"Ultimately, it's a constitutional right, and therefore if it's a constitutional right, ultimately, even if you do it on a state by state basis, you have to make sure people are protected," Giuliani said in an interview with CNN's Dana Bash in Florida's capital city.
A video clip of the then-mayoral candidate issuing a similar declaration in 1989 in a speech to the "Women's Coalition" appeared recently on the Internet.
"There must be public funding for abortions for poor women," Giuliani says in the speech that is posted on the video sharing site YouTube. "We cannot deny any woman the right to make her own decisions about abortion."
When asked directly Wednesday if he still supported the use of public funding for abortions, Giuliani said "Yes."
"If it would deprive someone of a constitutional right," he explained, "If that's the status of the law, yes."
But the presidential candidate reiterated his personal opposition to the practice.
"I'm in the same position now that I was 12 years ago when I ran for 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, and I don't think society should be putting you in jail."
That's a big part of why I think abortion should be legal myself; but I support the repeal of Roe (leave the issue up to the states), and I oppose taxpayer-funded abortions. Let the feminists raise money to pay for them.
In an effort at "balance", Hotline provides this McCain clip:
But notice the crucial difference? Romney pledges, "I will preserve and protect a woman's right to choose," abortion, while McCain wants "the elimination of abortion". McCain does say "I think that we can all be members of the Republican Party, whether we are pro-choice or pro-life," and certainly that seems to be the case. Nobody suggested kicking Mitt Romney out of the party in 2002.
My personal take on abortion is that it's wrong but not so clearly wrong that it should be banned. But I am 100% in favor of of the repeal of Roe v. Wade and allowing the states to make that decision for themselves.
Recall how Thune was the '04 cycle's Barack Obama for Republicans. He was a Giant Killer, defeating Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD) , and has been, for more than two years, on many pundits' short lists for the Republican vice presidential nomination. Thune tells the Washington Post that he somehow convinced McCain to promise to appoint "guys like Roberts and Alito" to the Supreme Court.
I don't get where Barack fits in as the '06 cycle's John Thune; he didn't defeat any giants.
