Interview with Newsday

Yesterday at noon I was interviewed by Newsday about the Giuliani speech I'd heard earlier that morning.

Though I talked with Craig Gordon about 5 minutes, only one sentence made the story (not that uncommon; usually only a fraction of any interview makes it to the final story). Here's a bit preceding my quote to put it in context:

"He comforted a lot of conservatives," said Bob Kilbanks, an anti-abortion Republican from Pennsylvania. "It would be against my conscience to vote for him, but I think he would get a lot of conservative votes and he would come as near to protecting life without changing his views and values."

Others weren't so sure.

"If it was him or Clinton, I'd hold my nose and vote for him," said Bob Ellis, 40, a Web designer from Rapid City, S.D. -- hardly a ringing endorsement but a reflection that Giuliani's argument that he can stop Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton is taking hold.

Actually, as regards my statement and it's implications, it was NOT a reflection that Giuliani's argument is taking hold. In fact, I tried to make it clear that I don't think Giuliani can win, whether people like me hold our noses and vote for him or not. As I've said before, conservatives will NEVER get energized about his campaign, and without that energy, unless Hillary stumbles badly, I don't think he can win. (But Gordon interviewed a lot of people yesterday, so some of it probably ran together).

Also, my statement that I'd hold my nose and vote for him presupposes there is no viable third party or "minority party" candidate. If the Republican Party nominates Giuliani, and a viable third party candidate does emerge, I will likely vote for that other candidate.

Giuliani was received politely by the crowd yesterday. And as I blogged on his speech yesterday, he gained my respect (and from others that I talked to yesterday) for not trying to shine us on and just say what we wanted to hear (unlike some others who spoke yesterday).

But as I told reporter Craig Gordon, that additional respect for Giuliani's forthrightness still does not outweigh the critical issues of life, marriage and gun control. Gordon repeatedly asked me if Giuliani had changed my mind about supporting him or voting for him, and I just kept reiterating variations of what I just said about the critical issues.

Well, I just finished a wonderful worship service put on by the Family Research Council. In fact, I think it's inspired me to pray more and spend more quality time with the Lord...and perhaps less blogging and such pursuits (that'll probably make you liberals happy). There are only so many hours in a day, and when it comes down to it, if I spend more time with God, he will make the things I do (hopefully the things he appoints me to do), more productive with less effort and less time spent.

Dale Bartscher, Dennis Schmidt and I are about to head over to the National Mall, the White House (outside), and the Capitol to take tons of pictures and appreciate the magnificent, wonderful, and unique thing God has done in creating the United States of America.

May God bless you today, and if you live in America, thank him, as we will be this afternoon, for his mercy in letting us live in the best country on earth.