Posted on 11/03/2008 1:10:38 PM PST by BGHater
While John McCain's campaign has tried to tie its Democratic rival to socialism, one of the Arizona Republican's top surrogates said Barack Obama is not a socialist.
McCain's campaign had seized on Sen. Obama’s statements that he plans to “spread the wealth around” and sought to tie the Illinois Democrat to socialism.
But former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R), while arguing that Obama’s economic plan is a “job-killer,” said Monday on CBS’s “Early Show”: “You know, I don’t think Barack Obama’s a socialist. I think a lot of his policies are inspired by the pathway [that] Europe took. I think the idea of having the government take over healthcare and raise taxes on employers is the wrong direction for the country.”
Romney, who was the GOP surrogate tasked with appearing on all of the morning talk shows, also said both candidates are “terrific men,” when asked if the country would be in good hands if the Democrat is elected.
“I’ll be very concerned about the economy for the country. I’ll be concerned that the economy will be in a slow-down or a recession for a longer, deeper period,” Romney stated. “I'll be concerned about long term, about a president who would raise taxes on businesses and, if you will, through this intimidation, impose unions on small businesses.”
Hell there are still a few on this thread trying to blow this off.
You asked me not to post to you. So don’t post to me.
No, I'm not.
That's the MORMON claim.
I will command my people... WHAT??
They WERE 'commanded'!
Not to do those things.
They DID 'harken' to them.
In Acts there is no mention of paying back INTO the system by those taking out.
The mormon system is more of a LOAN than charity.
Oh?
By publishing their ACTUAL WORDS?
You are not being truthful. No one attacked Mr. Romney's
clothes, his wife, nor his children (who are adults).
In contrast, the venal troops of Mr. Romney attacked Gov. Palin's children,
including even here on FReeRepublic. You should all be ashamed of yourselves.
What a ridiculous response! If private folks voluntarily spread their wealth around, is that socialism? (No way!)
It's Robin Hood politics that folks object to, whether it's "we'll garnish your wages if you don't cough up taxes for us to spread the wealth around," or "we'll withhold the celestial kingdom/godhood and temple access if you don't cough up your forced tithe to the Mormon church for us to spread the wealth around."
When anyone -- be it a Christian, Mormon or socialist -- comes to your door for a voluntary handout that really does help the poor...that's one thing...
...When an authority figure engages in enforced socialistic taxation or tithe mandates, that's another thing. Herbert W. Armstrong's Worldwide Church of God, for instance, before his church body converted from culthood to orthodox status, for instance, would often demand double, triple or quadruple tithes.
So for you to try to reduce this matter to the practice of tithing instead of focusing on the true issue -- its enforced tactical mandating (how it's done) -- is pure obfuscation.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2124013/posts
Palin Declines to Call Obama a Socialist
Before I address your Reagan contrast, why do you assume Romney converted? Of course, Freepers are intelligent enough to recognize that politicians do change. But we’re no fools. We know that some politicians change…and change...and change...and keep changing!!!
Romney was pro-abortion in…
…1994,
…2002-2004,
…May of 2005...
…but he "wasn't pro-choice" in a letter-to-the editor in a Utah newspaper in 2001…
… and made pro-life actions in 2005 SANDWICHED between a pro-abortion comment in 2005...
…but then was back to pro-abortion actions in 2006 with RomneyCare...
…before being supposedly "pro-life" in 2007...
…but then he told us he was "always for life" in early '07 and wasn't ever "pro-choice" according to a Summer ’07 statement of his.
Reagan Contrast
What you got with Reagan was not someone who, after writing a book, Abortion: The Conscience of a Nation in 1984, kept slipping back (like Romney did) into pro-abortion words & actions.
Question #1: I mean, did Reagan have a 13-year hand-holding affair with Planned Parenthood like Romney did? (attended Planned Parenthood promo events with his wife's $150 check in hand...enough to pay for 1/2 abortion--in 1994; answered Planned Parenthood's political questionnaire all to PP's liking in 2002 + did same for NARAL & Majority for Choice--even personally sought the one for MFC; then put a PP rep as a permanent oversight rep for RomneyCare board...the latter supposedly after he was "pro-life.")
