Giuliani to Social Conservatives: Drop Dead!

(Above: Rudolph Giuliani, not attending the values debate.)

Daily News:

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Self-described "values voters" gathered here Monday to grill Republican presidential candidates, but the forum was most notable for its empty lecterns and its unanswered questions.

The biggest GOP names -- Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, John McCain and Fred Thompson -- sat out the Values Voter Presidential Debate, citing scheduling conflicts. That didn't stop questioners from addressing the front-runners who didn't attend.

[snip]

Though all four front-runners cited scheduling conflicts with the debate, Giuliani was in Fort Lauderdale just hours before the debate and Thompson was in Florida over the weekend and is due back Tuesday.

Miami Herald:

Giuliani was slated to meet with supporters at a Tampa cafe and attend a fundraiser.

Asked why he wasn't attending the debate, Giuliani said, ``I wasn't aware of it.''

Hmmm. Not exactly the same thing.