Posted on 01/30/2007 9:26:59 AM PST by presidio9
Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney is under fire as he pursues the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. A recent Internet video highlighted comments made during a 1994 debate against Sen. Edward Kennedy in which Romney declared that he supported a "woman's right to choose." Romney quickly distanced himself from those comments, winning praise from conservative pundits. But a look at Romney's second campaign, the 2002 race for Massachusetts governor, reveals that his pro-choice stance and support for embryonic stem cell research were clear and ardent less than five years ago.
In the spring of 2002 Romney completed a Planned Parenthood questionnaire. Signed by Romney and dated April 9, 2002, it contained these responses:
Do you support the substance of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade? YES
Do you support state funding of abortion services through Medicaid for low-income women? YES
In 1998 the FDA approved the first packaging of emergency contraception, also known as the "morning after pill." Emergency contraception is a high dose combination of oral contraceptives that if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, can safely prevent a pregnancy from occurring. Do you support efforts to increase access to emergency contraception? YES
Romney also completed the questionnaire of the National Abortion Rights Action League, or NARAL (now called NARAL Pro-Choice America), with this statement:
I respect and will protect a woman's right to choose. This choice is a deeply personal one. Women should be free to choose based on
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
Maybe if he said "If I only knew then what I know now"?
The key difference between the two is that Romney at least understands he has to bridge the gap between his past statements and the concerns of large sections of the base.
Rudy appears to harbor no such sentiment.
I've seen a flip, I ain't seen no flop.
His record as governor in vetoing human cloning and morning after pill bills looks pro-life to me, all past rhetoric aside.
Exactly. I thought the whole purpose of the pro-life movemnet was to convert pro aborts to a position that respects life. Isn't that what's happened to Mitt?
Romney is a Mormon, I was a Mormon. If he goes against the church and preaches "false doctrine," he could be excommunicated.
Romney is a moderate, how else could he become elected as governor in the state where he ran?
It is. Not to be cynical or anything, but isn't the timing just a little convenient? He has a lot to gain by going pro-life the year before the presidential election. If true, it could give him a real edge over Giuliani and, possibly, McCain during the primaries. I am not saying that his conversion was not genuine, but it does deserve scrutiny.
Preaches?
I've no idea what you mean by that.
Don't trust anything coming out of MA.
"His record as governor in vetoing human cloning and morning after pill bills looks pro-life to me, all past rhetoric aside."
This, to me, is more valuable than anything he has said or done.
I like Romney. Of those who have come forward, I think I prefer him to all but Hunter.
I still think it's funny.
Are you sure there have been 500 pro-Rino threads already?
Just a rough guess. I am glad to see you are using your words, instead of just posting hilarious photos.
Say, is there a Republican candidate running, whose thread concerning you would not festoon with a Rhino pic, who has gotten more than 2% in any GOP Primary poll? Just curious.
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