Question #2: Did Reagan attempt to obfuscate his previous role like Romney did in 2007?
In contrast to Reagan, let’s look at the alleged “sincerity” you cite for Romney:
Please explain how both these 2007 statements could be true?
(a) "As governor, I’ve had several pieces of legislation reach my desk, which would have expanded abortion rights in Massachusetts. Each of those I vetoed. Every action I’ve taken as the governor that relates to the sanctity of human life, I have stood on the side of life."
Versus (b) “Over the last multiple years, as you know, I have been effectively pro-choice." (Bruce Smith, "Romney Campaigns in SC with Sen. DeMint," The Associated Press, 1/29/07) Note: And then, of course, 11 days after that, he said he was "effectively pro-choice...over the last multiple years" before settling into a campaign promo even in that same state: "I am firmly pro-life…I was always for life." (Jim Davenport, "Romney Affirms Opposition to Abortion," The Associated Press, 2/9/2007)
Gee, Rameumptom…can’t you take Romney’s February 2007 comment at face value? Come on. Romney said then that he had “always [been] for life.” If he was “always for life,” then ya wanna explain what kind of “conversion” you’re talking about?
"Always for life?" (Does he even know the difference?) Reagan did. The 1984 book proves it. But of course Romney's not done there...even before his "parent...donate" embryos for dissection comments to Couric last December, he told Iowa folks the previous August:
"I never said I was pro-choice, but my position was effectively pro-choice." (Source: 2007 GOP Iowa Straw Poll debate 8/5/2007)
OK...looking at the 1994 & 2002 campaigns, how could he say he "never said" he was "pro-choice?"
So…Romney’s still not even done -- confusing us even more in August, 2007:
Fox News’ Chris Wallace interviews him (Aug. 12, 2007). "I never called myself pro-choice. I never allowed myself to use the word pro-choice because I didn't FEEL I was pro-choice. I would protect the law, I said, as it was, but I wasn't pro-choice, and so...
Rameumptom again in his weak defense: Romney’s record shows he should be totally acceptable to all conservatives, yet because of one dubious question concerning the validity of his conversion to the pro-life side, he is deemed unsuitable to carry the conservative banner.
Freepers, beware the person who reduces humanity-at-risk to a mere “question.” Rameumptom is no Nazi, but the Nazi tactic was to reduce Jews in the 1930s to the “Jewish question.” (Just a hint, Rameumptom to steer clear of such tactics)
Rameumptom: One of the criticisms about former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney focuses on his record concerning the abortion issue. We are told by the modern day Diogenes clones that he can’t be trusted to fight abortion because he once, more or less, supported a woman’s right to butcher her baby…
Surely you’ve heard the statement that we don’t like certain politicians who say one thing before campaign sponsors in San Francisco and another thing before Scranton voters?
During the midst of what you reference as “his record” of being pro-abortion (1994 into his gubernatorial years), how did Romney “reassure” his “Scranton” crowd? He told them in a letter-to-the-editor that he's not really "pro-choice," after all: "I do not wish to be labeled pro-choice." (Mitt Romney, Letter to the Editor, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7/12/01)
Ah, isn’t that touching? So you claim that he possessed this pro-abortion “record” and then changed?
You betcha he changed! He took three different positions on embryonic stem cell research in 5.5 years, changing yet again when he told Katie Couric in December 2007 that a "parent" of an otherwise adoptable surplus frozen embryo (in fact he used the word "adoption"!) could be "donated to research" and concluded that was perfectly "acceptable."
Come on…after all, embryonic stem cell research and the destruction of human life was supposedly THE VERY ISSUE that "converted" him to the pro-life side! You can't get more "pro-choice" than a politician saying that a "parent" can acceptably "donate" their offspring to be "dissected" to death.
And even putting aside the pro-abortion consequences of RomneyCare for the moment, don’t folks know that when a preacher takes to the pulpit, he’s not just talkin’ but that’s an action, too? Romney tried to claim that all his gubernatorial actions were pro-life, yet when he took the gubernatorial pulpit at a May 27 '05 press conference, he affirmed his campaign promises: "I am absolutely committed to my promise to maintain the status quo with regards to laws relating to abortion and choice."
