Posted on 09/27/2006 11:07:20 AM PDT by SDGOP
In his latest interview with RedState, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney responds to a question about his abortion position by saying that he's never adopted the label "pro-choice."
That's all well and good. Mitt Romney wants to be called pro-life. I'd like to be the King of all Londinium and wear a shiny hat.
But let's not kid ourselves: there is no substantive difference between the position labeled "pro-choice," declaring your support for "the right to choose." And that is something that Mitt Romney has done repeatedly over the course of his political career. To say otherwise is to tell a lie.
(Excerpt) Read more at redstate.com ...
Thanks mom.
"If the distinction is whether they did a mission, then yes."
Even though by going on that mission he was promoting social conservative values to people who probably really needed it? Sheesh.
That the way the media wants you to think of him!
The Massachusetts State Legislator is veto proof democrat. There is no way Romney would have succeeded in reversing any abortion law in this state.
Dear SDGOP,
Ah, but Mr. Romney didn't utter the words, "I am pro-choice."
Thus, to say that he is a liar for saying, "I've never called myself pro-choice," is, as far as it goes, untrue.
At least, I think that's the point being made. * chuckle *
The writer of the article at Red State is taking Mr. Romney's words to mean that Mr. Romney is claiming that he hasn't ever been pro-choice. In that case, Mr. Romney is a total and complete liar, and should be run out of the Republican race for president.
However, your interlocutor appears to be making a more narrow point, which is that even though he may be pro-choice, indeed, he never actually used that label on himself, and thus, calling him a liar for saying it is out of bounds.
Frankly, I think the narrower interpretation is a lot of hooey. It's almost clintonian.
Unless Mr. Romney is dissembling by trying to imply one meaning while literally saying something different, a fair interpretation of his words is that he's denying he's ever been pro-choice.
And that is utterly false. Mr. Romney has, by his own admission, embraced the pro-choice view since 1970, whether he calls it "pro-choice" or "pro-dingleberry-dippy-doo."
I don't think Mr. Romney realizes how utterly alienating his actions and words are toward folks for whom life is a paramount issue. If he had evinced a real conversion, and been open about it, he may have made some headway. But time is running out for him on this issue. Every time he denies that in the past he was a pro-abort scumbag, he makes it increasingly difficult for folks for whom life is paramount to ever accept that he has had a genuine conversion.
When running for offices in liberal Massachusetts, he was clearly and adamantly pro-abort, standing fast with Roe. Now that he wants to run for the Republican nomination for president, suddenly, he claims to be pro-life, and wants to overturn Roe.
Smells like political opportunism. He should take a bath.
sitetest
He seems like a good man to me and clearly he's a great CEO and exceptionally bright, but he appears to be making a mistake here by saying he was never pro-choice when instead he should say that he changed his mind, and explain why.
Mitt Romney is not an abortionist, please stop this nonsense.
Please: Politicians say what people want to hear. That's the nature of the job. Kerry lost in conservative states because Kerry is to the left of Ted Kennedy, and anyone with a brain knew it. It had nothing to do with his lying.
I'm no Mitt Romney fan but let's not eat our own here. Let's not forget the Gipper's 11th Commandment: Thou shalt not speak ill of Republicans. Even RINOs which I suspect that most will ultimately conclude that Romney is. If I have to vote for Romney, it will be with my left hand as my right hand would be firmly holding my nose.
Dear SDGOP,
You've explained the law that Mr. Reagan signed quite well. I'll add a little detail. The law actually required women who wanted abortions for "grave threat to health" reasons to submit their request to a panel of doctors at the hospital where the abortion was to be performed, for them to evaluate whether or not a truly grave health threat existed.
Mr. Reagan didn't realize that this process would become a rubber stamp to permit any and all abortions.
sitetest
With Allen imploding, Romney is looking better and better to me.
He's also anti-gun which disqualifies him in my eyes even if JHVH puts his seal of approval on him.
There are a lot of fine upstanding people in the Mormon church - I hear there are in Islam too. I have the RIGHT to hold candidates up to my beliefs and vote acordingly. THE difference between that and Islam is that I don't want to kill someone who believes differently, I just choose to not vote for him/her.
So, he's not "pro-choice" but he is in favor of legal abortion in this country (as recently as at least 2002). I see. Talk about trying to have it both ways - even for a politician this is pathetic...
People change there minds. Reagan did it, others will as well.
Geez, then I guess I shouldn't have voted for President Bush since he is an evangelist. I have had them put fliers on my car for one of their big revivals. Can't vote for a lutheran because they will ask guest at their church to be saved. Give me a break, being a missionary is a very nobel thing for a young man or woman to do. If you are so ignorant not to know that, maybe you should have your voters card away...la
I think Romney should be more honest and say that he changed his mind about abortion. If he runs against Hillary, Romney's greater perceived honesty will be a major advantage for him and he must make sure he doesn't throw away that advantage with a mistake on the abortion issue. It's humbling sometimes to say you changed your mind because this implies that you were mistaken before. But it's better to be humbled now than lose to the dreadful Hillary in 11/08.
I disagree. Conservatives on the whole are more honest than liberals and we care more about electing honest people. We'll just agree to disagree on this point.
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