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Robertson Endorses Giuliani as “Leader With a Bold Vision"

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November 07, 2007 10:17 AM

ABC News' Jan Simmonds reports:  One of the most influential Christian conservatives in the country, Pat Robertson, threw his support behind Republican presidential frontrunner Rudy Giuliani this morning at a press conference in Washington, D.C.

"To me the overriding issue before the American people is the defense of our population from the blood lust of Islamic terrorists," Robertson said in his opening statements.

Robertson added that the United Stated needs a "leader with a bold vision who is not afraid to tackle the challenges ahead" and that leader was former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, R-N.Y.

Robertson, founder of numerous organizations including the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), the Christian Coalition and Regent University, provides Giuliani's campaign with the backing of an undeniable social conservative with almost unparalleled credentials.

"Having him aboard gives us a great deal of confidence.  Because he has tremendous insights into what the main issues are -- how they should be dealt with," said Giuliani of Robertson.  "His advice is invaluable and his friendship, even more invaluable."

Many of the leading Republican candidates vied for the favor of the Evangelical's support. Robertson's nod helps dampen, to some degree, former GOP candidate Sen. Sam Brownback's, R-Kan., endorsement later today of John McCain, R-Ariz, in Iowa.

When asked what his endorsement meant to the evangelical and social conservative community, Robertson said "I believe that I needed to make a statement and I am speaking for myself."

The announcement also provides a major boost to Giuliani has he continues to seek to convince social conservatives that he is an acceptable choice as the Republican's nominee.  Giuliani has drawn ire from some social conservative groups for his positions on abortion and gay rights.

Giuliani added during the press conference that he hoped Robertson’s endorsement would send the message that "we have the same goals, all of us in the Republican Party."

Former Gov. Mitt Romney played down Pat Robertson's endorsement of Giuliani while on the campaign trail in South Carolina.

"I'm really pleased with the support I've gotten," Romney said.  "I can't get the support of everybody, but I was delighted to have Dr Bob Jones support my campaign. Paul Weyrich earlier in the week has supported my campaign."

When asked whether he believed the endorsement would help Giuliani win the social conservative vote, Romney replied, "not at all."

"I don't think the Republican party will choose a pro-choice, pro- gay civil union candidate to lead our party," said Romney.  "I think in order to win the White House we have to bring together the coalition of conservatives that won the White House for Ronald Reagan and George Herbert Walker Bush and George W. Bush and that is social, economic, and foreign policy conservatives.  And that is why I think that others that are running in this race, myself included, have a better shot of winning the white house."

In recent years, Robertson has caused some controversy. 

In October of 2006, while discussing the Mark Foley scandal on his television program, the 700 Club – which airs on an ABC cable network, Robertson condemned Foley saying he "does what gay people do." He also gained media notoriety in 2004 when he claimed that President Bush told him before he led the United States into war with Iraq, that he expected there to be no casualties. President Bush's then-press secretary Scott McClellan denied the allegation.

At the end of the presser, Giuliani also noted that he had contacted Congressman Peter King, R-N.Y., and Pete Sessions, R-T.X., and has asked them to propose legislation in congress that will make it illegal for states to offer driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. Giuliani said the congressman were considering his proposal and did not have a timetable for when such legislation would be introduced.

November 7, 2007 in Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (41)

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Obviously the chirstian right thinks Hillary is the great Satan. Even this moderate democrat tends to agree.

Posted by: castra regina | Nov 7, 2007 2:24:42 PM

Anyone who thinks Giuliani will make America safer, is in denial. Anyone who is pro-life, anti-gay rights, and for the sanctity of marriage, who supports Giuliani because he will make America safer from terrorism, is not just a hypocrite, he's a stupid one to boot.

Posted by: maddymappo | Nov 7, 2007 2:27:08 PM

Why is church endorsing state?! Pat Robertson has no business endorsing anyone. Pat Robertson has many followers, endorsing any candidate, is the same a fixing a horse race. I mean what are we dealing with here a bunch of bookies?!

Mr Robertson needs to but out!

Posted by: A King | Nov 7, 2007 2:33:41 PM

.
FAMILY-VALUES endorses NO-FAMILY-VALUES. You just got to love these Repub hypocrites!

.

Posted by: ALEX H. | Nov 7, 2007 2:34:38 PM

Giuliani already had a killing field in New York on 9/11 because of his lack of an alert leader given the fact that the World Trade Center was attacked before in 1993.If he was smart enough after that first attacked he would write in his journal that this will never happen again under my watch and I will do all that I can in my power to make sure the next time it will not be a disaster and the lost of lives.I think I have a clear vision of a real President for the future of America than Pat Robertson.