You have wrongly attributed Michael Reagan’s words to me. I should have italicized them. I am honored by the attribution and I agree with his assessment of the Reagan/Romney/Abortion issue over yours. You seem to think you understand Reagan on the issue better than Michael Reagan a famous conservative talk show host who also happens to have lived with the man.
____________________
Governor Romney: “I will be a pro-life President. I will appoint and fight for justices who follow the law and the Constitution, who understand judicial restraint and who won’t legislate from the bench. But being a pro-life president also means promoting policies that reflect our respect for the sanctity of life. I will oppose taxpayer funding of abortion, oppose partial birth abortion, oppose abortion in military clinics, oppose funding abortion in international aid programs, and I will work to ban embryonic cloning. I will work to increase adoptions by making the adoption tax credit permanent and raising awareness about embryonic adoption, or snowflake babies.”
(Governor Mitt Romney, “Address to the Family Research Council’s Values Voter Summit,” Washington, D.C., October 19, 2007)
Governor Romney was presented with legislation concerning life issues on several occasions from the 85% majority Democrat Legislature in Massachusetts. In every instance he took the pro-life position by vetoing bills or lobbying for the pro-life approach, including the following actions:
He vetoed the bill providing state funding for human embryonic stem cell research
(Theo Emery, “Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney Vetoes Stem Cell Bill,” The Associated Press, 5/27/2005)
He vetoed a bill that provided for the “morning after pill” without a prescription because it is an abortifacient and would have been available to minors without parental notification and consent
(Governor Mitt Romney, Op-Ed, “Why I Vetoed Contraception Bill,” The Boston Globe, 7/26/2005)
He pledged to veto any bill that would expand access to RU-486, the abortion pill
(Hugh Hewitt, “Interview with Governor Romney,” The Hugh Hewitt Show, 7/27/2005)
He vetoed legislation which would have redefined Massachusetts longstanding definition of the beginning of human life from fertilization to implantation
(Governor Mitt Romney, Letter To The Massachusetts State Senate And House Of Representatives, 5/12/2005)
He supported parental notification laws and opposed efforts to weaken parental involvement
(John McElhenny, “O’Brien And Romney Spar In Last Debate Before Election,” The Associated Press, 10/29/2002)
He fought to promote abstinence education in public school classrooms with a program offered by faith-based Boston group Healthy Futures to middle school students. Gov. Romney’s administration was the first in Massachusetts to use federal abstinence education funds for classroom programs.
(Office of Gov. Mitt Romney, “Romney Announces Award of Abstinence Education Contract,” Press Release, 4/20/2006)
Governor Romney: “Times of decision are moments of great clarity. Before I was Governor, the life issue was just that, an issue. But when responsibility for life or ending life was placed in my hands, I made the right decision. I chose life.”
(Governor Mitt Romney, Remarks At The National Right To Life Convention Forum, Kansas City, MO, 6/15/2007)
Eight prominent leaders of pro-life and pro-family groups in Massachusetts wrote an open letter on January 11, 2007 praising Gov. Romney for his leadership and accomplishments in these important issues and attesting to his commitment to the pro-life and pro-family causes. (This letter is a MUST READ)
Excerpt:
“Since well before 2003, we have been laboring in the trenches of Massachusetts, fighting for the family values you and we share. It is difficult work indeed – not for the faint of heart. In this challenging environment, Governor Romney has proven that he shares our values, as well as our determination to protect them.
“For four years, Governor Romney has been right there beside us, providing leadership on key issues – whether it was politically expedient to do so or not. He has stood on principle, and we have benefited greatly from having him with us.
“It is clear that Governor Romney has learned much since 1994 – to the benefit of our movement and our Commonwealth. In fact, the entire nation has benefited from his socially conservative, pro-family actions in office. As we explained earlier, his leadership on the marriage issue helped prevent our nation from being plunged into even worse legal turmoil following the court decision that forced “gay marriage” upon our Commonwealth.
