Fred Thompson: Rudy Giuliani’s Pro-Abortion, Republican Views Don’t Mix 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
September 10, 2007
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Fresh from his announcement last week that he is seeking the GOP nomination for president next year, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson talked about one of his top opponents in a weekend interview. He said former mayor Rudy Giuliani’s pro-abortion view is inconsistent with Republican principles.
Thompson participated in an interview on Sunday with KTVI, a Fox News local affiliate.
The television station asked the former attorney and actor if Giuliani is unfit to be the Republican nominee because of his pro-abortion position.
Thompson initially avoided answering the question.
"Rudy’s like the rest of us. He’s going to have to explain his record and why he did what he did and I’m going to have to do the same thing," he said.
Pressed again about the ex-New York City mayor being out of step with most of the members of his party, Thompson was somewhat more specific.
"I think a long record of pro-choice is inconsistent with what most Republicans think," Thompson said.
"But you know, people have to make up for themselves, make up their own mind for themselves, as to how important they think that is. I think it’s an important issue. It’s one of many issues. We’ll have to go through the process and let everybody have their say and let the people decide what their priorities are," Thompson explained.
A new poll backs up Thompson’s contention that a pro-abortion position is inconsistent with the position most Republicans take on the contentious issue.
A Diageo poll conducted for the Hotline political newspaper earlier this month found that three times as many Republicans said they’re pro-life than said they back legal abortions.
More specifically, 63 percent of Republicans said they want all or almost all abortions prohibited, while just 20 percent said abortions should be legal. Another 16 percent want them legal but want more limits on them.
Republicans appeared to acknowledge that Rudy Giuliani’s pro-abortion views are out of the mainstream of the party. Just 20 percent say he is the candidate who best represents the general positions of the GOP.
The same poll found GOP voters backed Giuliani by a 27 to 17 percentage point margin over Thompson, though it was conducted before Thompson’s recent announcement he is officially entering the race.
Mitt Romney came in third with 15 percent, John McCain has 12 percent and the rest of the field polled in the low single digits.
