Rudy and the Christians

Rudy is the GOP front runner, and who woulda thunk it? He's pro-choice, pro-gun control, &c. Why is he the front runner?

He's cheerful and optimistic. Downright Reaganesque in this regard. Perhaps savoir faire and joie de vivre sometimes trump ideology (one of my pet theories).

But what should Giuliani say to the social conservatives to make sure he keeps his lead? My advice to Rudy is that he should say something like this:

"These days, we are all led to think we should either be overtly religious or else hostile to religion. But I can recall a day in which a person who has perhaps not been very religious in his life could nevertheless be respectful of religion. Remember the old movies? A not-so-pious character might take his hat off when a priest enters the room; or he might sincerely listen to the wisdom of an evangelical protestant minister. Well, ladies and gentlemen, I'm like that character in the old movies. Perhaps I haven't lived a life that lived up to someone's else's moral litmus test, but I will take my hat off to that priest, and will listen respectfully to that protestant minister. Jesus said 'render unto Ceasar that which is Caesar's, and unto God that which is God's'; I have done a good job in the role of Caesar in New York City. I have kept order -- a God-pleasing thing. And if I have failed to live up to God's high standards in the category of morals, please be aware that I am respectful of those who admonish me based on God's transcendent principles."

Why don't actual politicians ever say anything like this?