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If I may offer a possible correction to that thought, Romney has apparently held a pro-abortion position since before Roe v. Wade, in 1970--at a time when legalizing abortion was a radical idea, and the public on the whole was far from supportive.

FWIW in 1970 Ronald Reagan signed the most liberal abortion rights bill in the US when he was California's Governor. It was even more liberal than Roe v. Wade allowed. It even allowed for partial birth abortions. Ronald Reagan was as guilty of political expediency as anyone else. He was also a great president.

GWB has supported some rather liberal causes in the name of Political expediency. IMO he panders to the illegal alien crowd, he spends too much money on social programs and other than his firm stand on terrorism, is probably as liberal on social issues as Bill Clinton. The only difference is that GWB seems to be the kind of guy who appoints conservative judges.

Dear P-Marlowe,

"FWIW in 1970 Ronald Reagan signed the most liberal abortion rights bill in the US when he was California's Governor."

The law that Gov. Reagan signed permitted abortion in these cases:

1. Rape;
2. Incest;
3. Grave threat to the physical or psychological health of the mother.

According to the California law, to procure an abortion, a woman was required to submit her request to a panel of doctors at the hospital from which she would procure her abortion, that they might objectively verify that the appropriate criteria were met.

On its face, this is hardly as liberal as the legal regime established by Roe and its companion case, Bolton.

However, Gov. Reagan didn't realize that the medical establishment, and the abortion industry, would use the "health" criterion as a loophole to allow any and all abortions. After that happened, he publicly regretted having signed the law because of this abuse.

Thus, it's a slur to say that Gov. Reagan was "guilty of political expediency." He was guilty of poor judgment, of underestimating the evil of men, and of extreme naivete. But not political expediency.

sitetest

FWIW in 1970 Ronald Reagan signed the most liberal abortion rights bill in the US...

That false comparison has already been shattered on this very thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1709422/posts?page=68#68
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1709422/posts?page=92#92
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1709422/posts?page=119#119
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1709422/posts?page=130#130
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1709422/posts?page=155#155
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1709422/posts?page=244#244
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1709422/posts?page=333#333

Here's my take on Reagan vs. Romney:

Reagan was not an advocate for the pro-abortion position, nor for Roe v. Wade.
Romney not only has defended Roe as law, but bragged that for over two decades he had been pro-choice since before Roe. In the 1994 debate, Romney said abortion "should be safe and legal." He didn't even add the word "rare" in there to tone it down. He clearly meant to impress voters with his pro-choice credentials.
Reagan actually admitted he was wrong to sign the California abortion bill, when he realized the health exception was being twisted to take lives rather than protect them as he had intended. It was the one piece of legislation he signed that he called a mistake.
Romney has not had a clear change of heart, and only recently started labeling himself "personally pro-life." The timing of this is obviously political calculation.
Reagan eloquently advocated for the “transcendent right to life” of the unborn child, and his rhetoric helped inspire the anti-abortion, right-to-life movement.
Romney does not say the unborn have the right to live. He either does not believe it or does not understand it--which means Romney is incapable of leading the pro-life movement and carrying on Reagan's pro-life banner.
Reagan viewed abortion as a federal issue, compared it to slavery, and called for amending the U.S. Constitution to protect unborn life. At his very first press conference after he won the 1980 election, Reagan said his intent was to “make abortion illegal.” Reagan, like Lincoln, understood that the fundamental rights articulated in the Declaration of Independence must be defended against the encroachment of the states.
Romney takes the Confederate position on abortion, as though it is a matter of personal preference and not an issue of justice, and just months ago said: "I believe that each state should be able to make their own choice as to whether they are pro-life or pro-choice." By taking a Stephen Douglas approach to the question of abortion, Romney is clearly at odds with Reagan.

A person can agree with Romney if he'd like, but don't compare him to Reagan.