Bopp, Top Social Conservative Supporter Of Romney, Lashes Out At Brownback For Pro-Rudy Comments
One of the big stories of the day in GOP primary politics is conservative Senator Sam Brownback's new and eyebrow-raising assertion yesterday that he is suddenly "much more comfortable" than before about Rudy's abortion views. Brownback said this after meeting with Rudy yesterday.
Now there's been another key development in the story.
Jim Bopp, one of Mitt Romney's top social conservative supporters, just lashed out repeatedly at Brownback in an interview with me for his kind words about Rudy's abortion views, accusing Brownback in scathing terms of putting "personal benefit" before the pro-life cause.
"There's obviously something more going on here than fidelity to the pro-life cause," said Bopp, a legendary pro-life activist and lawyer who is an important voice for Romney because he vouches for his conservatism. "Brownback is angling for some personal political benefit by cozying up to Giuliani."
Bopp's stinging criticism of Brownback is somewhat surprising, because the support of Brownback, who recently dropped out of the Presidential race, is coveted by GOP candidates such as Romney because it would shore up their conservative credentials. Romney and Rudy are engaged in a heated war over the evangelical and social conservative vote.
Brownback's dalliance with Rudy, Bopp said, is "particularly surprising in light of his unwillingness to accept Romney's conversion, which happened several years ago. Now he is willing to accept Giuliani's statements of the last day or so."
"Giuliani is unequivocal -- he wants abortion to be legal," Bopp continued. "Brownback claimed that the raison d'etre of his campaign was protecting human life. "So the only way that you can look at what he is saying now and what he is doing now is that he is prepared to compromise the pro-life movement and cause to advance his own personal political agenda."
The suggestion here is that Brownback is cozying up to Rudy because he thinks the Mayor is on his way to winning the GOP nomination -- and that he's willing to throw the pro-life movement under the bus to be with the winner.
More soon.
Greg:
I doubt the pro-life movement is completely "under the bus" (or that Roe v. Wade survives) if a couple liberals on the Supreme Court are replaced with John Roberts clones. Good interview, though, of someone I doubt any pro-lifer who reads this knows of.
October 26, 2007 12:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
one of the early opinions i read about what the talibangelicals have been up to re their supposed opposition to rudy, was that they are angling for the v.p. spot. looks like there might be something to that with brownback's move.
October 26, 2007 12:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
What??? A rightwing nutjob Republican is ditching his principles for personal gain? What?? I'm shocked! Shocked!
October 26, 2007 12:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Again, CT Voter, how is the pro-life movement "ditching principles" if a couple liberals on the Supreme Court are replaced with John Roberts clones and Roe v. Wade is finally overturned?
October 26, 2007 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jake, if abortion is murder, then why would Brownback be comfortable with Rudy Giuliani? Or why would Brownback actually believe Rudy when Rudy says he's going to appoint a strict constructionist?? Maybe the "principles" of the rightwing demagogues remain "unditched" but for Brownback to suddenly be so comfortable means he's been shedding some of those principles that are supposed to be untouched.
Otherwise, why is Bopp so incensed?
October 26, 2007 12:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Aw, don't be so hard on Brownback.
He's weighed the two marketing concepts.
Evidently, he feels that Nine Eleven Now and Forever has longer shelf life than Save da Babies.
October 26, 2007 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jake D, that's possibly an argument for social cons to vote for Giuliani in the general. But that's no argument for them to vote for him in the primary. Giuliani is pro-choice; they know there is a risk he will nominate justices who support Roe v. Wade no matter what Giuliani says in primary season. And justices are not the whole picture. E.g. Giuliani supports federal funding of abortion, even though it is not legally required (by Roe v. Wade or otherwise).
October 26, 2007 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rudy's planning on "closing the deal" with the family values crowd by experiencing a miraculous conversion on the abortion issue. It'd be called a flipflop if he were a liberal. Only question now is timing. When will he see the light? I'm betting it'll be sometime between the South Carolina primary and the GOP convention, specifically to preempt any Thumper 3rd party candidacy. He's already pro-life where it counts, on his prospective judicial nominees, having recited the appropriate codewords. All that would change is his stump speech applause lines.
Oh, and Brownback was promised the veepship or HEW.
October 26, 2007 1:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
CT Voter:
I'm sure you know this already, but abortion is not "legally" murder. Slavery was once "legal" as well. How can we believe Rudy? Look, even if I were elected President, there's no guarantee I would appoint a John Roberts clone -- that's a chance we take with EVERY candidate -- short of a full-blown Civil War, however, I think abolitionists in the 1850's would have been very content just overturing Dred Scott and being able to continue the fight in each State.
As for Bopp, I really don't know why he is so upset -- maybe because he's out of a job now?
Crust:
Of course there's a risk (see above), but one "factor" for primary voters to consider is electability in the general election.
October 26, 2007 1:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Linda: Exactly. Just because Rudy's a little flaky on the pro-life circuit doesn't mean that his eventual Cheney wouldn't be. Activist VP's are now a reality and if Guiliani/Brownback (or whomever for either role) can get elected, then Giuliani can steal some of the centrists and Brownback can assuage the fundies. It's a twofer!
October 26, 2007 1:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
There's only one reason for Brownback feeling more comfortable and that's a Guiliani/Brownback ticket in 2008.
October 26, 2007 1:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
ihatebeets: My sense of Brownback's oceanic vanity (which he would call his "humility") says he wants Secretary of State, not VP.
October 26, 2007 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
The biggere question I must ask any pro-lifer....what business is it of yours what a woman does about a very difficult situation?
October 26, 2007 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
penalcolony: If he doesn't get Secy of State (God forbid) perhaps he can be the Chief of the Womb Police and vetter of all those "strict constructionist" judges.
October 26, 2007 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bopp really shouldn't talk about throwing people under the bus. The Republican mayoral nominee here in Fort Wayne, IN was in trouble for campaign finance violations. So instead of taking the non-confrontational position of "sorry I screwed up" he decides to hire Bopp who tells him he did absolutely nothing wrong.
Now that candidate is going to lose in a landslide and has been indicted on 9 counts - 7 of them felonies.
Candidates might want to run the other direction if they see Bopp coming to offer his "help"...
October 26, 2007 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
russell:
Same "business" we have re: Andrea Yates killing her kids. Next question?
October 26, 2007 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
We will shortly have the technology to turn any live human cell with a full set of DNA into a living human clone (quite as valuable as any identical twin). In that case, any living cell in a hangnail can is potential life and can become a human being if the right conditions are provided.
So, Jake, are you willing to be convicted of mass murdr if you clip a hangnail?
If not, in what way is the logic different.
You get absurd moral results if you treat something soley on the basisis of what it potentially is rather than what it actually is.
If you don't believe me, lie down and I'll bury you. You are potentially dead.
October 28, 2007 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink