Right News and Views

This is the first in a series of posts in cooperation with fellow blogger politicalfrenzy.com that examines the candidates seeking their parties nomination for president. Rightnewsandviews.com will cover the Republicans and politicalfrenzy.com will cover the Democrats. We begin with America’s Mayor, Rudy Giuliani. And be sure to check out Chris Dodd over at politicalfrenzy.com!

Name: Rudy Giuliani

Age: 64 (born May 28, 1944)

Home Town: Brooklyn, New York

Political Positions Held: Mayor of New York City, US Attorney

Military History: According to wikipedia.org, Giuliani did not serve in the military. During the Vietnam War he received a student deferment. After graduating in 1968, he was classified as “1-A”, available for military service but applied for a deferment which was rejected. In 1969 his employer wrote a letter to Giuliani’s draft board asking that he be reclassified as 2-A (a civilian occupation deferment) because the employer considered Giuliani an essential employee. The deferment was granted. In 1970, Giuliani received a high draft lottery number; he was not called up for service although by then he had been reclassified 1-A.

Accomplishments: Prosecutor, businessman, mayor of New York City. As mayor, Giuliani improved the city’s quality of life and reduced the crime rate. He gained national attention and praise for his leadership during and after the 9/11 attacks. Because of this, Giuliani was named Time’s 2001 Person of the Year and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.

Controversies: Giuliani has been criticized as divisive and authoritarian. He also has been criticizedfor his annulment of his first marriage, his association with Bernard Kerik, some of his business deals, for receiving gifts from the New York Yankees, and a conflict of interest over the Republican debates hosted by Fox News (the parent company of Fox News, News Corporation, is a client of Giuliani. Further, and perhaps most damaging of all, is the fact conservatives are uncomfortable with his stance on abortion, especially so because he once supported public funding of abortion.

Fundamental Platform (culled from On The Issues):
On Abortion: Pro-Choice
On Stem cell research: OK if limited properly
On the economy: Economic development requires maintenance
On gay marriage: Pro gay rights and opposed Bush’s ban on gay marriage
On Affirmative Action: Supports it
On Education: Supports vouchers, opposes prayer in school
On Energy & Oil: Opposed Kyoto, seek alternative energy supplies
On Free Trade: Take advantage of globalization
On Gun Control: Believes gun owners should pass a written test.
On Health Care: Opposes socialized medicine- opts to give vouchers to the poor
On Terrorism: Terrorists can’t be accommodated, appeased, and compromised
On interrogating terrorists: Use every method you can think of
On the Patriot Act: Strongly supported reauthorization
On Osama Bin Laden: Would personally execute the terrorists
On Immigration: Supports Senate guest worker plan
On Tax Reform: Strong record of lowering taxes
On Iraq: Withdrawal from Iraq encourages future terror attacks
On a timetable for retreat: “Fundamentally irresponsible.”
On Welfare: Turn welfare offices into job centers

For more info, visit Giuliani’s website or visit On The Issues.

Nomination Pros: Giuliani is popular, likable, and projects an air of confidence and leadership; the kind of man that can and will get things done. The national fame he garnered after 9/11 is also a plus to his obtaining the Republican nomination.

Nomination Cons: As a Republican, it will be difficult for Giuliani to obtain the nomination because of his views on abortion. James Dobson perhaps echoes many conservatives – especially Christians – when he stated he would likely not vote for president at all if Giuliani is the Republican nominee.

Head to head with:
Vs. Clinton- Close call, could go either way
Vs. Edwards – defeats Edwards handily
Vs. Obama – defeats Obama, but only because of the young Senators lack of experience