Robertson endorses Giuliani

**Ironduke** · 11-10-2007, 18:33 PM

Quote:

Pat Robertson Endorses Giuliani for President

Rudolph W. Giuliani scored a coup today by winning the support of Pat Robertson, who, as one of the nation’s best-known televangelists, could help Mr. Giuliani reassure Republicans who are wary of his support for abortion rights and gay rights.

Mr. Robertson, the founder and chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Network, said in endorsing Mr. Giuliani in Washington, that he believed “the overriding issue before the American people is the defense of our population from the blood lust of Islamic terrorists” and praised Mr. Giuliani as a “true fiscal conservative.”

While Mr. Robertson did not mention Mr. Giuliani’s support of abortion rights, he said approvingly that Mr. Giuliani “has assured the American people that his choices for judicial appointments will be men and women who share the judicial philosophy of John Roberts and Antonin Scalia,” who have argued against Roe v. Wade.

The endorsement comes just a month after a coalition of other prominent Christian conservatives threatened to back a third-party candidate if Mr. Giuliani were to become the Republican Party’s presidential nominee. The support ofMr. Robertson could not only help Mr. Giuliani present himself as a viable candidate to the Christian right, but could also help him improve his standings in Iowa: Mr. Robertson finished second in the Iowa caucuses during his own run for president in 1988.

And the announcement threatened to overshadow an important conservative endorsement being announced by Senator John McCain of Arizona — the backing of Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas, who recently ended his own bid for president. While Mr. McCain opposes abortion rights, he has sometimes been viewed with suspicion by anti-abortion groups who felt muzzled by the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law that he helped pass, so the endorsement by Mr. Brownback, a staunch social conservative, was seen as an important achievement by the McCain campaign.

Mr. Brownback, in his endorsement of Mr. McCain, said in a statement: “John McCain has spent a lifetime standing up for human rights around the world, including a consistent 24-year pro-life record of protecting the rights of the unborn.”

Mr. Robertson’s influence within the Christian conservative movement may have waned in recent years — he no longer attends the big strategy meetings of the new leaders who have sprung up. But he still has clout as the chairman of a television station and the host of a television show, “The 700 Club,” that has already helped Mr. Giuliani reach an evangelical Christian audience.

In an interview on the Christian Broadcasting Network in September, Mr. Giuliani discussed his religious views in more detail than he often does on the trail.

“I believe in God, I pray to God, pray to Jesus for guidance and for help,” Mr. Giuliani said. “I have very, very strong views on religion that come about from having wanted to be a priest when I was younger and having studied theology for four years in college, it’s an area that I know really, really well academically. I understand the history of religion. Man and women’s relationship to God is one of the strongest, if not the strongest motivating thing in human history.”

Mr. Robertson has attracted controversy in recent years.

He was criticized shortly after the Sept. 11 terror attacks for seeming to agree with remarks made by another Christian conservative, the late Rev. Jerry Falwell, who suggested on his television show that abortion, gays and lesbians had angered God. In 2005 he called for the assassination of Hugo Chavez, the president of Venezuela. “If he thinks we’re trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it,” Mr. Robertson said.

And he said that the threat to the United States from activist judges was “probably more serious than a few bearded terrorists who fly into buildings.”

But he has remained a much-coveted endorsement for some Republican candidates. Mr. Giuliani had appealed directly to Mr. Robertson for support and gave a speech at the university he founded, Regent University, over the summer. (Mitt Romney, who has also been courting religious conservatives, spoke at Regent as well.)

In his endorsement, Mr. Robertson framed the biggest issue facing the nation as the threat of Islamic terrorists. The Giuliani campaign has been hoping that Mr. Giuliani’s tough stance on terrorism would outweigh traditional social issues for conservatives in the post-Sept. 11 world.

On Wednesday, Mr. Robertson warmly praised Mr. Giuliani as “a proven leader who is not afraid of what lies ahead, and who will cast a hopeful vision for all Americans.”

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/us...3a7&ei=5087%0A

Tarek Morgen · 11-10-2007, 18:40 PM

Okay...I have to admit there was no way I saw that one coming.

