Posted on 05/26/2005 6:23:10 AM PDT by areafiftyone
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has hinted that he’s shifted his position on abortion since his first run for public office, when he pledged to keep abortion "safe and legal in this country.”
"Understand, over time one’s perspective changes somewhat,” Romney told USA Today. "I’m in a different place than I was probably in 1994, when I ran against Ted Kennedy, in my own views on that.”
He added: "I’m personally pro-life.”
Julie Teer, the Republican governor’s spokeswoman, wouldn’t explain how Romney’s stance has changed, saying only that it has "evolved over time.”
But his remarks were seen by observers of the abortion debate as an indication he would shift to the right on the issue if he decides to seek the Republication nomination for president in 2008.
That would make him more attractive to conservative voters in primaries outside Massachusetts.
Back in 1994, when Romney was running for the Senate against Kennedy, he declared in a debate: "I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country.”
But in recent months, Romney has "played up his personal opposition to abortion in out-of-state speeches,” according to the Boston Globe.
That concerns Angus McQuilken, public affairs director for the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, who said: "It’s just not credible to have one set of values when it comes to Massachusetts and another set when you decide you’re going to present yourself to the voters nationally.”
In the past few months Romney has also removed a reference to Roe vs. Wade from a proclamation celebrating access to birth control, and refused to publicly support a measure expanding access to emergency contraception.
But some pro-life supporters think he hasn’t gone far enough. Romney "is going to have to do a lot more convincing” if he hopes to win the votes of social conservatives, Tom McClusky of the Family Research Council told The Boston Globe.
"For a lot of people, especially Christian conservatives, it’s one of those black and white issue. You’re either pro-life or not. That’s the trouble with Governor Romney – he’s gray.”
But if Romney is uncomfortable with his previous abortion policy and how it would play out in a national election, he doesn’t feel that his support for stem cell research will hurt him with conservative voters if he runs for president.
Romney is in favor of using leftover embryos from fertility clinics for research. President Bush opposes that use.
Romney said he "can’t imagine politics or ambition” would stand in the way of doing what anyone thinks "is right for the family of humankind on an issue like this.”
Don't forget gun control. Romney pushed through a bill that banned practically everything, but reduced fees for plebians who begged for the privelidge to hunt ducks.
If questioned he gets downright hostile and arrogant as wel as insulting to anyone who champions the most basic human right of self defense.
Romney sucks, plain and simple.
"Romney sucks, plain and simple..."
Yup... Which means he has as good a chance as anyone of being elected President.
Social issues aside.Romney is no conservative.Does he want to repeal the Drug entitlement? Abolish the department of Education? Energy? Commerce? Abolish the IRS? Reform INS?
Reform the State Department?
Sadly we all know the answer. Having conservative views does not make one a conservative.
Ouch!
Too true!
I hope so.
I never understood why New Englanders make fun of southerners as dumb.
The great state of Alabama would never constantly elect and re-elect a fat, drunken, murdering communist with a head like a watermelon to the U.S. Senate.
What has this person ever done for Massachusets? If Dear Old Sainted John hadn't been Prez, fat boy would be living under a bridge.
Here in Colorado we have two Democrats who claim they have been Christian all their life-and resent it when people who disagree with their position claim they are not Christian.
Same rule applies Jesus said Those who love ME obey My
commandments.(John 14:15)And that lesson is reflected in the letters written by the Apostles. And that those who heard Him are the Salt of the earth(Matthew 5:13)That"Everyone will be salted with fire,and salt is good.but
if it loses its saltiness how can you make it salty again?"
(Mark 9:50) I see no reason to respect any who claim they
personally believe such or such -but they are unwilling to
defend what they claim to believe.
Yeah, anyone can make a mistake, but re-electing that mistake for forty years is insanity.
This is different from Hitlery how?
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