Could Rudy really be president?!!

As the days get shorter and the weather colder, one’s attention turns to the upcoming Presidential Primaries, which commence in January. The decision making process begins early this election cycle, with the Iowa Caucuses taking place on January 3rd and the New Hampshire Primary occurring just five days later. After months of anticipation and seemingly meaningless debates, the time has arrived to seriously analyze the candidates for the oval office.

According to the latest primary polls, Rudy Giuliani is still the front runner for the GOP nomination, which means that many Americans have not seriously weighted the issues and analyzed the candidates. Giuliani is most remembered for his leadership during the September 11th attacks and frequently cites this in his campaign advertisements. American Republicans are willing to place a candidate in the general election as a result of one singular action. A copious evaluation of Giuliani’s record leads one to discover his socially liberal policies and decisions made as a US Attorney and eventually as mayor of New York City. Many Republicans do not realize that Giuliani originally registered as a Democrat and cast his ballot for George McGovern in 1972. He later switched to an Independent as the designation became more widely accepted in political circles. It was not until the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 that Giuliani became a registered Republican. Not surprisingly, he was named Associate Attorney General by the Reagan Administration in 1981. Giuliani almost appears to be a traitor and sell-out to the GOP.

A fiscal conservative, Giuliani has favored liberal social policies and stands by many decisions and policies made during his time in the public spotlight. Most notably, Giuliani is pro-choice and in a May debate stated that: “allowing choice keeps government out of people's lives” (May 2007). This pro-choice and slightly anarchical statement sounds more like something that would come out of Hillary Clinton’s big mouth than a registered Republican. Furthermore, Giuliani and his camp donated to Planned Parenthood, a noted pro-choice organization, while in office as mayor. Giuliani is also in favor of gay rights and opposed President George W. Bush’s proposed ban on gay marriage this January. Likewise, he believes a marriage amendment is not necessary at the present time. Giuliani’s sanctuary policies turned New York City into a haven for illegal immigrants. He is in favor of allowing children of illegal immigrants to attend public school on taxpayer money and supported the Senate bill allowing a guest worker program.

Although Giuliani has adamantly declared that hunters should not face restrictions from gun control laws, he implemented numerous gun control laws as mayor and filed a law suit against two dozen gun manufacturers. Although some laws are necessary to protect the streets of urban cities, Giuliani himself stated one should: “focus on criminals, not on guns.” Talk about contradicting oneself and flip-flopping around an issue. This reminds me of John Kerry in 2004.

The Conservative Right that dominates the Bible Belt favors conservative social policies that are rooted in the nation’s Christian values. Many of Giuliani’s policies are in direct opposition to the Conservative Right. Traditionally, the GOP nominee has to win the Bible Belt in order to win the election. This year, however, many moderate Republicans seem to view Giuliani as a compromise candidate who can defeat the Democratic nominee. Televangelist Pat Robertson, who once blamed September 11th on the decrepit social morals of New York City, publicly endorsed Giuliani last month.

Robertson, like many of the aforementioned moderates, cites Giuliani’s strong record on crime and homeland security in addition to his conservative fiscal policies. Giuliani does favor supply-side economics and is opposed to overturning the Bush tax cuts. With promises to maintain the global War on Terror and to eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat, Giuliani appears to have one of the most stringent foreign policy plans of any of the candidates. While Giuliani will not win over many true conservatives in the primaries, he should gain the votes of many moderates and independents. In the process, he should prevent many conservatives from moving to Canada or booking the next flight to another planet.