Quieting the Storm
Here’s an unexpected presidential endorsement.
Pat Robertson, one of the most influential figures in the social conservative movement, announced his support for Rudy Giuliani’s presidential bid this morning at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
Pat RobertsonRobertson’s support was coveted by several of the leading Republican candidates and provides Giuliani with a major boost as the former New York City mayor seeks to convince social conservatives that, despite his positions on abortion and gay rights, he is an acceptable choice as the GOP nominee.
This endorsement serves a few purposes. First, it shows (yet again, for those who weren’t paying attention) that The Religious Right(tm) isn’t as monolithic as the media makes it out to be. There were those who said they’d stay home if Guliani was nominated, but this move by Robertson shows that it’s not quite the herd it’s been made out to be. Although, if you read the comments attached to the article, you’ll find a boatload of those for whom this realization has flown over their heads.
Secondly, as Chris Cillizza notes in the article, this will have a calming effect in the SoCon arena and among the buzz brokers who were predicting turmoil in the Republican ranks. It shows that, even if Guiliani is the nominee, his chances in the general election will not be hampered by political purists.
Robertson has indeed done his cause a favor by breaking yet another stereotype of the Christian Right. Whether or not everyone agrees with his choice for endorsement is beside the point. And then, when you think about it, it is the point.
[tags]Pat Robertson,Rudy Guliani,Republican,Religious Right,Christian Right[/tags]
Filed under: Christianity • Conservative • Doug • Government • Politics • Religion • Republicans
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Is it really breaking yet another stereotype of the Christian Right, or is it compromise? Hmm.
That is indeed a good question. I alluded to it when I said, “whether or not everyone agrees with his choice”, but didn’t deal with that directly, as the main point of the post was the breaking of the stereotype.
Indeed, it could be both, depending on how you look at the choice. Are any of these choices ideal? The answer is No, so therefore it comes down to what other criteria should be used. I’ve heard folks say (and you’ll see this in the articles comments) that the only real choice for the Christian Right is Huckabee, but I’ve also heard Ed Morrissey (Captain Ed) call Huckabee a Big Government Conservative, much like Bush has been.
And then the question is, do you believe Guliani when he says he’ll nominate Scalia-like Supreme Court Justices? This is really where the abortion issue is of importance. If you do believe him, then other issues like fiscal conservatism move toward the fore and Huckabee looks less appealing. If you don’t believe him, then that may be your overriding concern.
So is it compromise? Hmmm.