“For that our country ought to be thankful. We certainly are.
Massachusetts Citizens for Life gave Governor Romney their 2007 Mullins Award for Outstanding Political Leadership recognizing him for consistently seeking to advance the pro-life cause while in office. The award was presented at the MCFL Mother’s Day Pioneer Valley Dinner where Gov. Romney delivered the keynote speech.
Ann Romney serves as co-chairman of the Massachusetts Citizens for Life capital campaign.
Massachusetts Citizens For Life Executive Director Marie Sturgis: “Having Governor Romney in the corner office for the last four years has been one of the strongest assets the pro-life movement has had in Massachusetts.”
(Kathryn Jean Lopez, “An Early Massachusetts Primary,” National Review Online, 1/10/2007)
Massachusetts Citizens For Life Pioneer Valley Chapter Chairman Kevin Jourdain: “Mitt Romney was a great Governor, who served with honor and distinction. But most importantly, he was a pro-life Governor. He vetoed a number of pro-abortion pieces of legislation and made many pro-life appointments. He was always there for us.”
(Kevin Jourdain, Remarks at Massachusetts Citizens for Life Mother’s Day Pioneer Valley Dinner, Agawam, MA, 5/10/2007)
Governor Romney has received the important endorsement of James Bopp, Jr., a nationally-known constitutional lawyer, leading advocate for the pro-life movement, and author of the Human Life Amendment for the Republican Party Platform. James Bopp reviewed Romney’s record as Governor and questioned him personally before giving Romney his endorsement. Bopp later joined the Romney Presidential campaign as a special adviser on life issues, an unpaid position.
James Bopp Jr. wrote about the record of Governor Romney:
“These actions as governor have lead leaders of the most important social conservative groups in Massachusetts, including Massachusetts Citizens for Life, Massachusetts Family Institute, and the Knights of Columbus, to observe that, while previous comments by Romney “are, taken by themselves, obviously worrisome to social conservatives including ourselves, they do not dovetail with the actions of Governor Romney from 2003 until now — and those actions positively and demonstrably impacted the social climate of Massachusetts.” They conclude that Romney “demonstrat[ed] [his] solid social conservative credentials by undertaking” these actions, and has therefore “proven that he shares our values, as well as our determination to protect them.”
(James Bopp Jr., “The Best Choice Is Also a Good Choice - Why social conservatives should support Mitt Romney for president,” National Review Online, 2/21/2007)
Governor Romney believes Roe v. Wade should be overturned as a first step, allowing the States to set abortion policy, as a goal that can be achieved more quickly. For a longer range goal after overturning Roe v. Wade, he supports a Human Life Amendment to the Constitution and endorses legislation to make it clear that the 14th Amendment’s protections apply to unborn children.
Romney believes that controversial abortion policy should be decided through the democratic process by citizens in the several states and their elected representatives rather than by federal judicial mandate.
Governor Romney: “I understand that my views on laws governing abortion set me in the minority in our Commonwealth. I am prolife. I believe that abortion is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother. I wish the people of America agreed, and that the laws of our nation could reflect that view. But while the nation remains so divided over abortion, I believe that the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate.”
(Governor Mitt Romney, Op-Ed, “Why I vetoed contraception bill,” The Boston Globe, 7/26/2005)
Gov. Romney Praised The U.S. Supreme Court Decision Upholding A Partial-Birth Abortion Ban. “Today, our nation’s highest court reaffirmed the value of life in America by upholding a ban on a practice that offends basic human decency. This decision represents a step forward in protecting the weakest and most innocent among us.”
(Romney for President, “Statement On Supreme Court’s Partial Birth Abortion Ruling,” Press Release, 4/18/2007)
Statement from Romney Communications Director Matt Rhoades: “Governor Romney does not believe that abortion legislation should punish women who have abortions. Governor Romney recognizes that we must be sensitive to both lives involved in these situations, the unborn child and the mother. The people who should be held accountable for violations of this nature are the people who perform an illegal abortion, the penalties of which could include anything from disciplinary action to incarceration.”
