Rudy Giuliani

PERSONAL DATA

• Party: Republican
  
• Age: 63
  
• Marital Status: Married three times -- currently married to Judith Nathan
  
• Children: Allegedly estranged from both Andrew (21) and Caroline (18)
  
• Education: Manhattan College, B.A., 1965; New York University School of Law, J.D., 1968
• Occupation: Former mayor of New York; Lawyer
  
• Ethnicity/ Religious Beliefs: White/ Roman Catholic
  

PLATFORM 2008

• Iraq War Policy: Rudy "believes setting an artificial timetable for withdrawal from Iraq now would be a terrible mistake, because it would only embolden our enemies." -- He essentially shares the Bush administration's sentiment.
  
• Health Care Policy: Advocates a market-based system (not universal) that would give individuals the power -- and through tax deductions, the money -- to buy their own insurance. Competition between providers, Giuliani believes, would improve the quality of care. Has not, however, addressed how he would pay for the deductions.
  
• Immigration Policy: Once a defender of illegal immigrants, Giuliani now believes in penalties for people here illegally and requirements for them to wait at the back of the line.
• Cultural Policies: Has said "I ultimately do believe in a woman's right of choice, but I think that there are ways in which we can reduce abortions." Against gay marraige.
  
• Website(s):Join Rudy 2008

GOSSIP AND SPIN

• Rudy has had trouble covering up his liberal past, as he attempts to win over the conservative Republican base. With two divorces, a history with two gay roommates, and a tendency to dress in drag (see below), Rudy is not your typical heart-land conservative. In 1998, as mayor of New York, Rudy attempted to pass a “Roe v. Wade 25th Anniversary Day.” In response to the historic case now, Rudy has said, “It would be O.K. to repeal.” Hmm, talk about flip-flopping...
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• Rudy has also been accused of abusing his effective governing after 9-11. He continually reminds Americans of his heroic response to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. As John Stewart put it:

"Rudy Giuliani ... now leads Senator McCain in the latest polls by 22 points. 22. Or, as Giuliani himself might phrase it, 'Twice the number of points as the day of the month on which the World Trade Center was attacked while I was mayor. Did I mention I was mayor ... when the world was attacked ... on 9/11?'"

• Below is an NPR Rachel Maddow video, systematically proving why Rudy will never be president.