This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/10/mitt-romney-abortion-comments-criticism
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Romney's 'softened' abortion comments put campaign back on defensive | Romney's 'softened' abortion comments put campaign back on defensive |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Mitt Romney's campaign was in difficulty again on Wednesday over their candidate's position on abortion after a newspaper interview in which Romney said that legislation to restrict abortion was "not part of my agenda". | Mitt Romney's campaign was in difficulty again on Wednesday over their candidate's position on abortion after a newspaper interview in which Romney said that legislation to restrict abortion was "not part of my agenda". |
| After spending months reassuring conservative voters that he was staunchly against abortion, Romney appeared to soften that stance in an interview with the Des Moines Register on Tuesday. "There is no legislation with regards to abortion that I'm familiar with that would become part of my agenda," he said. | After spending months reassuring conservative voters that he was staunchly against abortion, Romney appeared to soften that stance in an interview with the Des Moines Register on Tuesday. "There is no legislation with regards to abortion that I'm familiar with that would become part of my agenda," he said. |
| Within hours of the comments being published, Romney's campaign insisted that he was against abortion, telling the conservative National Review Online that Romney "would, of course, support legislation aimed at providing greater protections for life. | Within hours of the comments being published, Romney's campaign insisted that he was against abortion, telling the conservative National Review Online that Romney "would, of course, support legislation aimed at providing greater protections for life. |
| "Mitt Romney is proudly pro-life, and he will be a pro-life president," said his spokeswoman Andrea Saul in a statement. | "Mitt Romney is proudly pro-life, and he will be a pro-life president," said his spokeswoman Andrea Saul in a statement. |
| Romney's comments drew fire from both sides on Wednesday, with Democrats accusing him of playing politics and hiding his real beliefs to attract female voters, and conservatives reminding him of his federal responsibilities over what remains a controversial issue. | Romney's comments drew fire from both sides on Wednesday, with Democrats accusing him of playing politics and hiding his real beliefs to attract female voters, and conservatives reminding him of his federal responsibilities over what remains a controversial issue. |
| His remarks to the Iowa newspaper were initially seized on by Democrats as evidence of a change of heart. On hearing them, Bill Clinton told a campaign rally of 2,000 supporters: "I thought, 'Wow, here's old moderate Mitt. Where ya been, boy?'" | His remarks to the Iowa newspaper were initially seized on by Democrats as evidence of a change of heart. On hearing them, Bill Clinton told a campaign rally of 2,000 supporters: "I thought, 'Wow, here's old moderate Mitt. Where ya been, boy?'" |
| But by Wednesday, Obama's campaign team was trying to portray Romney not as a flip-flopper, but as someone who cannot be trusted to voice his true beliefs. | But by Wednesday, Obama's campaign team was trying to portray Romney not as a flip-flopper, but as someone who cannot be trusted to voice his true beliefs. |
| Democrats said his statement contradicted his pledge to appoints supreme court justices who would overturn Roe v Wade, the landmark 1972 decision which confirmed a woman's federal right to abortion. | Democrats said his statement contradicted his pledge to appoints supreme court justices who would overturn Roe v Wade, the landmark 1972 decision which confirmed a woman's federal right to abortion. |
| Stephanie Cutter, the Obama campaign's deputy press secretary, told reporters: "We're not saying that he's changed his mind on these issues. We're saying that he is trying to cover up his beliefs." | Stephanie Cutter, the Obama campaign's deputy press secretary, told reporters: "We're not saying that he's changed his mind on these issues. We're saying that he is trying to cover up his beliefs." |
| She added: "Every step of the way he has been anti-choice, against Roe v Wade." | She added: "Every step of the way he has been anti-choice, against Roe v Wade." |
| Reaction among conservatives to Romney's remarks was also critical. A comment piece in the conservative newspaper The Weekly Standard on Wednesday titled "Did Mitt Romney forget?" suggested that he was "mistaken" and had simply not realised how many issues related to abortion funding he could influence. | Reaction among conservatives to Romney's remarks was also critical. A comment piece in the conservative newspaper The Weekly Standard on Wednesday titled "Did Mitt Romney forget?" suggested that he was "mistaken" and had simply not realised how many issues related to abortion funding he could influence. |
