One hundred Iowa conservatives have signed a petition, vowing that they will not back Republican Rudy Giuliani’s bid for the White House.
A Christian Coalition organizer in Michigan spearheaded the petition drive and issued what he called "The Conservative Declaration of Independence" just before Giuliani was due to visit Iowa. The petition says Giuliani’s "liberal record" and "the conduct of (Giuliani’s) personal life make it impossible" for the 100 Iowa Republicans to back his candidacy "under any circumstances."
Onawa City Councilman Dick Schlitter signed the petition. "I’m a social conservative and I really don’t think I should apologize for that," Schlitter says. "That’s the reason I’m involved in politics is because I believe in the conservative issues."
Schlitter admires Giuliani’s leadership as Mayor of New York after the terrorist attack on September 11th, but Schlitter disagrees with Giuliani on social issues like gay rights and abortion. Schlitter plans to support a GOP presidential candidate who shares his views. "I think the reason that the election went the other way this last time was because we didn’t live up to those basic, conservative, Republican principles," Schlitter says. "I’m not willing to compromise those…You either stand for principle or you don’t."
However, Schlitter says he would have to "really pray" about the country and might "hold (his) nose" vote for Giuliani if Giuliani’s is the Republican nominee running against Democrat Hillary Clinton in November of 2008.
Giuliani is campaigning in Cedar Rapids this afternoon and is scheduled to appear at a campaign rally in West Des Moines this evening.