Posted by: kmjjp | Nov 7, 2007 2:47:38 PM

Like the bumper sticker says. “The Moral Majority is neither.” Robertson is as big a hypocrite as Giuliani. Two peas in a pod.

Posted by: lorax_mbell | Nov 7, 2007 2:51:03 PM

Now I know that Robertson is an apostate and sell out! Ghouliani WILL bring war and fascism, and he might do it while dressed as a woman---something he seems to have passion for. Is this what we want America? Vote Ron Paul in 2008, furthermore donate to his campaign to show support and save the U.S.A.!!

Posted by: Bill Hicks | Nov 7, 2007 2:54:57 PM

Lady Guiliani Time for eveyone especially Iran!

Posted by: Bill Hicks | Nov 7, 2007 3:22:22 PM

Well, Pat also said that people who believe in space aliens should be stoned to death, too.

Good endorsement, Rudy.

Posted by: Jerry | Nov 7, 2007 3:27:14 PM

Eric- what do you think Clinton was? He did not help family values either.

Posted by: jogger | Nov 7, 2007 3:40:48 PM

To keep bringing up Clinton after 8+ years is a little silly. I seriously doubt there is any man in this country who has either not cheated on his wife or had a buddy cheat on his wife/girlfriend and not forgiven their friend. If anything the Clintons are a better model for marriage than the majority of other marriages, because they stayed together. It's argueable that they only did so for political reasons, but the 'sanctity' of marriage is a joke already. Committing adultery goes against the ten commandments, but barely anyone bats an eye at that anymore, yet mention gays and people start having biblical seizures. If Pat Robertson had been born a muslim in one of the mid-east countries he would have been one of the radical hate and fear mongering Taliban.

Posted by: Sereena | Nov 7, 2007 3:53:41 PM

Robertson's 15 minutes of fame was over decades ago. Who cares what he thinks?

Posted by: fotmnbfir | Nov 7, 2007 4:49:22 PM

Original 13th amendment. If we want change we must understand History, this amendment is the law of the land, and if Mr. Giuliani believes he has a chance for presidency, and you elect him, then understand that he pledged his allegiance to the Queen of England and well since he was Knighted then he’s a foot soldier of the Monarchy. Defend America and its Americans and remember that it is a country built on Immigrants!!!

Posted by: NoToEnglandsRule | Nov 7, 2007 5:22:46 PM

This doesnt suprise me but when will someone of high character endorse a man of high character Ron Paul is a veteran also a doctor also has been married for 50 years and believes in the constitution. Ron Paul 08

Posted by: no brainer | Nov 7, 2007 5:53:06 PM

Another nut endorsing another nut equals two nuts hungry for an all out nuclear war to consume their buds in few seconds.

Posted by: kmjjp | Nov 7, 2007 7:54:20 PM

Pat Robertson has sold out. He is now possessed by the Devil. Social conservatives should eject him from the party. Christians should never compromise with Satan. And that is exactly what Pat Robertson has done today. Shame on him!!!

Posted by: biblelvr777 | Nov 7, 2007 8:13:03 PM

That "endorsement" will drop Rudy several points in the national.

Posted by: bob | Nov 7, 2007 8:18:46 PM

All of these free trade deals and world governmental organizations that all of the presidential candidates support (except Ron Paul), such as the ICC, NAFTA, GATT, WTO, and CAFTA, are all major threat to our nation's sovereignty. They transfer power from our government to unelected foreign elites. The ICC wants to try our soldiers as war criminals. Both the WTO and CAFTA could force Americans to get a doctor's prescription to take herbs and vitamins. The WTO has forced Congress to change our laws to meet their needs, and not our own. If anything, the WTO makes trade relations worse by giving foreign competitors a new way to attack U.S. jobs. The NAFTA superhighway, which is currently being built, is just one part of a plan to erase our borders and create the North American Union, a single nation State like the EU, out of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, with a new unelected bureaucracy and money system. And forget about controlling immigration under the NAU scheme. There won't be any borders anymore, or a free America. Our limited, constitutional government, will be gone forever. Let's not forget the UN either. It wants to impose a direct Carbon Tax on us. Ron Paul successfully fought this move in Congress last year, but if we are going to stop ongoing attempts of this world government body to rule over us, we need someone who knows how to say "No." We must withdraw from any organizations or trade deals that infringes upon our nation's sovereignty. Vote AMERICA FIRST! Vote for Ron Paul.

Posted by: Mike Baker | Nov 7, 2007 11:37:56 PM

If associating with a known child molester will get support from a famous preacher, we need to look at that preacher a little closer

Posted by: Royce | Nov 8, 2007 5:43:14 AM

Pat Robertson is a disgrace to the Christian community.

Posted by: LouBob | Nov 8, 2007 4:04:57 PM

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