| "The issue here does not appear to be that Romney is backing off his stance on abortion – indeed, he says he will use an executive order to cut off funding to groups that perform abortion overseas," it read. "But he is mistaken in thinking that there aren't issues related to abortion-funding are handled through the legislative process at the federal level." | "The issue here does not appear to be that Romney is backing off his stance on abortion – indeed, he says he will use an executive order to cut off funding to groups that perform abortion overseas," it read. "But he is mistaken in thinking that there aren't issues related to abortion-funding are handled through the legislative process at the federal level." |
| Romney's past commitments have included ensuring US laws reflect "values of preserving life. He has previously promised to: support foetal pain legislation, which bans abortion after 20 weeks, on the much-debated basis that foetuses can feel pain at that stage; end public health funds for Planned Parenthood because the group provides abortions; and support a decades-old ban on federal funds for abortions. | Romney's past commitments have included ensuring US laws reflect "values of preserving life. He has previously promised to: support foetal pain legislation, which bans abortion after 20 weeks, on the much-debated basis that foetuses can feel pain at that stage; end public health funds for Planned Parenthood because the group provides abortions; and support a decades-old ban on federal funds for abortions. |
| He supports the reversal of Roe v Wade, but believes in exceptions for victims of rape and incest, or when the mother's life is in danger. | He supports the reversal of Roe v Wade, but believes in exceptions for victims of rape and incest, or when the mother's life is in danger. |
| Romney, who had been pro-choice as governor of Massachusetts, repeatedly asserted his anti-abortion credentials as he battled to win the Republican nomination. During a televised debate in Charleston on 19 January before the South Carolina primary, for example, he said: "You can count on me as president of the United States to pursue a policy that protects the life of the unborn, whether here in this country or overseas. And I'll reverse the policies of this president." | Romney, who had been pro-choice as governor of Massachusetts, repeatedly asserted his anti-abortion credentials as he battled to win the Republican nomination. During a televised debate in Charleston on 19 January before the South Carolina primary, for example, he said: "You can count on me as president of the United States to pursue a policy that protects the life of the unborn, whether here in this country or overseas. And I'll reverse the policies of this president." |
| In his acceptance speech to the Republican convention in Tampa in August, he promised that as president he would "protect the sanctity of life". | In his acceptance speech to the Republican convention in Tampa in August, he promised that as president he would "protect the sanctity of life". |
| His position on abortion also came under the spotlight when he selected Paul Ryan as his running mate. The Wisconsin congressman is against abortion, even in cases of rape and incest, or when the mother's life is in danger. He has sponsored a series of bills that would either restrict abortion or access to contraception, or both. | His position on abortion also came under the spotlight when he selected Paul Ryan as his running mate. The Wisconsin congressman is against abortion, even in cases of rape and incest, or when the mother's life is in danger. He has sponsored a series of bills that would either restrict abortion or access to contraception, or both. |
| Rick Perry, the Texas governor and a staunch pro-life advocate, said he was untroubled by Romney's initial remarks. He said on Wednesday that he was confident Romney will appoint "constitutionalists" to the supreme court. | Rick Perry, the Texas governor and a staunch pro-life advocate, said he was untroubled by Romney's initial remarks. He said on Wednesday that he was confident Romney will appoint "constitutionalists" to the supreme court. |
| "I think the supreme court is where that issue will be decided, from the standpoint of how America's going – we'll have a supreme court decision, and that's where the focus will be," Perry said on CBS This Morning. "He's said very clearly that he's going to put people who are constitutionalists on the supreme court." | "I think the supreme court is where that issue will be decided, from the standpoint of how America's going – we'll have a supreme court decision, and that's where the focus will be," Perry said on CBS This Morning. "He's said very clearly that he's going to put people who are constitutionalists on the supreme court." |
| Romney's comments came as he sought to maintain his recent appeal to female voters in the closing stages of the presidential race. A poll by Pew this week found Romney neck-and-neck among women with Barack Obama, who has held an enormous advantage with this demographic. | Romney's comments came as he sought to maintain his recent appeal to female voters in the closing stages of the presidential race. A poll by Pew this week found Romney neck-and-neck among women with Barack Obama, who has held an enormous advantage with this demographic. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |