I've been trying like mad to garner information from 2008 presidential candidates on adoption-related issues and where they stand, but have had no luck at all in getting direct answers to direct questions. Apparently today's political climate has campaigns wary of some alignments, and with me on this side of the world and HQs on the other I lack the opportunity to plop myself and my questions down in front of someone who would rather answer than have me taking up space, so, I'm left to glean what I can from harvests less focused.

Rudy Giulliani's campaign has done some adoption addressing recently, though, one that's closely tied to what's touted as a pro-choice stance and drawing criticism from anti-abortion camps.

In the delivery of his "12 Commitments to the American People" he said:

"We need to take advantage of the common ground in America to reduce abortions by increasing adoptions and assuring that individual choice is well informed. We need to measure our progress toward these goals. We need to reduce the high costs of adoption."

The head of the Family Research Council, a Christian Right non-profit think tank and lobbying organization, is seemingly unimpressed and calls the comments nothing more than "a ploy to humor pro-lifers".

Republican Senator David Vitter of Louisiana, however, a self-proclaimed conservative concerned about important differences with the former mayor over abortion, co-authored this article supporting Giulliani's record on adoption while mayor of New York, pointing out the the number of adoptions went up by 133% over the eight years he held the office.

It was a clear priority of his administration, beginning with the establishment of the Administration for Children's Services, the first child protection agency in New York City history that reported directly to the mayor. He streamlined the adoption process, slashing red tape and promoting adoptions through innovative initiatives such as "Adoption Saturdays" where family courts held special sessions dedicated to matching children with loving homes.

A new book out on candidate and Senator Sam Brownback is reported to not only detail the Senator's life, including the adoptions of his children from Guatemala and China, but he has said that the proceeds from sales of the book are to be donated to the Building Families Fund with the Topeka Community Foundation, a fund that helps families meet the costs of domestic and international adoptions.

So, a bit of an adoption slant on two candidates out of however big the field is at the moment is about all I have at the moment, but the race is long and is bound to offer more insights into this very important topic all looking toward a stint as President of the United States of America must carefully consider.