Posted on 06/14/2007 8:29:45 PM PDT by monomaniac
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Seeing his polling numbers decline and not obtaining much in the way of support from the pro-life community, Sen. John McCain is going after former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who is seeing is numbers rise in top primary states. McCain’s campaign disseminated a video showing Romney saying he would uphold the state’s abortion laws.
McCain’s campaign is hoping to use Romney’s image in some circles as a candidate who flip-flops on various key political issues to assail him on abortion.
The video depicts Romney saying, “"I have indicated that as governor, I am absolutely committed to my promise to maintain the status quo with regards to laws relating to abortion.” Romney goes on to say that his personal views on abortion would not impact his public policy decisions as governor.
The comments come during a speech Romney gave on bioethics issues and a state bill he opposed promoting embryonic stem cell research.
McCain’s campaign released a statement on the video saying, "It's a legitimate question as to why anyone would say they'd taken a position at a certain time and then ... it comes to light that indeed they apparently have not."
"Mitt Romney's biggest challenge in this election will be convincing Republicans he has principled positions on important issues, especially now that it's known that he remained committed to pro-choice policies after his 'epiphany' on abortion in 2004," Matt David, a McCain spokesman said.
The statement touted McCain’s voting record in opposition to abortion,though he has upset pro-life advocates with his repeated support for embryonic stem cell research funding.
Romney reacted the comments in an interview with pro-life talk show host Michael Medved and said, "I guess politics can get a little testy if you're having a difficult time yourself."
Responding to the comments on Romney’s position, his campaign told LifeNews.com that McCain’s campaign attacked Romney’s pro-life beliefs by altering the context of his views on pro-life issues via selective editing of a news conference from 2005.
The Romney camp said the attack comes from “a campaign that is faltering and flailing” and “has again resorted to calculated distortions in a last ditch effort to maintain relevance”
Kevin Madden, spokesman for Governor Romney, told LifeNews.com that “Governor Romney is firmly pro-life and can rely on his record of having protected the sanctity of life when faced with those issues as governor.”
He said Romney “consistently maintained, in an effort to protect the sanctity of life, that he would fight attempts to weaken the state’s existing abortion laws. Maintaining existing laws in a state like Massachusetts was an important fight in and of itself.”
Madden indicated the language McCain’s campaign relied on came from a distortion of a speech Romney gave making the case for his veto of a bill that would have promoted embryonic stem cell research in Massachusetts.
John McCain is an abortion.
Romney has a stack of embarrasing previous liberal positions. The question is can we trust the new Mitt?
Johnny McLame is getting desperate. LOL!
McCain isn’t fully Republican.
Wow. McCain is one to be talking.
McLame is a cranky, crazy ol’ guy. He’s working up to a Dean Scream. I think that’s why Mitt’s answering him.
I hope Mitt just ignores him and moves on. It is the Al-dimocRATS that needs the attacking.
I’m not a McCain fan. He’s pissed on the plums way too many times. I think Amnesty is sinking him quickly. Rudy, Mitt and Fred were wise to run away from it.
Nobody’s paying attention anyway. It’s summer, Mitt’s the frontrunner, and McCain is barely hanging on. He’s desperate.
I was agreeing with you :)
He really did mess the bed, didn’t he? Too bad, with his former stature, he could have been a good thorn to jab in the dem’s side all these years....instead, he jabs OUR sides.....
Case closed, game/set/match.
Well, McCain’s not Pro-Life either. I don’t recall impassioned speeches by him to save terri. I don’t see him on the frontlines railing against embryonic stem cell funding the way he does in arguing for amnesty. he, along with Lott, devised the plan to block good judges. The absolute most important concern to pro-Lifers. Actions speak pretty loudly this guy is all talk on the life issue. When it counts, he’s never there.
But I hope he has some success beating Romney up. the likely benefactor of the fight between the two is Thompson.
One less senator, either party, not in the Presidential race is a good thing for the nation.
If he really wants to be spiteful he should be giving out kisses of death by trying to be friendly with candidates.
He was a good man but Washington corrupted his soul. Now he will implode, hopefully his misbegotten policies he wants to enact wont suck the rest of america in with him to irrelevance and decay.
Well anyways he’s giving free press to Mitt. Causes people to look at Mitt’s website.
Wish he would sacrifice himself to take out Kennedy instead of the GOP.
Could it be, and i’m just wondering,,,,could Mitt Romney be the “john kerry” of the republican party,,,flipping on issues as he tends to do....???
McCain is only Pro-McCain....
Juan, no one listens to you any more.. you would rather support the illegal aliens than the United States Citzens... your toast..
McCain who?
not to worry!
neither will get the nomination.
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