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| Romney's abortion comments put spotlight on Paul Ryan's hardline stance | Romney's abortion comments put spotlight on Paul Ryan's hardline stance |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Mitt Romney's latest comments on abortion, which appeared to soften his pro-life stance, have reignited debate not just on his own apparently evolving beliefs on the issue, but also on the hardline anti-abortion views of his running mate, Paul Ryan. | Mitt Romney's latest comments on abortion, which appeared to soften his pro-life stance, have reignited debate not just on his own apparently evolving beliefs on the issue, but also on the hardline anti-abortion views of his running mate, Paul Ryan. |
| The Romney campaign has said it would not oppose abortion in cases of rape, a clear departure from contradicts Ryan who believes there should be no exceptions to a ban on abortion. | The Romney campaign has said it would not oppose abortion in cases of rape, a clear departure from contradicts Ryan who believes there should be no exceptions to a ban on abortion. |
| Ryan was a co-sponsor of a controversial House bill last year defining life as the moment of fertilisation and granting "personhood" rights to embryos. Abortion rights activists say the Sanctity of Human Life Act would have outlawed all abortions without exceptions, restricted some forms of contraception, in-vitro fertilisation and stem-cell research. | Ryan was a co-sponsor of a controversial House bill last year defining life as the moment of fertilisation and granting "personhood" rights to embryos. Abortion rights activists say the Sanctity of Human Life Act would have outlawed all abortions without exceptions, restricted some forms of contraception, in-vitro fertilisation and stem-cell research. |
| The bill never made it onto the floor of the House. All state attempts to introduce so-called "personhood" amendments into law have failed, even in conservative states. | The bill never made it onto the floor of the House. All state attempts to introduce so-called "personhood" amendments into law have failed, even in conservative states. |
| Ryan also voted for and co-sponsored a bill dubbed the "let women die" bill by pro-choice campaigners. It would allow hospitals to deny emergency abortions, even when it is necessary to save a woman's life. | Ryan also voted for and co-sponsored a bill dubbed the "let women die" bill by pro-choice campaigners. It would allow hospitals to deny emergency abortions, even when it is necessary to save a woman's life. |
| The Republican representative for Wisconsin has been one of the most active anti-abortion members of Congress, co-sponsoring 38 anti-abortion bills, including some that do not make exceptions for victims of rape. | The Republican representative for Wisconsin has been one of the most active anti-abortion members of Congress, co-sponsoring 38 anti-abortion bills, including some that do not make exceptions for victims of rape. |
| Since first elected to the house in 1998, Ryan has not voted against any bills backed by the National Right to Life Committee. The group gives him a lifetime voting score of 100%. | Since first elected to the house in 1998, Ryan has not voted against any bills backed by the National Right to Life Committee. The group gives him a lifetime voting score of 100%. |
| The tally by the abortion rights group, NARAL Pro-Choice America, on the other hand, have recorded Ryan as having voted on 59 occasions against abortion and other reproductive rights issues. | The tally by the abortion rights group, NARAL Pro-Choice America, on the other hand, have recorded Ryan as having voted on 59 occasions against abortion and other reproductive rights issues. |
| He co-sponsored a measure that would require a woman seeking an abortion to undergo an ultrasound first. He also co-sponsored legislation that would have banned abortions after 20 weeks gestation in the District of Columbia, with no exceptions for rape or incest. | He co-sponsored a measure that would require a woman seeking an abortion to undergo an ultrasound first. He also co-sponsored legislation that would have banned abortions after 20 weeks gestation in the District of Columbia, with no exceptions for rape or incest. |
| A further two bills that he co-sponsored last year would have restricted the definition of rape. The bills sought to ban federal funds from being used for abortion, except in the case of "forcible rape". Use of the term "forcible" was criticised by Democrats and it was subsequently removed in an amendment. | A further two bills that he co-sponsored last year would have restricted the definition of rape. The bills sought to ban federal funds from being used for abortion, except in the case of "forcible rape". Use of the term "forcible" was criticised by Democrats and it was subsequently removed in an amendment. |
| As chairman of the House Budget Committee, he drafted a budget blueprint that sought to end federal dollars for Title X, the national family-planning program. | As chairman of the House Budget Committee, he drafted a budget blueprint that sought to end federal dollars for Title X, the national family-planning program. |
| The difficulties for a Romney-Ryan ticket among women was highlighted in August when Ryan's extreme pro-life views were tied to those of Todd Akin, the Republican Senate candidate in Missouri who was abandoned by the party after comments on "legitimate rape". | The difficulties for a Romney-Ryan ticket among women was highlighted in August when Ryan's extreme pro-life views were tied to those of Todd Akin, the Republican Senate candidate in Missouri who was abandoned by the party after comments on "legitimate rape". |
| Ryan told reporters at the time he was "proud of my pro-life record" but said that Romney set the policy. | Ryan told reporters at the time he was "proud of my pro-life record" but said that Romney set the policy. |
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