Liberals for Giuliani

In the spirit of the minute-long You Tube video, "Gays for Giuliani," which is aimed at highlighting the former mayor's backpedaling from his once strong support for gay rights, I have another suggestion:

How about "Liberals for Giuliani"?

I'm talking about not just another You Tube video, which would be great, but an assembly of dedicated Giuliani critics dressed up as supporters, who could wave "Liberals for Giuliani" banners at his campaign appearances in early primary states where he is courting social conservatives.

Giuliani's liberal credentials include, of course, his embrace of much of the gay community agenda as New York's mayor, as well as his support of illegal immigrants, gun control and, of course, the legal right to an abortion.

The ironic tag also fits because he wooed city labor unions with pension sweeteners during his reelection campaign, put nearly every city agency to work signing up uninsured families for Medicaid mid-term, and burned through a three- billion-dollar surplus (while touting fiscal prudence, of course) before leaving office at the end of 2001. The state Liberal Party twice lifted the Republican to election success; the party chairman, Raymond B. Harding, held influence over the Giuliani regime's hiring and personnel decisions, and saw his law and lobbying firm boom with clients seeking favorable treatment and contracts from city hall.

When it comes to permissiveness, who can forget Giuliani's own shining example from his personal playbook: the extramarital affair he had while running against the former first lady of the United States. "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" was the Daily News front page the morning after Giuliani took his memorable stroll with his mistress in front of the news media. It came just in time for Mother's Day weekend, which his two children, who are disaffected from him, must surely have appreciated at the time.

True, it's incorrect to label Giuliani a liberal. His positions change to suit both the times and his immediate ambitions. As he joins other GOP presidential candidates in embracing the Reagan legacy -- the better to downplay associations with Bush II -- it's amusing to recall Giuliani backpedaled from Reaganism when he first ran for mayor of New York in 1989.

During the primary phase, Giuliani noted often that he was backed by the liberal wing of the Republican Party, and he asserted he never supported Reagan's broad conservative agenda, which his opponent, future mayor David Dinkins, a Democrat, argued had been harmful to New York.

At one point back then, Giuliani's mayoral-campaign staff released a copy of a letter he wrote in June 1984, as U.S. Attorney in Manhattan, in which he resisted attempts by the Reagan administration to cut off Social Security disability benefits to some recipients. Giuliani also underscored that he prosecuted two men who were close to Reagan's former Attorney General Edwin Meese III in the bribery case involving Wedtech, the Bronx defense contractor treated favorably by the Reagan administration.

So, it's best to set aside liberals' complaints about Giuliani now, and play up the liberal positions and actions that constitute a glaring and important aspect of his record of politically expedient conduct. "Liberal for Giuliani" T-shirts, pins and bumber stickers are bound to roll down some socks in places like Iowa.

Comments

[Kundera]

Further proof that Liberals hate Republicans more than they care about their causes.

Here's a Republican who agrees with liberals on almost all social issues and they bash him FOR having those views. Classic.

When lefties are for something and not hating, they may one day win.

[drblack]

If a person considers themselves Liberal there are better candidates to support.

[radiojunkie]

rudy won't espouse the liberal tendencies he used to. he'd never get past Republican voters for the nomination.

[JCP]

Bad, bad idea! I sense that Guiliani is the inevitable GOP nominee, and by far the most formidable opponent. He wins the nomination and then he'll tout his "liberal" support in the general election, as evidenced by the rabid sign-wavers. Throw in a Hillary nomination to motivate the otherwise unmotivated conservative base, and VOILA - prescription for FOUR MORE YEARS OF GOP RULE of THE UNLIMITED POWER EXECUTIVE BRANCH. Do you think a democratic congress matters one whit if there's another GOP prez? Do you think Ruth Bader Ginsburg can hold on that long?

Perish the thought of even SARCASTIC support for Rudy!

[TrishR]

I'm sorry, but a true social liberal would not have instituted a policy of harshing on people for minor offenses like jaywalking & potsmoking, claiming that this prevents major crimes like murder - major crimes that were already dropping in numbers because of larger social forces. A true social liberal understands & supports the idea that citizens have the right to choose their own private behavior, and doesn't want government to micromanage the personal lives of citizens.

On Guilani's 2nd claim to fame - his behavior after 9/11 - all he did was to follow what Miss Manners says you say when speaking to someone who has suffered a tragedy. Minimal good manners - yes. Heroic? I don't think so.

