Romney promises no abortion legislation
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Wading into an explosive social issue, Republican Mitt Romney on Tuesday said he would not pursue any abortion-related legislation if elected president.
"There's no legislation with regards to abortion that I'm familiar with that would become part of my agenda," he told the Des Moines Register in an interview posted on the newspaper's website.
The former Massachusetts governor said he would instead use an executive order to reinstate the so-called Mexico City policy that bans American aid from funding abortions. President Barack Obama waived the order soon after taking office.
Still unclear is what Romney would do if a Republican-controlled Congress passed abortion legislation and presented it to him to sign into law.
The Romney campaign sought to walk back the comments soon after they were posted on the Register's website. "Gov. Romney would of course support legislation aimed at providing greater protections for life," spokeswoman Andrea Saul said, declining to elaborate.
Romney supported abortion rights when he first became Massachusetts governor, but he changed his position while in office.
Facing skeptical conservatives in the Republican presidential primary earlier in the year, Romney regularly discussed his opposition to gay marriage, abortion and illegal immigration. Once he claimed the Republican presidential nomination, however, he focused almost exclusively on economic issues and has pushed a more moderate tone as Election Day nears.
As both campaigns court female voters, Obama's campaign has featured Romney's opposition to abortion in television ads running in several swing states.
The president's campaign pounced on Tuesday's apparent shift, issuing a statement that "within just a couple hours of the story with Romney's abortion comments posting, his spokesperson clarified that he would in fact support legislation to restrict a woman's right to choose."
"We know the truth about where he stands on a woman's right to choose: He's said he'd be delighted to sign a bill banning all abortions, and called Roe v. Wade 'one of the darkest moments in Supreme Court history,' while pledging to appoint Supreme Court justices who will overturn it. Women simply can't trust him," Obama spokeswoman Lis Smith said.
As recently as a presidential debate in January, Romney said the Supreme Court should overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that legalized abortion across the nation. He has repeatedly said he would cut federal funding to Planned Parenthood, a women's health organization that provides abortions. Such a move would likely require legislation.
The Planned Parenthood Action Fund says Romney's statement to the Des Moines Register is misleading.
"Mitt Romney's views on women's health are far outside of the mainstream, and that's why he's trying to hide them in the last weeks until the election," said action fund executive vice president Dawn Laguens.
Saul said Romney's position is clear: "Mitt Romney is proudly pro-life, and he will be a pro-life president," she said.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
10/9/2012 7:59:38 PM (GMT -7:00)
"There's no legislation with regards to abortion that I'm familiar with that would become part of my agenda," he told the Des Moines Register in an interview posted on the newspaper's website.
The former Massachusetts governor said he would instead use an executive order to reinstate the so-called Mexico City policy that bans American aid from funding abortions. President Barack Obama waived the order soon after taking office.
Still unclear is what Romney would do if a Republican-controlled Congress passed abortion legislation and presented it to him to sign into law.
The Romney campaign sought to walk back the comments soon after they were posted on the Register's website. "Gov. Romney would of course support legislation aimed at providing greater protections for life," spokeswoman Andrea Saul said, declining to elaborate.
Romney supported abortion rights when he first became Massachusetts governor, but he changed his position while in office.
Facing skeptical conservatives in the Republican presidential primary earlier in the year, Romney regularly discussed his opposition to gay marriage, abortion and illegal immigration. Once he claimed the Republican presidential nomination, however, he focused almost exclusively on economic issues and has pushed a more moderate tone as Election Day nears.
As both campaigns court female voters, Obama's campaign has featured Romney's opposition to abortion in television ads running in several swing states.
The president's campaign pounced on Tuesday's apparent shift, issuing a statement that "within just a couple hours of the story with Romney's abortion comments posting, his spokesperson clarified that he would in fact support legislation to restrict a woman's right to choose."
"We know the truth about where he stands on a woman's right to choose: He's said he'd be delighted to sign a bill banning all abortions, and called Roe v. Wade 'one of the darkest moments in Supreme Court history,' while pledging to appoint Supreme Court justices who will overturn it. Women simply can't trust him," Obama spokeswoman Lis Smith said.
