Why Conservatives Like Giuliani
Steve Huntley remarks on the fact that Rudy Giuliani's poll numbers have held steady for some time now, surprising opinion leaders in the commentariat who expected GOP voters to reject him because of his social liberalism.
In Huntley's view, conservatives like Rudy because he's tough on terror and because they think he has the best chance of winning. These may be some of the necessary preconditions for Giuliani being a conservative's choice, but that's not all there is to it. As I noted here, there are a number of other reasons why conservatives can find a lot to like in a Giuliani candidacy.
At the heart of Rudy's appeal is the sense that he has the guts not to pander to the forces of left-wing political correctness -- and he just doesn't care if The New York Times doesn't like it. Whether it's questioning the sanity of a ferret lover, returning a Saudi prince's $10 million after he challenged American foreign policy, or ejecting Yasser Arafat from Lincoln Center, one simply can't help admiring his refusal to conform his behavior to the "sensitive," pandering model beloved by elite liberal opinion. Plus, he's funny.
HIs complete indifference to his standing among the liberal elites is rare in a politician -- whatever his party. Too often, conservative voters suspect that even those who share many of their views are secretly concerned about what The Times or The Post will say. In fact, this sense is one of the many factors in John McCain's diminished standing among the presidential aspirants.
With Mayor Giuliani, his willingness -- and ability -- to take on the press with humor and elan, even as he shrugs off the tsk tsking of elite opinion, is perhaps the most pronounced characteristic he shares in common with the one and only Ronald Reagan.
In Huntley's view, conservatives like Rudy because he's tough on terror and because they think he has the best chance of winning. These may be some of the necessary preconditions for Giuliani being a conservative's choice, but that's not all there is to it. As I noted here, there are a number of other reasons why conservatives can find a lot to like in a Giuliani candidacy.
At the heart of Rudy's appeal is the sense that he has the guts not to pander to the forces of left-wing political correctness -- and he just doesn't care if The New York Times doesn't like it. Whether it's questioning the sanity of a ferret lover, returning a Saudi prince's $10 million after he challenged American foreign policy, or ejecting Yasser Arafat from Lincoln Center, one simply can't help admiring his refusal to conform his behavior to the "sensitive," pandering model beloved by elite liberal opinion. Plus, he's funny.
HIs complete indifference to his standing among the liberal elites is rare in a politician -- whatever his party. Too often, conservative voters suspect that even those who share many of their views are secretly concerned about what The Times or The Post will say. In fact, this sense is one of the many factors in John McCain's diminished standing among the presidential aspirants.
With Mayor Giuliani, his willingness -- and ability -- to take on the press with humor and elan, even as he shrugs off the tsk tsking of elite opinion, is perhaps the most pronounced characteristic he shares in common with the one and only Ronald Reagan.
posted by LadybugUSA at 9:41 PM
2 Comments:
Rudy is funny in a goofy kind of way. He looks like Colonel Klink from the Hogan Heroes television comedy series.
Tough on terror? What did he ever do? Stand by his police men when they got caught sticking a light bulb up a black man's ass.
Yeah, he's a real funny tough guy.
Here is the BUT.
But, Rudy did endorse former New York governor Mario Cuomo in the GOP year of 1994. Yes, George Pataki turned out to be lousy governor, but when you are the REPUBLICAN mayor of New York City, it is a duty to find any way possible to build up a very outnumbered GOP. Also, his stands on illegal immigration is mind boggling. Sort of like the stand on abortion. I think that Rudy is a moderate all the way and the GOP experiance with moderates is that they do all they can to marginalize conservatives. Look at our governor, Arnold. What did he tell the California Republican convention last week? We need to "move to the middle" and, essentially co-opt the Democrat agenda on their issues. Ronald Reagan showed HOW to lead and that maybe what is lacking with the current crop of GOP presidential candidates. And yes, when all is said and done, if Rudy is the nominee, I will hold my nose and vote for him as even a moderate Republican is better than ANY of the clowns and poltroons running in the Democrat party.
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