Mitt Romney arguing FOR abortion, even for underage girls without parental permission
December 1, 2009 by Patrick Madrid
Filed under Patrick's Blog
Here’s a campaign commercial attacking Gov. Romney’s record on the issue of abortion. It raises interesting issues that I’d like to see clarified, once and for all.
I will NOT, under any circumstances, vote for Mitt Romney to be President. I remember well his campaigns for U.S. Senate and Massachusetts Governor, in which he ran as a sincere "pro-choice" candidate. The fact that he became pro-life just in time to run for the GOP nomination is, I'm sure, purely coincidental, right?
Mitt Romney ran for U.S. Senate and Massachusetts Governor touting his "pro-choice" bona fides. He governed Massachusetts as a "pro-choice" Governor. An eve-of-the-GOP-primary conversion to the pro-life side is just not very convincing when you're asking me to vote for someone who will, if elected, be the most powerful man in the world.
If Mitt Romney wants to convince me of his pro-life bona fides, he should seek an office other than the Presidency and govern/vote like a pro-lifer. Then, perhaps, I will be convinced his conversion is not merely opportunistic.
Patrick, with all due respect, Michelle has blatantly lied by citing false documentation. I don't know if there is a "friendly" way to point out when somebody is not telling the truth.
I have not made any ad hom attacks on Michelle. I have merely accurately pointed out the FACT that she has cited false and incomplete information regarding Romney's record.
Thanks for the clarifications on the ad, Veritas. I will adjust the wording of my post to be accurate.
Also, everyone, let's not head down that road of accusing people of "lying," just because there's a disagreement. I assume good will on all your parts, and I ask that in your comments, that you'd do the same. Obviously, vigorous debate about this is no problem. But let's keep it friendly, mkay?
Sorry "Michelle." But your pro-Romney lies and deceptive propaganda won't work here.
Here is what some of the biggest pro-life leaders in Massachusetts said about Romney's Phony Pro Life Award from Mass Citizens for Life…
"Behind the empty gestures and deceptive rhetoric, Romney was not pro-life or a defender of marriage by any stretch of the imagination. He was a disaster," said John O'Gorman, a member of the board of directors of Massachusetts Citizens For Life (MCFL), the state-wide group Romney has been deceptively claiming awarded him a pro-life leadership award.
"The award Romney arranged for himself with the local Pioneer Valley Chapter was the Mullins Award for Political Leadership, not a pro-life award and not approved by MCFL's state board of directors. We're blowing the whistle to warn voters who are being lied to by the crowd that makes big money off the pro-life cause. Real moral conservatives must alert the voters to the ongoing deception by cash-driven, pseudo-conservative elites who've allied themselves with a lying politician," added O'Gorman.
Three other senior persons at MCFL agreed the pro-life award Romney has been boasting about is very dubious and does not represent any decision taken by the group's state-wide leadership. MCFL had considered Romney a hard-core pro-abortion politician who had no interest in meeting with them. To get the award, Romney paid $15,000 and went around MCFL's state headquarters to deal with a willing local politician who arranged the award through a local chapter.
"MCFL was in financial difficulty when Romney's check came in and has been reluctant to contradict him publicly," Haskins said. "There are some very fine people associated with MCFL, but to let Romney hustle voters with this conveniently cooked-up pro-life award is a tragic mistake. It allows lawyers and consultants like Jay Sekulow, Jim Bopp and Mark DeMoss, who have gotten rich over the years wheeling and dealing with the Republican elites, to call the honest pro-life heroes liars and to mislead voters. We have no choice but to speak up.
If Mitt Romney outruns his record in Massachusetts and buys his way into the White House it will be partly because people who know the facts did not expose this pro-life award as not much more than a dime-store rip-off."
William Cotter, president of another Massachusetts pro-life group, Operation Rescue-Boston, agreed: "It's just not possible to honestly call Romney's record 'pro-life — even after the just-in-time staged conversion. Mitt Romney is not pro-life. On balance, his policies were pro-abortion."
Michelle also conveniently omits the fact that the "pro-life" award Romney received was not a "pro-life" award but an award for "political leadership" for which Romney paid $15,000 to MCFL to receive. In other words, to burnish his non-existent "pro-life" credentials when he was running for president, Romney purchased some support from a pro-life organization who, by the way is about as "pro-life" as abortion regulators National Right to Life who oppose Personhood Amendments in 32 states.
"Michelle" again is lying in her defense of Romney's indefensible left wing anti-life, anti-family, anti-free market record.
By the way, the second video on your site is not a "Democrat campaign commercial attacking Romney" as you say.
It was put together by American Right to Life (a very conservative Christian pro-life organization)2 years ago.
Not a "Democrat commercial" and not "recent."
Patrick, Romneybot Michelle is quoting pro-abort NRTL political prostitute, Jim Bopp? Are you kidding me?
