Brownback and Giuliani Discuss Abortion

(AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
From the Associated Press:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Sam Brownback pronounced himself "much more comfortable" with Rudy Giuliani's position on abortion after the one-time rivals for the Republican presidential nomination discussed the issue Thursday.

Giuliani flew to Washington for a meeting he requested with Brownback in the Kansas senator's Capitol Hill office. Brownback dropped out of the race last week, citing poor fundraising, and his former rivals have been seeking his endorsement.

The two men spoke briefly to reporters afterward.

"I'm much more comfortable," Brownback said. "Justices are key. He's stated publicly many times about his support for strict constructionists like, I believe he said Roberts. John Roberts is a personal friend."

He was referring to Chief Justice John Roberts, whom President Bush nominated to the Supreme Court in 2005. Brownback said he was reassured that Giuliani would appoint Supreme Court justices who, like Roberts, take a conservative and more limited view of abortion.

Even so, it's unlikely that an ardent abortion foe like Brownback would endorse a candidate like Giuliani [ED.: I would hope not.], a longtime supporter of abortion rights, especially considering Brownback may run for governor of conservative Kansas in 2010.

[More]

Then there's this from National Journal:

Refuting rumors that an endorsement was imminent, Sen. Sam Brownback declined to pick a horse in the GOP presidential primary this afternoon after an hour-long meeting with Rudy Giuliani in his senate offices. Just a week ago, Brownback told reporters after his speech at the Values Voters Summit that the Republican Party was a pro-life party, which would not nominate a pro-choice candidate and Giuliani was pro-choice.

Today, however, Brownback refused to call Giuliani pro-choice, instead allowing the mayor to explain his own stance on abortion.

My Comments:
I am glad to see that an endorsement of Rudy is not imminent. I hope that Sen. Brownback will decline to make such an endorsement even should Rudy get the GOP nomination.

And, gee, I hope I'm not engaging in calumny, but yeah, I find the statements highlighted above somewhat problematic from a pro-life Catholic standpoint. Not to mention from the standpoint of a Brownback supporter.


Previous Pro Ecclesia posts on this subject:
Brownback to Meet Rudy

Brownback: I Could Support Rudy