Rudy Giuliani makes his best pitch to the restless, theocratic wing of the Republican Party and reportedly privately assures leading social conservatives he would support an amendment banning same-sex marriage.
Giuliani's dramatic 180 degree turn on writing discrimination into the Constitution comes from Tony Perkins, the head of the Family Research Council, which co-sponsored the "Values Voters Summit."
Perkins said Giuliani told him in a private meeting that if the Defense of Marriage Act appeared to be failing or if multiple states began to legalize same-sex marriages, then he would support the constitutional amendment.
Giuliani did not mention the amendment or the issue of gay marriage during his address to the Values Voters Summit, but that position could win him favor with some social conservatives who view the former mayor warily. [...]
Perkins said that was not enough to assuage his concerns about Giuliani, but “it was nice to hear.”
The thrice-married New Yorker with previously moderate views on gays, guns and abortion did not mention the subject of gay rights or gay marriage in his speech. "Giuliani was against bashing gays in the US Constitution before he was for it," AmericaBlog notes, because in 2004 the former mayor "made clear he disagrees with Bush's proposal to rewrite the Constitution to outlaw gays and lesbians from tying the knot."
Even if this were true—Perkins publicly says he will not support the noveaux right-wing candidate—the smoke signals from Camp Giuliani were telegraphed and ignored. Former Gov. Mike Huckabee "crushed the field" in the online straw poll at the summit with some 51 percent of the vote and proves he is becoming the "theocon's choice."
UPDATE: Jeremy at Good as You has video and semi-live streams of the "Values Voters" summit, including video of far right-wing firebrand Phyllis Schlafly—yes, she is still around—denouncing the gays. Hopefully she is not referring to her gay son.
More Rudy Giuliani HERE.
More Focus on the Family HERE.
More Republican Party HERE.
Giuliani Flip Flops to Religious Right [AmericaBlog]
Perkins: Giuliani Supports Amendment [The Hill]
Huckabee Wins Straw Poll [My DD]
Giuliani Tries to Assure Conservatives [HuffPo]
Giuliani to Right: "You Have Nothing to Fear" [RWW]
Some Background ...
Giuliani to Speak at Anti-Gay "Values Voters" Summit [R20]
Giuliani Hires Producer of Race-Baiting, "Bimbo" Ad [R20]
Giuliani Aide Arrested for Extortion [R20]
Rudy's "Testosterone Factor" [R20]
Matthews on Giuliani: The Country "Wants Fascism" [R20]
Giuliani Flip Flops on Civil Unions [R20]
News: Rudy and McCain Court Anti-Gays [R20]
Giuliani: Pro-Gay Views "Not the Issue" [R20]
News: Giuliani's Not-So-Secret Plan [R20]
Clinton Leading Giuliani on National Security [R20]
Giuliani: Sorry, Only Millionaires Host My Rallies [R20]
Clinton Leading Giuliani on National Security Issues [R20]
Republican Candidates Skip Black Voters Debate [R20]
Thompson, Leading GOP Candidates Refuse Debate [R20]
Thompson is "Right with God" But Not Churchgoer [R20]
This is the One Photo the Republican Party ... [R20]
News: UCC Slams Fundies [R20]
James Dobson: Just Say "No" to Giuliani [R20]
Focus on the Family Will Not Support Thompson [R20]
Brownback-ing Out [R20]
Ha,ha,ha, I wondered how long this two bit, two faced hypocrite would take to switch his stance. All these gay folks were just gushing over him, and, now, they see him for what I do, a bigot, his disdain for blacks, and now gays who thought he was different, shows, he's just like Bush, pander and lie to get a vote to the point of mental illness, no matter the crowd. Thank goodness the evangelical fringe voters will see right through him.
This man is the scariest of all the candidates, next to Willard, sorry, Mitt the flip flopper.
And, scarier is that if one of them gets in, and the GOP wins both houses, this amendment has a good chance to win, its not as if the Supreme Court would say its wrong and illegal with the bigots Bush has in charge there.
Posted by: Luther | 20 October 2007 at 21:30
Sigh. I guess living with a gay couple when you're in the middle of divorcing your wife just doesn't make an impression.
And speaking of cow-towing to the Religious Right, what's this report about Obama touring with an "ex-gay" singer?
http://www.americablog.com/2007/10/obama-to-do-gospel-tour-with-radical.html
Say it ain't so, Barry...
Posted by: Andy in Seattle | 20 October 2007 at 22:57