http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (CNN) -- Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani told CNN Wednesday he supports public funding for some abortions, a position he advocated as mayor and one that will likely put the GOP presidential candidate at odds with social conservatives in his party.

"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."

Giuliani also vowed to appoint conservative judges to the bench, though denied such a promise was a "wink and a nod" to conservatives in support of overturning Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision on abortion.

"A strict constructionist judge can come to either conclusion about Roe against Wade," he said. "They can look at it and say, 'Wrongly decided thirty years ago, whatever it is, we'll over turn it.' [Or] they can look at it and say, 'It has been the law for this period of time, therefore we are going to respect the precedent.' Conservatives can come to that conclusion as well. I would leave it up to them. I would not have a litmus test on that."

Giuliani's support of publicly funded abortions is one of several issues that are likely to put him at odds with social conservatives in his party.

Regarding Southern Baptist Convention leader Richard Land's recent criticisms of Giuliani's three marriages, the former New York City Mayor said, "I've made mistakes. I've had a rocky road. I regret them. But they are between me, God, my conscience and the people involved. I wish I had led a perfect life. I keep striving, I keep trying to learn, I keep praying for help.

i like guiliani for alot of things. abortions are touchy for me though.

Ok...maybe I'm just blonde...but how is abortion a constitutional right? I'm serious. Could someone spell that out for me please?

I cant I have no idea, I didnt even have an idea he felt this way.

i was wondering that too becca.

:thumbsup I am glad that he is for abortions and that it is a persons right...but I dont know about the funding for people who can't afford it..obviously if they can not afford an abortion they should prevent a baby they couldn't afford in the first place...I feel as if that will give people the okay to not use protection or take steps to prevent pregnancy.

I agree with his position on it.

:thumbsup I am glad that he is for abortions

But he's not "for" abortions from a personal standpoint. He is basing his support of public funding on the idea that abortion itself is a constitutional right. I'm just trying to figure out how exactly that is.

:thumbsup I am glad that he is for abortions and that it is a persons right...but I dont know about the funding for people who can't afford it..obviously if they can not afford an abortion they should prevent a baby they couldn't afford in the first place...I feel as if that will give people the okay to not use protection or take steps to prevent pregnancy.

He's not 'for' abortions - he thinks there are better alternatives. He said that he's for funding of them because it IS legal and that many woman end up being denied having an abortion because they don't have money.

But he's not "for" abortions from a personal standpoint. He is basing his support of public funding on the idea that abortion itself is a constitutional right. I'm just trying to figure out how exactly that is.

There is none! lol Just like in the 2004 election they were trying to figure out who like homosexuals more and who knew one. This year is going to be about who is going to keep the Mexicans out and who likes cheese on there eggs! :suspect

I like cheesy eggs :thumbsup

But I'm not running :giggle

who likes cheese on there eggs! :suspect

I like cheese on my eggs :)

:thumbsup I am glad that he is for abortions and that it is a persons right...but I dont know about the funding for people who can't afford it..obviously if they can not afford an abortion they should prevent a baby they couldn't afford in the first place...I feel as if that will give people the okay to not use protection or take steps to prevent pregnancy.

Agreed.

Ok...maybe I'm just blonde...but how is abortion a constitutional right? I'm serious. Could someone spell that out for me please?

He's probably refferring to the right for a woman to control her own reproduction. Many pro-choice leaders throw the "constitutional right" card out there. Then pro-life leaders come back with the constitutional right of the fetus. It's a circular arguement.:sigh

OH BE QUIET WOMEN! :lol

It's a circular arguement.:sigh

Great Phrase!

He might not agree with them but I feel as though it is the same thing since he is not trying to ban them. And what he meant by the constitional thing was with the court case roe vs wade ..the decision was that "most laws against abortion violated a constitutional right to privacy under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment"

He might not agree with them but I feel as though it is the same thing since he is not trying to ban them. And what he meant by the constitional thing was with the court case roe vs wade ..the decision was that "most laws against abortion violated a constitutional right to privacy under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment"

HEY NO FAIR LOOK AT YOUR AVATAR! lol just joking. :teehee

Keep in mind political strategy. I like Giuliani a lot, but keep it in mind! :thumbsup

thank you for that link. You have just helped me make a final decision on that candidate.

i am definitely leaning towards giuliani. he's an amazing man

"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."

:clap :clap :clap :clap

It makes me so happy to read that. I don't care if you're against abortion. I don't care if you don't agree with it. But it's a woman's PERSONAL choice. The law should have no affect on that decision. I have so much more respect for him now.

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"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."

I am pro-life so why should the taxes that I pay into the "public fundin" go to pay for something that I am against? Just because someone chose to have sex when they were not ready to deal with having a baby.

Just because someone chose to have sex when they were not ready to deal with having a baby.

That's not the case with every pregnancy.

"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."

:clap :clap :clap :clap

It makes me so happy to read that. I don't care if you're against abortion. I don't care if you don't agree with it. But it's a woman's PERSONAL choice. The law should have no affect on that decision. I have so much more respect for him now.

i agree completely :D

That's not the case with every pregnancy.

and i was just about to say that..

I am pro-life so why should the taxes that I pay into the "public fundin" go to pay for something that I am against? Just because someone chose to have sex when they were not ready to deal with having a baby.

I'm childfree by choice so why should I have to pay taxes for YOUR kids?

I also echo sage's post. Well said.

I am pro-life so why should the taxes that I pay into the "public fundin" go to pay for something that I am against? Just because someone chose to have sex when they were not ready to deal with having a baby.

I agree with this to a degree. I am pro-life in some situations, and pro-choice in others. I'm really on the fence. I try not to judge others, so I'm pro-choice in that respect. But I do believe that an abortion (for reasons other than medical) is murder. But the woman needs to live with that choice for the rest of her life, not me. I'm not estatic about my tax dollars going to abortions when there are plenty of homes that would love a child. And I totally agree with the idea that people shouldn't have sex if they aren't ready to have a child. Seems logical to me. I wouldn't have sex unless I discussed with my partner how we would care for the child if we were to get pregnant. And I wouldn't have sex with someone (or in my case, marry someone) that supported abortions. People need to be more responsible. If you have sex, that means it's very likely you'll get pregnant. So don't have sex if you can't care for that child. Or have a plan. BC doesn't always work.

It makes me so happy to read that. I don't care if you're against abortion. I don't care if you don't agree with it. But it's a woman's PERSONAL choice. The law should have no affect on that decision. I have so much more respect for him now.

I agree....I would never personally have one even if I was single or had no money to support the baby..but it is a choice I would still like to have the right to make on my own without the help of the government. I also think that it is wrong that he is trying to use our tax money to support there decision....but I am just glad that he is not trying to make it illegal.

"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."

:clap :clap :clap :clap

It makes me so happy to read that. I don't care if you're against abortion. I don't care if you don't agree with it. But it's a woman's PERSONAL choice. The law should have no affect on that decision. I have so much more respect for him now.

ITA!