Rev. Pat Robertson endorses Rudy Giuliani, despite abortion stance

[carrie721]

sweet. cuz i needed one more reason to not vote for ****face 9/11 attention whore giuliani.

Newsday.com
Rev. Pat Robertson endorses Rudy Giuliani, despite abortion stance

BY CRAIG GORDON

[email protected]

10:34 AM EST, November 7, 2007

WASHINGTON

Rudy Giuliani Wednesday morning won the endorsement of the Rev. Pat Robertson, one of the evangelical Christian movement's most recognizable leaders, who said he put aside his differences with Giuliani over abortion because he believes the ex-mayor will appoint staunchly conservative judges.

Robertson also said he is backing Giuliani because "to me, the overriding issue before the American people is the defense of our population from the bloodlust of Islamic terrorists. . . . We need a leader with a bold vision who is not afraid to tackle the challenges ahead."

Robertson said he was willing to overlook Giulani's pro-abortion rights stance because he takes him at his word that he will appoint "strict constructionist" judges to the Supreme Court and federal bench –- a widely accepted term for judges likely to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion rights ruling.

Robertson's endorsement is a coup for Giuliani, who has struggled to convince conservative Christian leaders that he would be an acceptable Republican nominee despite his long-standing support of abortion rights and gay rights, plus his somewhat messy personal life.

"Having him aboard gives us a great deal of confidence because he has a tremendous amount of insight into what the main issues are and how they should be dealt with. His advice is invaluable and his friendship is even more invaluable," Giuliani said at a news conference here.

Robertson is a pioneering figure in the Christian conservative movement, but he has been controversial at times, particularly in the days after 9/11 when he appeared to endorse comments by the Rev. Jerry Falwell that the attacks were brought on by a decadent society.

Robertson himself ran for president in 1988. He denied that he was picking Giuliani solely because he thought he had the best chance of beating Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton, but acknowledged the importance of having a Republican who can do so -- a key Giuliani argument to sway wavering conservatives.

In effect, Robertson Wednesday is embracing an argument that some social conservative voters have used in supporting Giuliani –- that defending the nation from terrorists is as important if not more important than issue of outlawing abortion. Some conservatives also believe the main way the next president will affect abortion is not through legislation but by appointing judges who will overturn it.

Robertson said he had not specifically quizzed Giuliani on overturning Roe. v. Wade, but believes that Giuliani would follow through on his pledge to appoint justices in the model of Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia.

Robertson also cited Giuliani's fiscal conservatism, saying he considered the second priority for the next president to be to "control the massive government waste and crushing federal deficits."

It wasn't clear exactly how active Robertson will be in helping Giuliani's campaign, or how much influence he has over social conservative voters, though he still has his "700 Club" television show that could serve as a powerful platform for pro-Giuliani statements by Robertson. The endorsement is a blow to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who had courted Robertson as part of his effort to win over social conservatives and appeared at his Regent University earlier this year, as did Giuliani.

But Robertson's move also signals that evangelical Christian leaders are dividing their support this year, and therefore perhaps weakening their ability to help pick the nominee. Another prominent leader, Paul Weyrich, endorsed Romney this week.

In other news, Giuliani also said he has asked two House Republicans who are supporting him – Rep. Peter King of Long Island, and Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas -- to consider submitting legislation that would prevent states from giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, as New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer wants to do.