04/27/2007
Giuliani Flip-Flop: Withdraws Support for Civil Unions
For all our Rudy Giuliani coverage, click here.
Thought Rudy was that kinder, gentler, more "moderate" Republican candidate? Think again.
Flipping on his previously stated support for civil unions, Rudy Giuliani last night came out and said that he no longer supported them. The Republican presidential contender was reacting to the New Hampshire legislature's passage of a bill that would legalize same-sex unions in the state.
His spokesperson told the New York Sun: "Mayor Giuliani believes marriage is between one man and one woman. Domestic partnerships are the appropriate way to ensure that people are treated fairly. In this specific case the law states same sex civil unions are the equivalent of marriage and recognizes same sex unions from outside states. This goes too far and Mayor Giuliani does not support it."
The Sun notes Giuliani's 2004 appearance on The O'Reilly Factor in which he said "I'm in favor of … civil unions" and went on to explain why: "Marriage should be reserved for a man and a woman. That's why you have civil partnerships. So now you have a civil partnership, domestic partnership, civil union, whatever you want to call it, and that takes care of the imbalance, the discrimination, which we shouldn't have."
Giuliani has really made some ugly turns this week. First the 9/11 fear-mongering, now this.
Even Republican pollsters are somewhat astounded by the latter. One reached by the Sun said: "Why would you want to take a position where you are splitting hairs, when you have been so consistently on the record as for civil unions? You can't turn around at the eleventh hour and say this comes a little too close to marriage and then not support it."
Photo above: Rudy attempts to smell better for the religious right. Problem is, you can't put perfume on a pig.
Giuliani's Startling Departure on Civil Unions [ny sun]
Giuliani, in effort to appease far-right of GOP, is now reversing himself on gay issues [americablog]
Giuliani now opposes civil unions [pam's house blend]
Posted 9:00 AM EST by Andy in Gay Marriage, New Hampshire, News, Republican Party, Rudy Giuliani | Permalink
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America's Douchebag. Oh, I mean Mayor. America's Mayor.
Or America's Douchebag.
Posted by: Marco | Apr 27, 2007 9:27:36 AM
what a douche
Posted by: pacificoceanboy | Apr 27, 2007 9:30:41 AM
She's just mad because some one dropped a World Trade Center on her sister.
Posted by: Crixi Van Cheek | Apr 27, 2007 9:39:08 AM
Well so much for thinking Rudy would be true to his moderate positions. Can't say I'm terribly surprised though... with all those images of him in drag I couldn't expect Republicans to be ok with that AND his position on gay rights.
Rudy's obviously enrolled in the Mitt Romney Charm School makeover program. Progressive in the past - regressive for the future.
Posted by: mark m | Apr 27, 2007 9:42:10 AM
Too far, eh? Oops, I guess we forgot we're third class citizens. Time for gay supporters of Mr. Giuliani to start rethinking . . .
Posted by: Ernie | Apr 27, 2007 9:42:29 AM
This comes as no surprise, all those who were spouting off about how gay friendly he "is" have now seen what he is a politician who will pander to the right for votes. He's nothing but a typical hypocrite running for office, and since I've never been impressed with anything he has done, my reasons why are now confirmed. Between him Romny and McCain, can any of them ever keep their word about gay rights? Nope, its whatever the primary states like SC want to hear, blame it all on the gays, I guess they think it worked for Bush for 8 years, and maybe it will work for them.
Posted by: Lowell | Apr 27, 2007 9:44:16 AM
I'm sure the gay couple that he lived with while going through his THIRD divorce will feel real good about this.
Who the hell is he to stand in judgment over marriage, civil unions or ANY long-term, stable and MONOGAMOUS relationship.
He is really a scumbag.
Hopefully this will be a wakeup call to those here who have supported him. Hardly a day goes by that he doesn't prove himself to be a political whore, willing to say or do ANYTHING to impress the radical base of the GOP.
Posted by: Zeke | Apr 27, 2007 9:45:55 AM
Okay now I'm pissed, That was a reeally stupid move on his part, I'm going for pulling for Richardson now.
Posted by: Tim | Apr 27, 2007 9:49:37 AM
No self-respecting gay person should ever cast a vote for a Republican politician ever again.
Rudy really is a douchebag. A flip-flopping douchebag at that!
Posted by: Jonathon | Apr 27, 2007 9:51:55 AM
Fuck. Now I hate Rudy. I really wanted to like him and find a reason to vote for him. There goes my olive branch to the Republicans!
Posted by: the other jeff | Apr 27, 2007 9:57:32 AM
Wow. A pig indeed. There's a great letter to the editor in today's NYTimes that reminds the world that he and the republicans were the ones in charge on 9/11.
She frightens me.
Posted by: ish | Apr 27, 2007 10:20:52 AM
Was anybody ACTUALLY CONSIDERING voting for Giuliani? He's NOT the mayor anymore. Can anyone please explain to me why DOING HIS JOB on 9/11 makes him a viable candidate for the presidency?
Crixie, you saucy bitch. LMAO.
