Giuliani is NOT 'One of Us'

Washington, DC (TLS). Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, candidate for the Republican Presidential nomination, has been courting conservatives, attempting to portray himself as 'one of us.'

The Liberty Sphere is convinced, however, that Giuliani is clearly NOT 'one of us.'

At the outset it should be stated that there are certain important factors in Giuliani's favor. He exhibits strong leadership in the midst of a national crisis--a vital characteristic for a U.S. President in an age of terrorism. He supports American capitalism, so much, in fact, that he views Hillary Clinton and her atheist billionaire queen-maker George Soros with much suspicion. Giuliani has been much-quoted in the media as regarding Hillary's philosophy and alliances as a dangerous threat to American liberty and to U.S. capitalism.

It doesn't hurt that Giuliani is on record opposing the notion of socialism or any form of collectivism.

Thus, if it came down to a choice between Giuliani and Hillary, or Giuliani and Obama, or anyone else running on the Democrat side, Giuliani would get my support hands-down. However, this does not mean that he is 'one of us' or that conservatives should not watch him very closely if he is the nominee. Some of Giuliani's positions on the issues are cause for alarm.

One, he has consistently supported government registration of gun owners. This makes him no different than his gun-grabbing counterparts on the Democrat side. The lame excuse that New York City was so violent that guns needed to come off the streets is simply not going to wash down South or throughout the sun-belt and mountain states. You do not punish law-abiding citizens for what criminals do.

Second, Giuliani is clearly a social liberal. People who possess a deep faith that teaches homosexual behavior is sinful will have a tough time supporting Giuliani, particularly in light of some of his activities and associations during the period after his divorce. The fact that he is pro-choice on abortion does nothing but seal his fate as a non-viable candidate for religious conservatives.

My fear is that if Giuliani is the Republican nominee, a significant portion of the Party base will simply stay home on election day, which is tantamount to handing the election to Hillary or Obama or Edwards.

Giuliani's problem is one that he shares with the top three Republican nominees. McCain has all but totally botched any tentative support he may have had among conservatives with his attacks on free speech and his stance on open borders. Romney has taken so many different positions on so many different issues that my fear is that Democrats will have a field day with their attack ads if he is the nominee. Religious conservatives in particular may believe in the concept of repentance and conversion, but they are leery of so-called 'death-bed' repentance--that phenomenon that exhibits itself in a person's suddenly 'seeing the light' just before death or having a sudden 'change of heart' in order to please someone or to gain some sort of pay-off.

Romney's sudden pro-life and pro-gun stance appear much too expedient for many conservatives to feel comfortable with him.

Unless Republicans can come up with someone further down in the ranks who is trustworthy, consistent, believable, genuine, and has a solid track-record of votes that prove their conservative beliefs, then I am afraid we will lose this election to a candidate that will create the worst nightmare this nation has ever seen. Giuliani may have a shot at beating Hillary and Obama, but don't count on McCain or Romney pulling that off.

Duncan Hunter, so far, is the man to beat, in our opinion. He is by far the best candidate we have in the pack.

The only other hope is for a draft Newt Gingrich movement. Despite some of Newt's negatives, he is articulate and intelligent enough to hold his own with the likes of Hillary or Obama in a debate. In fact, they are no match for the former Georgia Congressman.