Not too long ago Rudy Giuliani could claim to be a moderate, making many right wing extremists uncomfortable. But now, Rudy is embracing Christian fundamentalists, shedding any pretence of being a moderate.

This comes from the National Jewish Democratic Council:

“I am very encouraged by Pat’s support,” said GOP Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani in a statement released by his campaign. “His confidence in me means a lot. His experience and advice will be a great asset to me and my campaign.”

The "Pat" in question is the Rev. Pat Robertson [real name: Marion Gordon Robertson], who endorsed Giuliani's campaign for president today.

Yes, this is the same Pat Robertson who suggested that former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine retribution. It is the same Pat Robertson who said: "the feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians." It is the same Pat Robertson who called for the assassination of the President of Venezuela. And, alas, it is the same Pat Robertson who said: "just like what Nazi Germany did to the Jews, so liberal America is now doing to the evangelical Christians. It's no different."

Rudy Giuliani could very well become the Republican nominee for President. It's imperative that all of us start reminding our friends and neighbors today that a vote for Giuliani is a vote for Pat Robertson and the narrow vision of America he represents. We've already seen how the Bush Administration has paid back the religious right.

Just how will Rudy say thank you to Pat Robertson? It's hard to tell. But we do know that Rudy has gone on record saying that as President he would appoint Supreme Court Justices like Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.

Let's hope he never has the chance.

Let's not forget Pat Robertson also said this:

"You say you're supposed to be nice to the Episcopalians and the Presbyterians and the Methodists and this, that, and the other thing. Nonsense. I don't have to be nice to the spirit of the Antichrist."

Pat Robertson also has said this about Islam:

These people are crazed fanatics, and I want to say it now: I believe it's motivated by demonic power. It is Satanic and it's time we recognize what we're dealing with.

and he has said: "Islam, at its core, teaches violence."

And he has also attacked Hindus, basically considering only Christianity and Judaism even legitimate religions:

"When I said during my presidential bid that I would bring only Christians and Jews into the government, I hit a firestorm. 'What do you mean?' the media challenged me. 'You're not going to bring atheists into the government? How dare you maintain that those who believe in Christian values are better qualified to govern America than Hindus and Muslims?' My simple answer is, 'Yes, they are.'"

Let's not forget that Pat Robertson is a supporter of former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor, the man responsible for the bloody civil war in Sierra Leone, who has been accused of harboring al-Qaeda terrorists after the bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, and who is now indicted as a war criminal.

Rudy Giuliani is already hated by firefighters because his refusal to give the NY firefighters adequate radios led to many deaths on 9/11. Now Rudy is alienating Jews, Hindus, Muslims and moderate Christians (including Episcopalians, Presbyterians and Methodists) by associating himself with intolerant extremism that he really should be rejecting. And as to the experience and advice Pat Robertson can give Rudy, well maybe it's a good thing after all. Remember, Pat Robertson failed miserably in his 1988 bid to become President. Yeah, Rudy. Take advice from a dictator-loving, fanatical, failure. Just don't claim you're a moderate when you do it.