing to judicial activism - certainly not a strict constructionist - could possibly refer to abortion as a constitutional right. The landmark Roe v. Wade decision on abortion was the most egregious example of judicial activism, as seven U.S. Supreme Court justices manufactured a right to abortion out of thin air.
So, given Giuliani’s pandering and muddled thinking on abortion, criticism from conservative circles should be and has been quite strong.
But a few conservatives work at making excuses for Giuliani. There have been mentions, for example, about the number of abortions in New York City declining during Giuliani’s time as mayor. But that cannot be linked to policies from the guy who gave a big smooch to NARAL.
There’s also a good deal of talk about Giuliani being a “leader.” This, of course, comes from his performance in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. But leading a city in crisis, as Giuliani certainly did, is not the same as leading a party and a nation on a host of critical issues. The direction a politician wants to lead matters as well.
On protecting innocent human life, Giuliani wants to lead in a different, more deadly, direction than conservatives would go. The Rudy abortion test is easy - no conservative in good conscience should support Giuliani’s current or past positions on abortion. Those positions and a Giuliani candidacy must be a central concern for conservatives.
by Raymond J. Keating
