It’s the War, Stupid
Rudy Giuliani with his social libertarian streak is garnering significant support from social conservatives. Many not only see him as electable, but actually support him for the Republican nomination:
Forty-four percent of social conservatives in the Pew analysis believe that the former New York mayor has the “best chance” of becoming president in 2008. Less than half that figure, 19 percent, regard Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) as the most viable, despite twice as many social conservatives stating that McCain “comes closest” to their view on abortion. All other Republican candidates lagged far behind.
These calculations about electability are helping propel Giuliani over McCain among social conservatives, even though the Arizonan shares the opposition of most of these voters to abortion rights.
Giuliani is winning 30 percent of the social conservative bloc, compared to 22 percent for McCain. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney captured just 8 percent — a figure that puts Romney in fourth place, behind former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is currently not a declared candidate.
McCain’s love affair with campaign finance reform first amendment restriction plays a role in social conservatives’ dislike of the man. Right to life groups have done the most legal work fighting McCain-Feingold’s measures to restrict their political advocacy.
When it comes to social conservatives and Rudy Giuliani let me steal from President Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign: “It’s the war, stupid!” Protecting the unborn or worrying about gay marriage becomes pointless if the nation is enduring Islamist terrorist attacks.
Ed Morrissey puts it well:
The social cons, the libertarians, the free-marketeers, and the moderates of the GOP do agree on one thing: the war trumps all. The need to ensure an aggressive and articulate foreign policy and war effort rises above the domestic policy differences in the party. If Rudy has the most credibility on that issue, then he will clearly capture the various constituencies at odds with him now.
In addition to Giuliani’s aura of being the toughest on the war is his talk of appointing strict constructionists to federal courts. If he didn’t utter plenty of praise for Justices Roberts and Alito there would be more opposition among social conservatives.
Surprisingly not more has been made of Giuliani donating to Planned Parenthood. For a man who says he hates abortion funding an abortion mill runs counter to that belief.
Social conservatives have politically matured. They know their issues would have a better chance of being address with a Republican in the White House. As much as they disagree with Giuliani on abortion and homosexual rights they know a President Clinton, Edwards, or Obama wouldn’t do anything for their agenda.
“Social Conservatives Bite Bullet, Back Rudy”
For a man who says he hates abortion funding an abortion mill runs counter to that belief.
Yes, because
1) Planned Parenthood does tons more than just perform abortions, but who cares OMGZTHEYKILLBABIESWTF
2) The idea that someone can be personally opposed to something, yet understand that a belief that is driven by religious conviction should never be enforced on people who don’t share that belief…that sort of nuance just makes a religious conservative’s brain go all “TILT,” apparently.