Posted on 08/29/2012 12:26:07 PM PDT by Hilda
Mitt Romney’s eldest sister, who has backed prominent Democrats for office and is in Tampa showing support for her brother, had some reassuring words Wednesday for women concerned about the Republican Party’s hard line on abortion.
Mitt Romney would never make abortions illegal as president, Jane Romney said when National Journal asked her about the subject after a “Women for Mitt” event. "He’s not going to be touching any of that,” she said. “It’s not his focus.”
Democratic warnings that abortion rights are under threat are an ungrounded fear tactic, Jane Romney said. “That’s what women are afraid of, but that’s conjured,” she said. “Personally, I don’t think abortion should be used as a football in the political arena.”
Democrats have not lacked fodder for their charges. Vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan and Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., who is running for the Senate, are among the many Republicans who oppose abortion with no exceptions for rape or incest. And the Republican platform adopted this week explicitly calls for a constitutional ban on abortion, saying that "the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed." It does not specify any exceptions.
But as Jane Romney put it, “Mitt’s much more in the middle” when it comes to abortion.
Mitt Romney has said he supports legal abortion in cases of rape and incest, and when the life of the mother is in danger. As for the fate of abortion rights, “Recognize this is the decision that will be made by the Supreme Court," he said in an interview with CBS News this week. "The Democrats try and make this a political issue every four years, but this is a matter in the courts. It's been settled for some time in the courts."
Jane Romney said she believes “life is sacred” and suggested those seeking abortion should be required to undergo counseling. But she also said that abortion should “absolutely” be safe and legal. “Every woman needs to be left to make her own choice,” she said.
A ban on abortion is “never going to happen” under a Romney administration, Jane Romney said. “Women would take to the streets. Women fought for our choice, we’re not going to go back."
Little is known about Jane Romney, who said she is an actress in Los Angeles, and she is not a presence on the campaign trail. Unlike Ann Romney and the Romney sons, she has not been deployed as a surrogate. According to a Romney biography by Ronald B. Scott, a journalist for Time in the 1970s and a distant cousin of the candidate, Jane Romney supported California Democratic candidates like Sen. Barbara Boxer and Gov. Jerry Brown.
Jane Romney said that her brother can empathize and understand women from all walks of life. She said that he was there for her when she went through a divorce and raised four teenagers on her own. “Mitt and Ann are the right people at the right time for this country,” she said.
That's a false characterization of my position, by the way.
My position is that Roe, being the unconstitutional opinion of a court, is completely irrelevant, in the same way that Dred Scott is irrelevant.
And that our Constitution already requires equal protection for every innocent person. No additional amendment is necessary. All we need are representatives, and executives, and judges, who will keep their sacred oath to support the Constitution.
"No State shall deprive any person of life without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.""No person shall be deprived of life without due process of law."
Spoken like a true politician! You were born for it, alright. Answering logic with lies.
I am not "supporting" Romney. But I will vote for him, because Obama is much, much worse. You can vote for yourself if you want. Obama will thank you.
Spoken like a true politician! You were born for it, alright. Answering logic with lies.
I am not "supporting" Romney. But I will vote for him, because Obama is much, much worse. You can vote for yourself if you want. Obama will thank you.
Conversations with folks who say things like that are a waste of effort.
According to IMDb, Jane Romney appeared in an episode of Days of Our Lives in '93 as Miss Lee.
Stellar career.
Well, the President CAN'T make abortions illegal, and, of the three branches, the Executive is the one that has zero power (other than to sign legislation) in this realm.
In order to overturn Roe v. Wade, either the Court has to change its mind or the Constitution has to be amended.
Romney could, but won't, appoint pro-life justices. If he did (and I mean an "out" nominee whose views on this are known), that person could not be confirmed by any imaginable Senate.
So, it will be necessary to amend the Constitution, the one act that the President has nothing whatsoever to do with.
The Congress cannot pass legislation to ban abortion, so there's nothing for Romney or any other President to sign.
No such nominee could be confirmed by any conceivable Senate, and you know it.
True enough. Additionally, abortion, constitutionally, should be a states' issue. The problem with Roe vs Wade is the magical right to privacy that appeared out of nowhere.
According to IMDb, Jane Romney appeared in an episode of Days of Our Lives in '93 as Miss Lee.
Stellar career.
Jeez, then I could say I was a child star! In the 60s, I was on on a local show (in Hartford, CT) called 'Ranger Andy' twice..
I had more TV time then she did!!
But they could pass legislation that contains what some would call "restrictions", i.e. parental notification.
Until Roe v. Wade is substantively overruled or the Constitution is changed, such actions would be meaningless.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.