[Aunt Shecky]

Mr Polner, your posting was great, but I"m sorry about the fact that "Liberals for Giuliani" is no longer a "Googlenope."

[magen]

Bro, you don't get elected in NYC without being a social liberal.

Just like you don't get elected in Massachusetts without being a social liberal. (Romney)

These spineless jellyfish will say anything they think will get them elected during campaigns.

[SouthpawSass]

Giuliani is unknown really outside of New York. He's like a mirage. From a distance he gives the impression of being a tempting, lush oasis, but upon closer inspection he's scorching sand, riddled with sidewinders and dung beetles.

[OpusIsUnderTheBed]

I have no interest in this man's positions or stated positions. I would not let him hold my wallet.

[Aunt Shecky]

No, but he did let the then-Governor George Pataki hold his jacket on that fateful September day.

[ruthinking]

It's Guiliani for this Democrat if H Clinton gets the nomination, so whatever.

[nutty4tahoe]

Oh my. Now I've seen it all. I heard there were a few democrat Bush-Lovers out there but didn't believe it. Now I do. How could ANYONE in their right mind support someone thanking God that Bush was president? Someone estranged from BOTH of his children? And a lying sack of sh** to boot? His ship is going down, so whatever.

[buddycor]

I don't think he said anything about Bush. Guiliani is not Bush. He is far to the left of Bush on numerous issues. Like him or dislike him but judge him on the merits and facts.

[Qbear]

"It would be really nice if some Republican somewhere would just say anti-gay bigotry is wrong and unAmerican."

It'd be nicer if the CLOSETED Republican queers were the FIRST to say it...don't hold your breath for Karl Rove, Ken Mehlman, Scott McClellan, David Dreier, Larry Craig, or Charlie Christ to run to a microphone.

[Aunt Shecky]

Sorry, but your point would have been much more effective had you chosen another epithet
other than the "Q-word."

[buddycor]

Is Rove gay? What is the proof of that?

[ManhattanMC]

Do you know who Jeff Gannon loose cannon is ?

[Dantheman99]

I was hoping that a strong Giuliani presence in the race would mean that moderates had begin rescuing their party from zealots and bigots.

The fact that Giuliani has gone from supporting Civil Unions to weak Domestic Partnerships is really pathetic for a man who was such a strong presence after the 9-11 attacks.

Romney is another opportunist.

I shouldn't be surprised when gays and lesbians are the first ones thrown over the ship, but I am.

Giuliani KNOWS better. He even lived with a gay couple. He could have been a force arguing FOR Civil Unions within the Republican Party and argue how they promote stability and are a necessary part of equal protection under the law.

But, in his ambition, he panders to anti-gay bigots. Granted, the Democrats are far from perfect and Bill Clinton's support for DOMA and Don't Ask, Don't Tell is the reason I left the Dems for the Greens, and I wouldn't have voted for the GOP under any circumstances, but I thought that Giuliani would at least have been a different kind of Republican.

If he had gone to the HRC Logo's debate, it would have been a milestone.

Romney I don't have any respect for, but what respect I had for Giuliani is fading.

It would be really nice if some Republican somewhere would just say anti-gay bigotry is wrong and unAmerican.

[buddycor]

Being opposed to gay marriage is being an anti gay "bigot". I know many gays and think the gay people I know are wonderful human beings with a very few exceptions. I am no bigot. Being a member of a religious group that believes that gay sexual activity is a sin as is adultry does not make me a bigot. I try to concentrate on my sins and not judge others. Not everyone who has views different than yours are "bigots".

[ManhattanMC]

You're condemning 10% of the human race because of something you heard from a preacher who learned it from his daddy who learned it from a repressed latent homosexual trying to purge himself by destroying gayness in the world outside his own tortured psyche.

And you're "not a bigot" " ?

[Dantheman99]

If you believe that gays are less deserving of equality than straights, then yes you are a bigot, however you rationalize it to yourself.

[alkamm]

What a wonderful ploy! As Bob Dylan sang, "I'm liberal but to a degree. I want everybody to be free. But if you think I'm going to let Barry Goldwater move in next door to me and marry my daughter. . ."
The use of humor to sabotage the humorless automatons we elect is sadly underused.
I haven't laughed so bitterly since I heard Giuliani address the Republican Convention and tell the herd that when he saw those twin towers fall, he said to himself, "Thank God George Bush is president." He didn't say it out loud, but we have his claim. In his heart, he knows he is right.
Great idea for a dirty trick, to link Giuliani with the liberalism he practiced in his arts of deception! Pin the donkey on the tail.