(Terence P. Jeffrey, “Romney Open to Incarcerating Abortionists,” CNSNews.com, 11/21/2007)
View video of a portion of a speech delivered by Mitt Romney at the National Review Institute Conservative Summit in which he describes a pivotal event in his life while learning about stem cell research and embryo farming from Harvard research scientists. From a researcher’s comment explaining that there wasn’t a moral issue at stake in the embryo farming process because the embryos are destroyed after 14 days, Romney was hit hard by the harsh realization that, in his words, “We have so cheapened the value and sanctity of human life in our society that someone could think there is not a moral issue because we kill human embryos at 14 days.” Gov. Romney publicly affirmed his pro-life position thereafter.
Governor Romney: “I don’t believe that somatic cell nuclear transfer or cloning and embryo farming are appropriate and would not pursue federal funding of those forms of stem cell research.”
(David A. Lieb, “Romney Wraps Self In Reagan Lingo,” The Associated Press, 2/11/2007)
In August 2006, Gov. Romney imposed a limit on stem cell research, saying that scientists could not use stem cell lines developed in states with less restrictive laws than Massachusetts, which barred the production of embryos for the expressed purpose of scientific exploration. Public health regulators appointed by Romney’s successor, Democrat Gov. Deval Patrick, reversed that limit in October, 2007.
(Stephen Smith, “Health Council repeals Romney limit on stem cell research,” The Boston Globe, 10/11/2007)
Governor Romney Believes We Can Support Techniques That “Produce The Equivalent Of Embryonic Stem Cells But Without Cloning, Creating, Harming, Or Destroying Developing Human Lives.” Governor Romney: “I studied the issue for many months, and entered into conversation with experts from across the nation who were looking for consensus solutions, like Stanford’s Dr. William Hurlbut. In the end, I became persuaded that the stem-cell debate was grounded in a false premise, and that the way through it was around it: by the use of scientific techniques that could produce the equivalent of embryonic stem cells but without cloning, creating, harming, or destroying developing human lives.”
(Governor Mitt Romney, Op-Ed, “A Stem-Cell Solution,” National Review Online, 6/15/2007)
You have wrongly attributed Michael Reagan’s words to me. I should have italicized them. I am honored by the attribution and I agree with his assessment of the Reagan/Romney/Abortion issue over yours. You seem to think you understand Reagan on the issue better than Michael Reagan a famous conservative talk show host who also happens to have lived with the man.
____________________
Governor Romney: “I will be a pro-life President. I will appoint and fight for justices who follow the law and the Constitution, who understand judicial restraint and who won’t legislate from the bench. But being a pro-life president also means promoting policies that reflect our respect for the sanctity of life. I will oppose taxpayer funding of abortion, oppose partial birth abortion, oppose abortion in military clinics, oppose funding abortion in international aid programs, and I will work to ban embryonic cloning. I will work to increase adoptions by making the adoption tax credit permanent and raising awareness about embryonic adoption, or snowflake babies.”
(Governor Mitt Romney, “Address to the Family Research Council’s Values Voter Summit,” Washington, D.C., October 19, 2007)
Governor Romney was presented with legislation concerning life issues on several occasions from the 85% majority Democrat Legislature in Massachusetts. In every instance he took the pro-life position by vetoing bills or lobbying for the pro-life approach, including the following actions:
He vetoed the bill providing state funding for human embryonic stem cell research
(Theo Emery, “Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney Vetoes Stem Cell Bill,” The Associated Press, 5/27/2005)
He vetoed a bill that provided for the “morning after pill” without a prescription because it is an abortifacient and would have been available to minors without parental notification and consent
(Governor Mitt Romney, Op-Ed, “Why I Vetoed Contraception Bill,” The Boston Globe, 7/26/2005)
He pledged to veto any bill that would expand access to RU-486, the abortion pill
(Hugh Hewitt, “Interview with Governor Romney,” The Hugh Hewitt Show, 7/27/2005)
He vetoed legislation which would have redefined Massachusetts longstanding definition of the beginning of human life from fertilization to implantation
(Governor Mitt Romney, Letter To The Massachusetts State Senate And House Of Representatives, 5/12/2005)
He supported parental notification laws and opposed efforts to weaken parental involvement
(John McElhenny, “O’Brien And Romney Spar In Last Debate Before Election,” The Associated Press, 10/29/2002)
He fought to promote abstinence education in public school classrooms with a program offered by faith-based Boston group Healthy Futures to middle school students. Gov. Romney’s administration was the first in Massachusetts to use federal abstinence education funds for classroom programs.
