GOP group to slam Romney on abortion
A Republican group that favors abortion rights plans to hit Mitt Romney in Iowa and New Hampshire with a TV spot and newspaper ads over his change of position on abortion.
The 30-second TV ad features photos of Romney -- one labeled pro-choice, the other pro-life -- that flip back and forth as whimsical music plays. The announcer says Romney should flop back to supporting abortion rights.
When he was endorsed by another GOP abortion rights group in his 2002 bid for governor, the group issued a statement in which Romney said, "I believe in people and in protecting their freedom to make their own life choices. Accordingly, as Governor, I respect and will fully protect a woman's right to choose. That choice is a deeply personal one, and the women of our state should make it based on their own beliefs, not mine and not the government's."
He has said that conversations with stem cell researchers in 2005 convinced him to oppose abortion. He then described himself as personally opposed to abortion, but said that as governor he would not change abortion laws. He became more adamantly anti-abortion in the run-up to his presidential bid.
Romney's campaign stressed that several of the group's board members have donated to Republican rival Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign, though the group said it has not talked to the Giuliani campaign about the ad campaign.
"Governor Romney will not back down from his pro-life position, despite this group's attempts to weaken the party platform and promote Mayor Giuliani's pro-choice candidacy," Romney spokesman Kevin Madden said.
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The problem with Mitt Romney's position now on the right to life issue is not whether he ever had a legitimate conversion on the issue. Clearly he hasn't , because he has never demonstrated any conviction about the sanctity of all human life. He's still where he always has been . Stating that you're in favor of overturning Roe v Wade is not a pro-life position, but a "states rights" stance and says nothing about the value of human life.
Romney has always been pro life. Romney was "effectively pro choice" because he believes in the doctrine of "free agency" which states that people must have the rights to make their own choices. Romney believed that it was not his place to force other people to choose his way when the law had been decided. When he realised that the debate was still ongoing and that new laws were being made that impacted life, he realised the error of his ways. Incidentally, as a public official, he has always acted to protect the sanctity of life at ever juncture.
I think it's telling that a pro choice group would be running ads against Romney. Anyone who is pro life should really think about that.