As recently as a presidential debate in January, Romney said the Supreme Court should overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that legalized abortion across the nation. He has repeatedly said he would cut federal funding to Planned Parenthood, a women's health organization that provides abortions. Such a move would likely require legislation.
The Planned Parenthood Action Fund says Romney's statement to the Des Moines Register is misleading.
"Mitt Romney's views on women's health are far outside of the mainstream, and that's why he's trying to hide them in the last weeks until the election," said action fund executive vice president Dawn Laguens.
Saul said Romney's position is clear: "Mitt Romney is proudly pro-life, and he will be a pro-life president," she said.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
10/9/2012 7:59:38 PM (GMT -7:00)
I don't think our government should be legislating what we can or cant do with our bodies (especially men).I do believe our government has bigger more important obligations.So if either party takes away our freedom of choice go ahead and have that child then take it to the White House and drop it off there is enough room and enough money to support it.Maybe next election we can elect all women and enact a law that every man that turns 50 has to have a vasectomy.
Man, when the polls begin to shift hard in Romney's favor, the claws come out. And not just Big Bird's.
Vote for the American!
@MrAchilles They're both Americans, moron.
You mean versus the robot right ?
"There's no legislation with regards to abortion that I'm familiar with that would become part of my agenda," he told the Des Moines Register in an interview posted on the newspaper's website. Notice that Romney specifically used the word familiar with. Just because he may not be "familiar" with any abortion legislation as becoming part of his agenda, does not mean that it WON'T become part of the agenda.
Liar......If you read what he is saying.....he is still going after abortion, just not in a direct manner....He'll sign an executive order to reinstate the Mexico City Policy....and I guarantee he will sign any legislation that comes across his desk if he gets elected. Â This man is a weasel. Â
the coch brothers sure want him to win
flip flop
I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks Mitt is willing to tell any political lie to get elected.Â
All politicians lie to get elected. Were you born yesterday?Â
 @MrAchilles I can't believe your comment was so stupid.  In every political campaign there are politicians lying threw their teeth.  This is no different.
What flip-flop?
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"There's no legislation with regards to abortion that I'm familiar with that would become part of my agenda" clearly means "Gov. Romney would of course support legislation aimed at providing greater protections for life." Of course!
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"If General Motors, Ford and Chrysler get the bailout that their chief executives asked for yesterday, you can kiss the American automotive industry goodbye" clearly means "I pushed the idea of a managed bankruptcy... So, Iâll take a lot of credit for the fact that this industry has come back.â
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"I do have a plan that deals with people with pre-existing conditions" clearly means âWeâd like to see states do what Massachusetts did... In Massachusetts we have a ban on pre-existing conditions.â
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We need to stop examining what Willard says. Just take him at his word - which, of course means, take his most recent position on any issue as the position he has always held and will always hold (until it changes) (which it won't) (because it never has) (of course).
People actually belief what this guy says?
Mittens appears willing to say anything to get elected. The Rs would have a much better chance if they would move toward the middle, keep their religion to themselves, and stop trying to control women and their bodies.
Flip-Flop, Flip-Flop, Flip- Flop....An empty suit with no core beliefs. Unless there is a profit to be "Harvested"
It's sad that people will vote based on abortion issues when there are much bigger, more important issues.Â
@Rae0224 Here's how I see the abortion issue. I don't have the parts to become pregnant, and I'm gay, so the act of me involved in an unplanned pregnancy is highly unlikely, so abortion does not seem to directly impact me. However, just because it does not seem to directly impact me, does not mean that I should take away the rights of someone who may have an unplanned pregnancy from making a decision involving their body and their health. I can't imagine what that decision would be like, under any circumstance. I just can't bring myself to agree that we should take away rights from women regarding their bodies.
 @Rae0224 See, that's your opinion and you are entitled to it....but, this "issue" is a pretty big deal...maybe not in your mind, but in the mind of every American (male or female) that believes in the freedom to choose.... it's a big deal.