The bottom line is that Mitt "The Zombie" Romney signed in $50 abortions into law as governor 2 years after his "pro-life conversion." Governors who are authentically "pro-life" don't sign the death warrants of babies 2 years AFTER their supposed "pro-life conversions."
Romney is a far left social and fiscal liberal. Here is his actual record with sourced links. Perhaps "Michelle" (probably Mark DeMoss ro some other paid Romney sychopant) can refute even one item on this list. What say you Michelle. What about Romney's record below is not true?
Romney:
· Established abortion with a $50 co pay as a “healthcare benefit” (3 years AFTER his supposed “pro life conversion”) in his socialist healthcare plan that was endorsed by Hillary, Teddy K, and Planned Parenthood.
· Appointed a Planned Parenthood member to his healthcare advisory board (AFTER his supposed “pro-life conversion”) and no pro-life appointed representative.
· Illegally instituted same sex “marriage” without an accompanying legal statute to fulfill an earlier promise to the Log Cabin Republicans not to oppose same sex “marriage” in return for their endorsement? (There was no “court order” as Romney has falsely asserted as you know.) http://www.massresistance.org/docs/marriage/romney/dec_letter/letter.pdf
· Boosted government funding for pro-homosexuality indoctrination of schoolchildren, and refused to order his education officials to enforce parents’ legal right to protect their own children from unwanted indoctrination about homosexuality.
· Forced Catholic Charities to place children with homosexual couples or go out of business (which they ultimately did) even though he was not required to do so by law.
· Forced Catholic Hospitals to provide the abortion pill claiming that he was required by law to do so even though Mike Dukakis admitted there was no law that existed which required Romney to do so.
· Opposes a ban on homosexual scoutmasters.
· Favors sexual orientation “anti-discrimination” laws for homosexuals, lesbians, bi-sexuals and transgenders.
· Opposed the Bush Tax Cuts.
· Raised taxes and fees by over $900 million as governor which has destroyed the Massachusetts economy.
· Implemented a socialist healthcare plan endorsed by Planned Parenthood that in the words of the Wall St. Journal is in “intensive care” whose costs are estimated to more than double and which the Cato Institute and Boston Globe has said is a total failure.
· Lied about seeing his father march with MLK, being a hunter “pretty much (his) whole life,” and about being endorsed by the NRA in 2002.
Gregg Jackson
author of "Conservative Comebacks to Liberal Lies"
radio host fomerly on WRKO in Boston and KDAR in Los Angeles
http://www.GreggJackson.com
Romney's "pro-life conversion" is totally bogus.
Romney signed into alw $50 co-pay abortions into law as part of his quasi-socialist healthcare plan 2 years AFTER his supposed "pro-life conversion."
He also appointed a planned parenthood permanent member to his healthcare advisory board with no pro-life member 2 years AFTER his "pro-life conversion."
Romney is a lying dirtbag who will say anything to get elected.
But the voters, especially Christian conservatives, are smarter than he thinks.
Romney is Obama in a Reagan costume.
http://www.rushtellthetruth.blogspot.com
Gregg Jackson
I know I am overloading you with information, Patrick. Yet, I am fairly surprised that so many still don't know about Romney's actual record and are satisfied to judge him on old youtube clips without digging deeper. Did Romney campaign to the left in an attempt to get elected in a very liberal state and then veer to the right and govern from his true conversative convictions? Probably. Is that something other politicians have been known to do? Sure. But all I can say is –thank God.
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 –http://www.evangelicalsformitt.org/massleaders/massleaders.pdf
Here is additional information regarding his record:
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.
LINK TO SPEECH: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=77264
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)
If people could not make sincere conversions or be forgiven for their past transgressions where would you place Ronald Reagan, one of our greatest pro-life presidents, who previously signed one of the most expansive abortion bills in history?
And what about Norma McCorvey, Jane Roe, from Roe vs Wade? She became famous for her fight for the right to an abortion and now is one of the most staunch pro-life advocates. Why is Romney held to a different standard?
Patrick –
Here is some information to consider about Gov. Romney's ACTUAL record, not something he said while campaigning in one of the most liberal states in the country.
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)
I just noticed that my post came up as from "AdJesumPerMariam". I hope that I did not inadvertantly sign in under someone else's user ID.
I will see if I can find something further on this.
Many blessings,
Barbara
I'm with Patrick and iPadre on this. I don't doubt it is possible for somebody to have a sincere conversion. But there are far too many signs on multiple issues that Romney is more political in his positions than principled. He's a great politician…which is exactly what makes me suspicious and not all that comfortable voting for him.
Maybe he'll make a good VICE president? If he had been the VP candidate last go-round he'd probably be in the white house now.
The Mormon Church is not pro-life .. they have exceptions for rape and incest. I do not think that Mitt Romney goes against his church's teaching.
