Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor and current presidential aspirant, may have unwittingly given Larry Craig a vote of confidence for staying in the Senate.
Responding to a question about his private life during last week's GOP debate, Giuliani said, "I certainly haven't lived a perfect life. I am not running as the perfect candidate for president of the United States. I'm running as a human being who has been very successful as a leader and had definable results in a situation in which people thought it was impossible to accomplish these things."
If we delete the presidential reference and substitute one for the Senate, could not the substance of that statement apply to Craig? If so, Giuliani has given grist for hungry rivals. For his words contrast with what was said earlier in the debate.
"We should be bolder about standing up for family," Kansas' Sen. Sam Brownback said. "Family's important for us, and it's important for America ."
"When our guys have problems like this, they leave," Rep. Duncan Hunter of Texas said. "They leave the Senate or they leave the House. When the Democrats have problems like this, they often make them chairmen of their respective committees."
The "family values" opening is available for any Republican ruthless enough to use it. Paging Mitt Romney...
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. True, this is absolutely an opening for Mitt Romney to come out and attack this guy, even though I do feel that would be uncalled for.
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Patrick at 9:09PM on Sep 12th 2007
2. Wow, I'm really impressed by your imagination. If we could turn back to reality for just a minute though...
Rudy didn't say that politicians shouldn't be judged on their criminal acts. Larry Craig pleaded guilty to a crime and should therefore resign from office. As far as I can tell, getting a divorce and annulment in your life is no crime. Or are you saying that it should be?
Dan at 11:17PM on Sep 17th 2007
3. Although I am not a Rudy Giuliani fan necessarily, he is absolutely correct and good for him. The real hard truth is Republican congressman Mark Foley and Senator Larry Craig were thrown to the wolves by the GOP because of the homophobia that exists among some folks in the Republican party.
I think Rudy is slowly trying to change the conversation in the GOP to one of moderation and tolerance; and it is refreshing. No politican can live up to the image of always being so pure and perfect: no matter the political party.
David S. at 2:27PM on Sep 13th 2007