Posted by: FizziekruntNT | Apr 27, 2007 10:21:22 AM
Goes to show you a republican can never never be trusted. Many people have been and will continue to be fooled by the crooks and liars...republicans. Just look at the Bush administration and all those involved, very few caught so far. Anyone with a hint of intelligence generally knows what is right in regards to equality, freedom, and liberty. Just look at the map of the USA, every large metro area and area of higher education is blue/democrat. Even college towns in red states... Most Americans are ignorant and native. The problem is how can they become better educated? And the answer isn't spending 800 billion in Iraq...money that could have gone to education and health care. The republican strategy is to keep the people in fear and ignorance, so they can easily be controlled. I believe bi-partisanship is important, but one should NEVER trust a republican.
Posted by: vince | Apr 27, 2007 10:21:48 AM
I wonder what Howard Koeppel is thinking right now. Mr. Koeppel and his partner Marc are (or maybe were) good friends of Giuliani. Giuliani stayed with the gay couple during one of his three divorces. Turning his back on his friends shows the kind of guy he really is: A douchebag!
Posted by: Anselmnyc | Apr 27, 2007 10:33:33 AM
Marriage should be reserved for one man who wants to change wives and leave his family at the drop of a hat. Turns out his first wife Regina Peruggi was his second cousin and he used that fact as an excuse to get the marriage annulled. Then when he's MARRIED (one mand one woman) with kids and the New York Daily News broke news of Giuliani's extramarital relationship with Judith Nathan. Giuliani calls a press conference to announce that he intended to separate from Hanover, but his wife had not been told about his plans before his press conference.
Glad he's keeping marriage sacred between one man and three women.
Posted by: Frank | Apr 27, 2007 10:33:54 AM
I don't blame Giuliani one bit. I'd have done the same. The man wants to be president. If all research showed that gays are not going to vote for him anyway, no matter how gay-friendly he is, because he's a Republican, of course he's going to court the Religious Right on that issue to make up for the votes he needs. It's a numbers-game. You do what you have to to get elected. Then when you're in the White House you do whatever you want. And I'm sure Giuliani's bigshot gay friends know exactly what he's doing.
Posted by: MJ | Apr 27, 2007 10:47:40 AM
You're right, MJ. Integrity has no place in politics. We should never expect it of our elected leaders.
Posted by: 24play | Apr 27, 2007 10:51:59 AM
Crixi : That was supposed to be funny?
Posted by: MJ | Apr 27, 2007 10:53:28 AM
Looks like Guliani is taking tips on flip-flopping from former Massachusetts govenor and presidential candididate Mitt Romney. He will probably continue to flip-flop on this issue. Another reason not to vote for him or Romney.
Posted by: matthew | Apr 27, 2007 10:53:28 AM
Rudy, Romney (insert political presidential candidate name of your choice)???
Who can tell the difference?
I honestly thought Rudy was above the fray on this one. WHY should I have ever believed that???
Posted by: Stephen | Apr 27, 2007 10:56:59 AM
It's true, 24. We basically can't. I did, however, admire John Kerry (who I voted for) when he ignored Clinton's advice to become more vocal about being against gay mariage just to garner more votes. The more integrity the better. But I still see just why Giuliani has gone that way.
Posted by: MJ | Apr 27, 2007 10:57:45 AM
Yep Vince, them Amurkin naytivs is ruhl egnernt. LMAO.
Sorry, that was just funny to me. Anyway, truly, point made. America shocked the world when GW made it into the Whitehouse, BUT, remember, he wasn't truly elected the first time around. The second term was truly a debacle in electoral history because of the nation's divided stance on war. Now the results are proof positive that the administration has us a bit more than ankles deep in shit. However, one should never trust ANYONE in politics, Republican nor Democrat. That's why people should constantly demand representation. We're not all ignorant, Vince, but slovenly? Yes. The latest episode of Desperate Housewives seems to be more important than what's showing on tonight's town hall on CSPAN (yeah, a total yawner, right?).
Size breeds complexity, complexity, decay.
Whoops. How's that for a tangent?
Posted by: FizziekruntNT | Apr 27, 2007 11:00:30 AM
Well, Fizzie, I knew people who died in the WTC, two firemen and one civilian (a young guy who called his father when he was trapped on the roof). I can see their faces now. It's still unknown whether they burned to death or were crushed. So that joke was about as funy to me as the ones about Matthew Shepard looking like a particularly "faggy scarecrow" in that field.
Posted by: MJ | Apr 27, 2007 11:06:08 AM
This is what his Web site says:
"Rudy Giuliani believes marriage is between a man and a woman. He does not - and has never - supported gay marriage. But he believes in equal rights under law for all Americans. That's why he supports domestic partnerships that provide stability for committed partners in important legal and personal matters, while preserving the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman."
Again, "he believes in equal rights under law for all Americans."
Seems to be what Dodd said.
Posted by: Cyd | Apr 27, 2007 11:10:06 AM
Of course, it does suck to have anyone in Rudy's campaign say what that statement said. Rudy could clear this all up with a public statement of his own (not some statement from a 3rd party in his campaign). Let's see what the candidate says.
Posted by: Cyd | Apr 27, 2007 11:14:27 AM