Rudy Giuliani on Reproductive Health Issues

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is an enigma wrapped in a red, white & blue riddle when it comes to his stance on reproductive rights. As mayor, Giuliani oversaw public funding for abortions in his city. However, Giuliani has also been an ardent supporter of the Hyde Amendment, the federal legislation banning the use of tax-payer funds for abortions for low-income women. In response to this seeming dichotomy, Giuliani has said, "I hate abortions. I wish people didn't have abortions...States should make their decision. Some states decide to do it. Most states decide not to do it. And I think that's the appropriate way to have this decided."

Giuliani has also made the claim that under his leadership, adoption in New York City increased 66% while the number of abortions decreased by 16%. This was later proven untrue but is still a point of pride on his presidential campaign site.

Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been labeled consistently out of step with mainstream conservatives because of his pro-gay rights and pro-gun control positions, and mixed record on abortion. While Catholic bishops have declared Rudy Giuliani's statements on abortion in particular, "pathetic" and "hypocritical", James Dobson has publicly stated that his own "moral convictions" will not allow him to vote for Giuliani if he is nominated as the Republican presidential candidate. However, Giuliani has countered that Republicans must learn how to deal with differing perspectives within their own party on these issues.

Mayor Rudy Giuliani has proposed "twelve commitments to the American people" if elected. These commitments include "increasing adoption, decreasing abortion and...appointing strict constructionist judges."

But if campaign contributions are any indication of what regular folks respond to in a presidential candidate, the Giuliani campaign is crafting a successful message. As of July 5, 2007 Rudy's campaign had raised more money in the second quarter than any other Republican presidential candidate.

NARAL Pro-Choice America reports that Giuliani's mayoral record on choice was generally a pro-choice one.

His official campaign statement on abortion puts him at odds with both parties and may win him points with many of the so-called swing voters when it comes to reproductive rights or, then again, it may win him a seat at John Kerry's table:

“Rudy Giuliani supports reasonable restrictions on abortion such as parental notification with a judicial bypass and a ban on partial birth abortion – except when the life of the mother is at stake…But Rudy understands that this is a deeply personal moral dilemma, and people of good conscience can disagree respectfully.”

Rudy describes his unique stance on abortion, which ultimately affirms the right to choose:

Rudy discusses his free market solution to America's health insurance problem: