Monday, October 01, 2007

Christian Conservatives Consider Third-Party Effort (Against Giuliani)

(Hat tip: Regular Guy Paul)

From The New York Times:
Alarmed at the chance that the Republican party might pick Rudolph Giuliani as its presidential nominee despite his support for abortion rights, a coalition of influential Christian conservatives is threatening to back a third-party candidate in an attempt to stop him.

The group making the threat, which came together Saturday in Salt Lake City during a break-away gathering during a meeting of the secretive Council for National Policy, includes Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family, who is perhaps the most influential of the group, as well as Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, the direct mail pioneer Richard Viguerie and dozens of other politically-oriented conservative Christians, participants said. Almost everyone present expressed support for a written resolution that “if the Republican Party nominates a pro-abortion candidate we will consider running a third party candidate.”

The participants spoke on condition of anonymity because the both the Council for National Policy and the smaller meeting were secret, but they said members of the intend to publicize its resolution. These participants said the group chose the qualified term “consider” because they have not yet identified an alternative third party candidate, but the group was largely united in its plans to bolt the party if Mr. Giuliani became the candidate.

A revolt of Christian conservative leaders could be a significant setback to the Giuliani campaign because white evangelical Protestants make up a major portion of Republican primary voters. But the threat is risky for the credibility of the Christian conservative movement as well. Some of its usual grass-roots supporters could still choose to support even a pro-choice Republican like Mr. Giuliani, either because they dislike the Democratic nominee even more or because they are worried about war, terrorism and other issues.


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My Comments:
I think Regular Guy Paul's historical analogy is apt:
... The Republican Party was born when the Whigs failed to adequately oppose the Democrats on a variety of issues both economic and moral, notably including slavery. The Republican Party will die -- and be replaced -- when it no longer stands for the modern equivalents of those economic and moral issues, notably including abortion.

That day may be soon.

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3 Comments:

At 10/01/2007 1:59 PM, Blogger Alberto Hurtado said...

The way this is being spun is that Dobson et al are commanding the religious/social conservatives how to vote. The reality is that they're now painted into a corner because the social conservatives have decided as individuals not to support Rudy. This move is a reactionary reading of the tea-leaves. Sure, we're being mocked, especially since we are told Rudy will appoint justices like Scalia and Thomas. But for a man who doesn't beleive in the second amendment, thinks partial birth abortion is ok, and favors gay-marriage, who really needs to have faith to believe that Rudy will appoint constructionists and originalists?

 
At 10/01/2007 3:02 PM, Blogger Sir Galen of Bristol said...

Thanks for the link and the kind words!

 
At 10/01/2007 8:15 PM, Blogger Tom B. said...

"Christian leaders" aside for the moment, that question is an excellent (and in its essence, timeless) one: vote from conscience or vote for pragmatism?

I (personally) would be willing to vote pragmatically on certain issues, but on abortion I must vote with my conscience. One never knows the damage of a tepid or trepidatious faux "pro-life" President nominating his kind to the courts. Further, we mustn't underestimate God's ability to work miraculously (so it's better to keep your hands clean on such a stark moral matter).

Just my thoughts; thanks for this post.

Peace in Christ,
Thos.

 

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