But at least for an endorsment by Robertson would be rather an arguement against a canditate not for one

indjohn · 11-11-2007, 01:11 AM

I am a Christian conservative and I think that Pat Robertson has hurt Giuliani with his endorsement. As a pro lifer I will never support support a pro choice candidate no matter who endorses him. I simply lost my respect for Robertson I certainly will not follow his stupid advice. On the other hand liberals who might have considered Giuliani as a possibility, will wonder what kind of deal did Giuliani cut with the televangelist in order to get his endorsement. If anybody is helped by Robertson's endorsement it will be Hillary or any other democratic nominee.

smilingassassin · 11-11-2007, 03:05 AM

Sounds to me like you think the endorsment hurt Robertson rather than Giuliani.

indjohn · 11-11-2007, 11:04 AM

It has most definetely hurt Robertson. I tried to get on his website to send him a message about his endorsement and what I saw was a disclaimer saying "Pat Robertson is a private citizen entitled to his political opinion". Then the message I tried to send was not accepted, apparently filtered out through keywords. Robertson must be getting bombarded by irate conservatives like myself. I do not doubt that his financial support will take a hit because of this endorsement. For somebody that is supposed to be sort of a politician himself Robertson has really showed total political inaptness and inability to anticipate what endorsing Giuliani publicly would do to both Robertson and to Giuliani.

Frank_K · 11-11-2007, 11:55 AM

Pat Robertson has stated that the attacks of 911 were God's judgement on America for support of abortion and gay rights. The endorsement of Guliani, who supports both a woman's right to choose and civil unions for gays, exposes Robertson as an opportunist and a hypocrite. You would think that Guliani's multiple marriages alone would disqualify him in the eyes of Christian conservatives given Jesus' stand on the issue.

Ryan Bailey · 11-11-2007, 13:26 PM

Friends, when we choose the lesser of two evils we are choosing evil.

**Ironduke** · 11-13-2007, 07:41 AM

Pat Robertson was quoted as saying that his endorsement was due to him considering national security being a more important than moral issues in the 2008 elections. Surprising, a popular, fundamentalist Christian leader endorsing a non-observant, pro-life, pro-gay rights candidate. On the flip side, not surprising, as Giuliani has consistently been leading the polls, and the next two leading candidates are an equally non-observant Fred Thompson and Mormon Mitt Romney.

I too wonder what this entails for the future of the Republican party... perhaps the party will move closer to the center with the Christian right becoming more of a fringe instead of the mainstream?

glyn · 11-13-2007, 07:56 AM

[quote=Ironduke;426198]

I too wonder what this entails for the future of the Republican party... perhaps the party will move closer to the center with the Christian right becoming more of a fringe instead of the mainstream?

I sincerely hope so. A lot of the anti-American feeling in Europe is because of the intemperate religious zealots they see so often on TV.

indjohn · 11-15-2007, 03:05 AM

It is true that the republican party is moving to the left continuously. Today's republican policies are more liberal than JFK's half a century ago. The general trend of the entire American political spectrum is towards more liberalism. However, if you think that this is a good thing, consider some simple facts. 50 years ago the American educational system was the envy of the world. Today the educational system is on par with third world countries. 50 years ago a high school graduate could get a job and support a family. Today two income families cannot keep up with living expenses. 50 years ago there were sayings like "sound as a dollar", "I will bet dimes to donuts" and so on. Today such phrases are sad anachronisms. Need I go on? Can you really believe that moving towards the left is a good thing?

**astralis** · 11-15-2007, 11:43 AM

indjohn,

Quote:

Today's republican policies are more liberal than JFK's half a century ago.

you need to prove that statement.

Quote:

The general trend of the entire American political spectrum is towards more liberalism.

not since the reagan revolution.

Quote:

50 years ago the American educational system was the envy of the world. Today the educational system is on par with third world countries.

mostly because the world has caught up, partly because of public school administrative incompetence and plain bad parenting.

Quote:

50 years ago a high school graduate could get a job and support a family. Today two income families cannot keep up with living expenses. 50 years ago there were sayings like "sound as a dollar", "I will bet dimes to donuts" and so on. Today such phrases are sad anachronisms. Need I go on?

higher living expenses comes with higher standard of living. the fact is that our economy and society is now technologically-driven- and that requires an education more than a GED/high school degree.

Kassad · 11-16-2007, 17:26 PM

This endorsement took me completely off guard. I cannot begin to fathom the consequences. Endorsing Huckabee would have been wiser, although futile. Ron Paul is a pro-lifer and would have been a good second to Huckabee.

11-10-2007, 18:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tarek Morgen *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 02-08-07 Location: Kassel Posts: 932 Country:	Okay...I have to admit there was no way I saw that one coming. But at least for an endorsment by Robertson would be rather an arguement against a canditate not for one __________________ uh I might be wrong

11-11-2007, 01:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
indjohn New Member Join Date: 11-11-07 Posts: 3	Pat Robertson stuck his foot in his mouth I am a Christian conservative and I think that Pat Robertson has hurt Giuliani with his endorsement. As a pro lifer I will never support support a pro choice candidate no matter who endorses him. I simply lost my respect for Robertson I certainly will not follow his stupid advice. On the other hand liberals who might have considered Giuliani as a possibility, will wonder what kind of deal did Giuliani cut with the televangelist in order to get his endorsement. If anybody is helped by Robertson's endorsement it will be Hillary or any other democratic nominee.

