Rudy aborts campaign; Romney flip-flops on Oklahoma appearance

Neither of these are good things. Rudy Giuliani affirmed for CNN today that he still thinks, as he said in 1989, there's a constitutional right to abortion in this country, and that abortions for poor women should be supported by federal money.

I admire him for sticking to his principle even when it's unpopular. Just like President Bush has made it clear that we need to win in Iraq despite faltering public opinion, sometimes you just have to take a stand.

But this issue is a stone-cold loser. Even pro-choice Republicans don't want the government paying for abortions; the idea is freedom from government interference and not a new entitlement program---especially for what is ultimately an elective surgery. I understand quite well the appeal of socialized medicine, but that's for lifesaving surgery and critical health care, not for ending pregnancy.

There's more great ranting in a similar vein at Innocent Bystanders, where Sobek notes that

I have a Constitutional right to defacate on the American flag if I want, but the government doesn’t need to pay me to do it. Nor does the government have the obligation to subsidize my gun purchases. So why should abortion be different? And if abortion must be subsidized by government, why not any other elements of “health care” (such as it is)? That’s big government talking, there, and that pisses off the federalists...

Meanwhile Mitt Romney isn't doing himself any favors with the base, either. Apparently he's decided to renege on a long-standing commitment to speak at the Oklahoma Republican convention on April 14th, and his campaign hasn't offered any explanation to the party, who must now scramble around for a replacement speaker at the last minute.

As Michael Bates summarizes, "The message the cancellation sends is that Mitt Romney will stick to a commitment, but only until something better comes along." What that something better is, I would love to see. Oklahoma is pretty much the reddest state on the map when it comes to presidential politics, and disappointing crowds of potential supporters--many of whom may be these (supposedly) suspicious ain't-gonna-vote-for-no-Mormons evangelical Christians. It's a great place to raise money and polish up a conservative reputation, which Gov. Romney needs to do.

But instead, he vanishes. I can't help thinking of this exchange from Spinal Tap:

Ian Faith: The Boston gig has been cancelled...
David St. Hubbins: What?
Ian Faith: Yeah. I wouldn't worry about it though, it's not a big college town.

To be cross-posted at Patterico's Pontifications.