(Office of Gov. Mitt Romney, “Romney Announces Award of Abstinence Education Contract,” Press Release, 4/20/2006)
Governor Romney: “Times of decision are moments of great clarity. Before I was Governor, the life issue was just that, an issue. But when responsibility for life or ending life was placed in my hands, I made the right decision. I chose life.”
(Governor Mitt Romney, Remarks At The National Right To Life Convention Forum, Kansas City, MO, 6/15/2007)
Eight prominent leaders of pro-life and pro-family groups in Massachusetts wrote an open letter on January 11, 2007 praising Gov. Romney for his leadership and accomplishments in these important issues and attesting to his commitment to the pro-life and pro-family causes. (This letter is a MUST READ)
Excerpt:
“Since well before 2003, we have been laboring in the trenches of Massachusetts, fighting for the family values you and we share. It is difficult work indeed – not for the faint of heart. In this challenging environment, Governor Romney has proven that he shares our values, as well as our determination to protect them.
“For four years, Governor Romney has been right there beside us, providing leadership on key issues – whether it was politically expedient to do so or not. He has stood on principle, and we have benefited greatly from having him with us.
“It is clear that Governor Romney has learned much since 1994 – to the benefit of our movement and our Commonwealth. In fact, the entire nation has benefited from his socially conservative, pro-family actions in office. As we explained earlier, his leadership on the marriage issue helped prevent our nation from being plunged into even worse legal turmoil following the court decision that forced “gay marriage” upon our Commonwealth.
“For that our country ought to be thankful. We certainly are.
Massachusetts Citizens for Life gave Governor Romney their 2007 Mullins Award for Outstanding Political Leadership recognizing him for consistently seeking to advance the pro-life cause while in office. The award was presented at the MCFL Mother’s Day Pioneer Valley Dinner where Gov. Romney delivered the keynote speech.
Ann Romney serves as co-chairman of the Massachusetts Citizens for Life capital campaign.
Massachusetts Citizens For Life Executive Director Marie Sturgis: “Having Governor Romney in the corner office for the last four years has been one of the strongest assets the pro-life movement has had in Massachusetts.”
(Kathryn Jean Lopez, “An Early Massachusetts Primary,” National Review Online, 1/10/2007)
Massachusetts Citizens For Life Pioneer Valley Chapter Chairman Kevin Jourdain: “Mitt Romney was a great Governor, who served with honor and distinction. But most importantly, he was a pro-life Governor. He vetoed a number of pro-abortion pieces of legislation and made many pro-life appointments. He was always there for us.”
(Kevin Jourdain, Remarks at Massachusetts Citizens for Life Mother’s Day Pioneer Valley Dinner, Agawam, MA, 5/10/2007)
Governor Romney has received the important endorsement of James Bopp, Jr., a nationally-known constitutional lawyer, leading advocate for the pro-life movement, and author of the Human Life Amendment for the Republican Party Platform. James Bopp reviewed Romney’s record as Governor and questioned him personally before giving Romney his endorsement. Bopp later joined the Romney Presidential campaign as a special adviser on life issues, an unpaid position.
James Bopp Jr. wrote about the record of Governor Romney:
“These actions as governor have lead leaders of the most important social conservative groups in Massachusetts, including Massachusetts Citizens for Life, Massachusetts Family Institute, and the Knights of Columbus, to observe that, while previous comments by Romney “are, taken by themselves, obviously worrisome to social conservatives including ourselves, they do not dovetail with the actions of Governor Romney from 2003 until now — and those actions positively and demonstrably impacted the social climate of Massachusetts.” They conclude that Romney “demonstrat[ed] [his] solid social conservative credentials by undertaking” these actions, and has therefore “proven that he shares our values, as well as our determination to protect them.”