'Romney supported abortion rights when he first became Massachusetts governor, but he changed his position while in office.'
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...Looks like Mitts mouth is getting him in trouble again. Just when the polls were trending in his favor. His campaign advisors should be looking at shock collars by now. Â
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The problem, Mr Romney, isn't what you SAY... It's your demonstrated practice of saying whatever it takes to get elected, then doing the exact opposite. Couple that with the lack of substance to ANY policies or ideas you tout, and it makes it exceedingly difficult for me to believe anything that comes from your mouth.
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To borrow a quote- 'the best indicator of future actions is past behaviors.'
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Funny.... It sais on his website he will repeal "roe vs. wade".  Now he's saying "keep your babies we're going to need the cannonfodder someday for our endless wars."
BREAKING NEWS, robdme is now agianst.....no , hold on, now he's.......
Mitt is up in the polls with women........yip, better say something to keep it that way.
I'm not worried about it because he's not going to be elected. Just look at him. When he talks all I see is some smarmy, used-car salesman trying to sell me a lemon. He has a shifty look about him and something in his eyes looks like he's a liar. Get him an empty lot somewhere, fill it with junkers, and he'll be in his element.
 @Bewitchin1 and befriending an admitted terrorist isn't shifty? The ends justify the means I guess.
 @Bewitchin1 Wow, never mind the facts or his policies, just vote on looks alone. Wasn't it the dems screaming almost four years ago not to judge a book by it's cover?
he can't make any of you liberal Dems  happy can he? If he says he will outlaw abortions you whine , if he says he has no plans to outlaw abortion you whine.  Looks like you all are really going to be whining after NOV 6 and for the next 4 years( even though the economy will have gotten better and jobs will have started to return to the northwest, and LOWER TAXES for everyone, not just the "so called" middle class) By the way, Big Bird is old enough to pay his own bills and does not need federal entitlements.
@Civ "even though the economy will have gotten better and jobs will have started to return to the northwest" This is something that is going to happen regardless of who gets elected. Also, he won't be lowering the effective tax rate for everyone, in fact his plan only works if he does the opposite. Romney has already made Obama look like an amateur when it comes to pandering. Letâs not forget that he is out pandering a man who many have referred to as âPander-in-chiefâ. However, I agree with you regarding Big Bird, time for him to fly on his own.
 @Civ The question is....how is it possible that he can make you conservative Republicans happy when he first he says he is OK with abortion, then he says he's against it, and now he say's he won't do anything about abortion even though he's against it?  How can you be happy with him when he simply says whatever he needs to say to get elected without giving a dam about his own convictions?
@Kennyboy @Civ Oh, you should be used to it, Obama does it all the time, changes his mind or his view of policy issues, only he calls it "evolving". Maybe Mitt is evolving. There are more important issues facing us, you have to choose your battles.Â
Do Catholics, Muslims, Christians???  HMMM.. Stupid is as stupid says.
 @PD1202  @Kachina  @Kennyboy  @Civ BWAHAHAHAHAHAH! I need a good laugh, thanks PD
 @Kachina  @Kennyboy  @Civ Wait a minute....Do Mormons believe in evolution??? Â
And you think the Obaminator is not doing the same thing??? How innocent you are regarding politics.
How can we believe ANYTHING this guy says?
It's a lie, or he's not telling the whole truth. "IF" he gets elected, we will see just how much lies he told to get into office. Remember when Bush said, "NO MORE NEW TAXES!" First thing he did was propose a new tax. The list goes on and on and I feel that this is just a continuation of a problem that will never get solved. We are so screwed... EITHER WAY.
NO, MItt is not a "proud pro-lifer"...he is a pro-BIRTHER. Â His policies show he does not give a damn about life after birth....
That must be why he has so many children. Do any of you people read your comments BEFORE hitting send? Â
Romneyâs advisors should be telling him to just keep his mouth shut. He caught up with Obama in polls by focusing on the current economy, if he turns the focus to other topics he ends up looking silly again.
Another Etch-A-Sketch moment. The rest of the party ain't gonna like this.