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>Two longtime Romney family friends and political supporters — former governor William Milliken and former Republican National Committee co-chairwoman Elly Peterson — told McNamara they could not recall Lenore Romney speaking out publicly for abortion.<

>Peterson, who worked on Lenore Romney’s campaign, said, “If it happened, I’d remember it. It didn’t and I don’t.” Milliken, who served as George Romney’s lieutenant governor, also expressed skepticism.”<

“He staked his credentials on his mother, Lenore. He said she ran for the Senate in 1970 on an abortion-rights platform, inspired by the death of her son-in-law’s teenage sister from an illegal abortion. “My mother and my family have been committed to the belief that we can believe as we want, but we will not force our beliefs on others on that matter. And you will not see me wavering on that,” he said.

In June 2005, former Globe columnist Eileen McNamara challenged Romney’s assertion of his mother’s pro-choice position. Two longtime Romney family friends and political supporters — former governor William Milliken and former Republican National Committee co-chairwoman Elly Peterson — told McNamara they could not recall Lenore Romney speaking out publicly for abortion. If she had, it would have represented a dramatic change of heart and break with the Mormon Church. Peterson, who worked on Lenore Romney’s campaign, said, “If it happened, I’d remember it. It didn’t and I don’t.” Milliken, who served as George Romney’s lieutenant governor, also expressed skepticism.”

“After pondering stem-cell research, he walked away from his late mother’s alleged pro-choice commitment, as well as what was described as a painful memory of a relative who died from an illegal abortion.

He also walked away from the one explanation that makes sense. “He’s been a pro-life Mormon faking it as a pro-choice friendly,” Romney adviser Mike Murphy told the National Review in 2006.”

++ “That’s more than a mistake. That’s dishonest”. ++