(James Bopp Jr., “The Best Choice Is Also a Good Choice - Why social conservatives should support Mitt Romney for president,” National Review Online, 2/21/2007)
Governor Romney believes Roe v. Wade should be overturned as a first step, allowing the States to set abortion policy, as a goal that can be achieved more quickly. For a longer range goal after overturning Roe v. Wade, he supports a Human Life Amendment to the Constitution and endorses legislation to make it clear that the 14th Amendment’s protections apply to unborn children.
Romney believes that controversial abortion policy should be decided through the democratic process by citizens in the several states and their elected representatives rather than by federal judicial mandate.
Governor Romney: “I understand that my views on laws governing abortion set me in the minority in our Commonwealth. I am prolife. I believe that abortion is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother. I wish the people of America agreed, and that the laws of our nation could reflect that view. But while the nation remains so divided over abortion, I believe that the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate.”
(Governor Mitt Romney, Op-Ed, “Why I vetoed contraception bill,” The Boston Globe, 7/26/2005)
Gov. Romney Praised The U.S. Supreme Court Decision Upholding A Partial-Birth Abortion Ban. “Today, our nation’s highest court reaffirmed the value of life in America by upholding a ban on a practice that offends basic human decency. This decision represents a step forward in protecting the weakest and most innocent among us.”
(Romney for President, “Statement On Supreme Court’s Partial Birth Abortion Ruling,” Press Release, 4/18/2007)
Statement from Romney Communications Director Matt Rhoades: “Governor Romney does not believe that abortion legislation should punish women who have abortions. Governor Romney recognizes that we must be sensitive to both lives involved in these situations, the unborn child and the mother. The people who should be held accountable for violations of this nature are the people who perform an illegal abortion, the penalties of which could include anything from disciplinary action to incarceration.”
(Terence P. Jeffrey, “Romney Open to Incarcerating Abortionists,” CNSNews.com, 11/21/2007)
View video of a portion of a speech delivered by Mitt Romney at the National Review Institute Conservative Summit in which he describes a pivotal event in his life while learning about stem cell research and embryo farming from Harvard research scientists. From a researcher’s comment explaining that there wasn’t a moral issue at stake in the embryo farming process because the embryos are destroyed after 14 days, Romney was hit hard by the harsh realization that, in his words, “We have so cheapened the value and sanctity of human life in our society that someone could think there is not a moral issue because we kill human embryos at 14 days.” Gov. Romney publicly affirmed his pro-life position thereafter.
Governor Romney: “I don’t believe that somatic cell nuclear transfer or cloning and embryo farming are appropriate and would not pursue federal funding of those forms of stem cell research.”
(David A. Lieb, “Romney Wraps Self In Reagan Lingo,” The Associated Press, 2/11/2007)
In August 2006, Gov. Romney imposed a limit on stem cell research, saying that scientists could not use stem cell lines developed in states with less restrictive laws than Massachusetts, which barred the production of embryos for the expressed purpose of scientific exploration. Public health regulators appointed by Romney’s successor, Democrat Gov. Deval Patrick, reversed that limit in October, 2007.
(Stephen Smith, “Health Council repeals Romney limit on stem cell research,” The Boston Globe, 10/11/2007)
Governor Romney Believes We Can Support Techniques That “Produce The Equivalent Of Embryonic Stem Cells But Without Cloning, Creating, Harming, Or Destroying Developing Human Lives.” Governor Romney: “I studied the issue for many months, and entered into conversation with experts from across the nation who were looking for consensus solutions, like Stanford’s Dr. William Hurlbut. In the end, I became persuaded that the stem-cell debate was grounded in a false premise, and that the way through it was around it: by the use of scientific techniques that could produce the equivalent of embryonic stem cells but without cloning, creating, harming, or destroying developing human lives.”
(Governor Mitt Romney, Op-Ed, “A Stem-Cell Solution,” National Review Online, 6/15/2007)
ping
‘Sabotaged himself in one fell swoop.
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