Romney Takes Stand on Abortion (and another, and another, and…)

It’s hard to avoid the abortion discussions on this site.  You’d think from the amount of digital ink spilled, that was all Jesus ever talked about.  But the arguments always boil down to the fact that Democrats don’t say the right things about abortion (even though abortions have gone down under Democratic Presidents the last 30 years and up under Republican ones, and teen pregnancy has plumetted under Obama), but Republicans do.

I’ve already explained why anyone who is truly cares about protecting the unborn (let alone the born) should vote Democrat, but I won’t belabor those points.  Instead, let’s look at the alternative.  Elections are always choices, and so let’s take a look at Romney’s position.  To set the context, it’s important to remember that Romney is the guy who smiled as he lied to the Catholic Bishops, National Association of Evangelicals, and numerous other pastors about his views on the important role of government in protecting the least of these.  If you haven’t viewed the video contrasting his statement to pastors on the poor with his comments to rich funders, you have to watch it.

But like Charlie Brown and Lucy, many conservative Christians think that Romney will finally be the Republican President who doesn’t pull the abortion football away once he gets their vote.  So let’s take a look at the strong and definitive positions Romney has taken on this issue that so many Americans are passionate about.  Romney, in his own words:

Massachusetts Senate Campaign: NARAL Romney
1994: Romney: “I believe that abortion should be safe and legal” and “I have since the time my mom took that position when she ran in 1970.”
1994: Romney said he’d ensure abortion in Massachusetts was “safe, legal, and free for someone who can’t afford it.”
1994: Romney On Roe V. Wade: “I do not want to change it, overturn it, reverse it.”

Governor’s Race in Massachusetts: Making His Pro-Choice Values Clear
2002: Romney: “I’ve been very clear on that, I will preserve and protect a woman’s right to choose, and am devoted and dedicated to honoring my word in that regard.”
2002: Romney: “Let me make this very clear: I will preserve and protect a woman’s right to choose.”
2002: Romney: “I do not take the position of a Pro-Life candidate.”

Finishing in MA and Looking National: Mr. Changing Sides
2005: Romney: “I am pro-life” except “in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother.”
2006: Romney: “I’d like a state to have the choice to be Pro-Life” but “if another state wants to be pro- choice that would be its right.”

Beginning of his 1st Presidential Run: Mr. Pander
2006: Romney later said he would sign a bill outlawing abortion, “even in cases of rape or incest.”
2007: Romney said he would be “delighted” to sign a bill banning “all abortions.”
2007: Romney said he supported a nation-wide ban on abortion as part of the Republican Party Platform.

2nd Presidential Run: Mr. GOP Moderate
2011: Romney: “abortion should be limited to only instances of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.”

Primary Romney Realizing Moderation Wasn’t a Winning Strategy in the GOP Primary
2011: Romney: “the supreme court should reverse Roe V. Wade.”
2011: Romney said he “absolutely” would have supported amending the Massachusetts Constitution when Governor (2002-2006) to define human life with all rights as beginning at conception.
2012: Romney: “I’m a Pro-Life Person and I’ll be a Pro-Life President.”

After Primary, Appealing to Swing Voters: Mr. Back to the Middle
2012: Romney: “there’s no legislation with regards to abortion that I’m familiar with that would become part of my agenda.”

Later that Same Day, After Backlash from Conservatives: Mr. Right Wing Again
2012 (later that same day): Campaign: “Governor Romney would of course support legislation aimed at providing greater protections for life.”
2012: Romney: “I am a Pro-Life candidate, will be a Pro-Life president…I will take pro-life measures.”

This Past Month Courting Swing State Voters: Mr. Back to the Middle for Real This Time
2012: Spokeswoman on Romney Campaign Ad: “Those ads saying Mitt Romney would ban abortions and contraception seemed a bit extreme. He thinks abortion should be an option.”
Campaign spokesman to swing voters in Ohio: “Roe v. Wade would be safe” in a Romney Administration and “remain the law of the land.”

So for all those out there ignoring all the issues Jesus focused on because of their concern for the unborn, I’ll finish with one final quote:

Lucy: “Come on Charlie Brown, this time it will be different!”

Twitter: SappEric

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