Rudy Giuliani Still Supports Forcing Taxpayers to Fund Abortions

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Apr 4, 2007   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Rudy Giuliani Says He Still Supports Forcing Taxpayers to Fund Abortions Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
April 4
, 2007

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Rudy Giuliani has worked overtime to try to back off of his position in favor of abortion and persuade pro-life voters that he won’t be so bad. While he talks about appointing judges who don’t legislate from the bench and flip-flopped to oppose partial-birth abortion, he still supports taxpayer funded abortions.

In an interview with CNN, the former New York City mayor told White House Correspondent Dana Bash that his prior position in favor of abortions paid for with public funds wouldn’t change if he’s elected president.

Bash referenced a 1989 interview in which Giuliani said, "There must be public funding for abortions for poor women" and disagreeing with a veto by former President George Bush of a measure that would have paid for abortions with tax dollars.

Asked if he would have the same position as president, Giuliani said he "probably" would.

"I mean, I have to re-examine all of those issues and exactly what was at stake then—that was a long time ago," he explained. "Ultimately, [abortion] is a constitutional right, and therefore if it is a constitutional right ultimately, even if you do it on a state-by-state basis, you have to make sure that people are protected."

Asked again if he supported "taxpayer money or public funding for abortions," Giuliani said yes.

"If it would deprive someone of a constitutional right, yes, if that’s the status of the law, then I would, yes," he said.

In the CNN interview, Giuliani reiterated his position in favor of legalized abortion.

"I’m in the same position now that I was 12 years ago when I ran for mayor—as mayor, which is, personally opposed to abortion, don’t like it, hate it, would advise that woman to have an adoption rather than abortion, hope to find the money for it," he said.

"But it is your choice, an individual right. You get to make that choice," he added.