Rudy is running hard to the right.
Giuliani: Both for and against abortionThe contortions presidential candidates must twist themselves into are impressive to behold.
Remember when John Kerry basically said in 2004 that he was for and against the Iraq war? When speaking of his votes on Iraq war funding Kerry said: "I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it."
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, hoping to woo social conservatives as he seeks the GOP nomination, is having his own John Kerry moment. Giuliani is famous for his tough-on-crime policies and his leadership after 9/11. What's less well known is the fact that he's liberal on issues like gun control, gay rights and abortion.
Giuliani was asked by Fox's Sean Hannity recently about his views on abortion.
HANNITY: Where does Rudy Giuliani stand on abortion? And do you think Roe v. Wade is a good law, a bad law?
GIULIANI: 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.
However, I believe in a woman's right to choose. I think you have to ultimately not put a woman in jail for that, and I think ultimately you have to leave that to a disagreement of conscience and you have to respect the choice that somebody makes.
So what I do say to conservatives, because then, you know, you want to look at, well, OK, what can we look to that is similar to the way we think? I think the appointment of judges that I would make would be very similar to, if not exactly the same as, the last two judges that were appointed.
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What Giuliani is saying is that he's pro-choice but that he'd nominate judges who would most likely oppose abortion. By trying to have it both ways he risks alienating both pro-choice and pro-life voters.
To read the full transcript, click here.
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/seattlepolitics/archives/111687.asp