11-11-2007, 03:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
smilingassassin *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 12-12-03 Location: Vancouver Canada Posts: 2,751 Country:	Sounds to me like you think the endorsment hurt Robertson rather than Giuliani. __________________ Facts to a liberal is like Kryptonite to Superman. -- Larry Elder

11-11-2007, 11:04 AM	#5 (permalink)
indjohn New Member Join Date: 11-11-07 Posts: 3	You are right It has most definetely hurt Robertson. I tried to get on his website to send him a message about his endorsement and what I saw was a disclaimer saying "Pat Robertson is a private citizen entitled to his political opinion". Then the message I tried to send was not accepted, apparently filtered out through keywords. Robertson must be getting bombarded by irate conservatives like myself. I do not doubt that his financial support will take a hit because of this endorsement. For somebody that is supposed to be sort of a politician himself Robertson has really showed total political inaptness and inability to anticipate what endorsing Giuliani publicly would do to both Robertson and to Giuliani.

11-11-2007, 11:55 AM	#6 (permalink)
Frank_K New Member Join Date: 10-24-07 Location: Rhode Island (not an island, the roads are bad) Posts: 18 Country:	Pat Robertson has stated that the attacks of 911 were God's judgement on America for support of abortion and gay rights. The endorsement of Guliani, who supports both a woman's right to choose and civil unions for gays, exposes Robertson as an opportunist and a hypocrite. You would think that Guliani's multiple marriages alone would disqualify him in the eyes of Christian conservatives given Jesus' stand on the issue. __________________ Kill them all, I absolve you. Last edited by Frank_K : 11-11-2007 at 11:57 AM. Reason: spilling

11-11-2007, 13:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ryan Bailey *Military Professional* Join Date: 09-25-07 Location: Megalopolis, US Posts: 143 Country:	Friends, when we choose the lesser of two evils we are choosing evil. __________________ "If we will not be governed by God then we will be ruled by tyrants" -William Penn

11-13-2007, 07:41 AM	#8 (permalink)
Ironduke Burgomaster Join Date: 08-02-03 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 6,991 Country:	Pat Robertson was quoted as saying that his endorsement was due to him considering national security being a more important than moral issues in the 2008 elections. Surprising, a popular, fundamentalist Christian leader endorsing a non-observant, pro-life, pro-gay rights candidate. On the flip side, not surprising, as Giuliani has consistently been leading the polls, and the next two leading candidates are an equally non-observant Fred Thompson and Mormon Mitt Romney. I too wonder what this entails for the future of the Republican party... perhaps the party will move closer to the center with the Christian right becoming more of a fringe instead of the mainstream?

11-13-2007, 07:56 AM	#9 (permalink)
glyn *Military Professional* Join Date: 09-15-06 Location: Penzance, Cornwall UK Posts: 6,886	[quote=Ironduke;426198] I too wonder what this entails for the future of the Republican party... perhaps the party will move closer to the center with the Christian right becoming more of a fringe instead of the mainstream? I sincerely hope so. A lot of the anti-American feeling in Europe is because of the intemperate religious zealots they see so often on TV. __________________ Semper in excretum. Solum profunda variat.

11-15-2007, 03:05 AM	#10 (permalink)
indjohn New Member Join Date: 11-11-07 Posts: 3	It is true that the republican party is moving to the left continuously. Today's republican policies are more liberal than JFK's half a century ago. The general trend of the entire American political spectrum is towards more liberalism. However, if you think that this is a good thing, consider some simple facts. 50 years ago the American educational system was the envy of the world. Today the educational system is on par with third world countries. 50 years ago a high school graduate could get a job and support a family. Today two income families cannot keep up with living expenses. 50 years ago there were sayings like "sound as a dollar", "I will bet dimes to donuts" and so on. Today such phrases are sad anachronisms. Need I go on? Can you really believe that moving towards the left is a good thing?

11-16-2007, 17:26 PM	#12 (permalink)
Kassad *Military Professional* Join Date: 12-11-06 Location: (Rural) Central Florida Posts: 69 Country:	This endorsement took me completely off guard. I cannot begin to fathom the consequences. Endorsing Huckabee would have been wiser, although futile. Ron Paul is a pro-lifer and would have been a good second to Huckabee.

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