Hmm, thanks for posting this Patrick. He did seem to be a little slightly "off" to me. I guess it figures. Too bad though.
~G.T.
You raise several valid points here, AdJesumPerMariam, thank you. I am not throwing stones, as much as I am raising something from this man's public record on a very crucial issue.
If he has had as genuine a conversion as you claim, then I will sing hosannas about that — I really will — but I want to be sure that he rally means what he says now about being pro-life, or if he just changed positions as a matter of expediency. Let's not forget that this kind of thing has happened before, as in the cases of Al Gore and Ted Kennedy, who went in the other direction, and as with George H.Bush, who abandoned his pro-abortion position and became pro-life right around the same time that Ronald Reagan seemed ready to offer him the VP slot on the GOP ticket for the 1980 presidential election.
Thus far, I am not yet convinced that Mr. Romney's conversion to being pro-life is genuine. I want to be convinced that it is. If you or anyone else who might read this can post links to videos of substantive interviews or speeches from him in which he makes the case that he is now genuinely pro-life, I will gladly refer people to them, out of fairness to Mr. Romney.
Again, I really hope that he did have a true conversion at the level at the heart and not just because the political calculus indicated that it would be strategically advantageous to his political aspirations. If he wants to be president, he needs to make the case. Nothing less than that will be acceptable to me.
I wanted him to win the primary, but after what we have experienced in the past election and it's results, I want a REAL conservative. I also want a new party! Both parties are a great disappointment and one among them is a disgrace.
I have to say that I am pretty surprised here. Mitt Romney had a MAJOR conversion back in 2002 or 2003. He was was a big pro-abort. However, upon seeing the ultra sounds, he searched the proper info and was floor at the TRUTH! He then went back to his office and told his people that he could no longer support abortion after knowing the truth. The liberals then went Ballistic on him, but he would not budge. He had a major conversion with it. So should he be burned at the stake??
At one time I believed fully in a woman's right to choose and fully supported it. In 1994 I learned the truth. I began speaking out about it and of course lost all of my friends and family due to it. But I stand tall on and work fervently for the pro-life movement. If you look at most people, at one time the majority was pro-abort until they are shown the truth. Should Mitt Romney be any different?? I think that people have to go see the facts and check his record since finding out the truth.
I would stand behind him if he runs again. The big problem is really that he is a Mormon. He is an EXCELLENT Family man, husband, and role model. He has done every thing right, including opening his eyes on the abortion issues. He is the first to say he was so wrong. So why can't he be forgiven, yet we forgive, B. Nathenson, Norma McCorvey, etc. We are not electing a priest, a pastor, or a Pope. We are electing the best man to run our country safely, economically, and with the God fearing principles that it was founded on.
I find his business and family life far outweigh any other candidate out there. Check his record. He did not flip flop or go back and forth. He saw that he was wrong and admitted that and his own party abandoned him for it and he did not flop back and try to appease them. He stood his ground and still does. He should not be punished for the past. He is on our side and we need a strong advocate. Many people have converted, does that mean that their conversions do not matter either? He has more than proved it that he is not a flip flopper. Should he not be given the same opportunity that Jesus has given to the Tax collectors, Mary Magdalene, and even St. Peter after he denied Christ?
Stop and think and check the facts before the stones are thrown.
Patrick,
I don't know if his conversion is real or not, but I do know that it is possible to have a sincere conversion. I'm an example of such a conversion. I was previously very pro-choice, but I now run a pro-life organization.
But yes, this video does make it clear that it is important that we do more than simply listen to the rhetoric of the candidate, but rather research their actions. If they've taken no action since a supposed conversion, it's suspect. I feel that a sincere conversion should come with some concrete action to correct the error of one's previous wrong convictions.
God Bless,
Carol Marie
Can a person not change their mind? What specifically makes you doubt that he did? Simply because he was pro-abort then does not mean he's not pro-life now.
So true, if he doesn't know what he believes in or supports then how can we. People want to trust those represent them not worry about them flip floppy for political gain.
I agree that it is fair to bring these comments to light. His pro-choice statements were quite strong and I'm not convinced that a complete change of heart and mind was made. How do we know if he's sincere? He's a politician; which means we likely won't know. We have to weigh the existing evidence, old and new, and proceed from there.
Rachel, at least for me, the purpose for bringing this up now is because I doubt the sincerity of his "conversion" to being pro-life, and this video is an example of why I doubt it. I'm sure these are comments he'd rather forget having made, but if he's going to run for the presidency again, then it is fair to bring them up as part of the larger discussion of whether he's qualified.
Romney's "conversion" from pro-choice to pro-life is well-known. He said that his pro-life views "deepened and expanded" while he was governor–after this debate. He ran as a pro-life candidate in the presidential primaries of 2008. What is the purpose of bringing this back up now?