Planned Parenthood has launched a 1.4 million dollar ad campaign against Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.
The ad, which is scheduled to run in Florida, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Iowa through the 19th of this month, opposes Romney for statements made regarding his desire to end Planned Parenthood and overturn Roe v. Wade.
“When Mitt Romney says, ‘Planned Parenthood, we’re going to get rid of that,’ Romney is saying he’ll deny women the birth control and cancer screenings they depend on,” Planned Parenthood declares during the 30-second video. “When Romney says, ‘Do I believe Supreme Court should overturn Roe v. Wade? Yes,’ he’s saying he’ll deny women the right to make their own medical decisions.”
Romney has been coming under fire from both Republicans and Democrats over the past several years for his stances both for and against abortion, which have evolved over time. Some still doubt that the presidential nominee is truly pro-life.
In the 1990’s, Romney was a self-proclaimed pro-choice candidate, but in the mid-2000’s, his positions began changing.
In 1994, Romney explained, “I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country. I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years that we should sustain and support it.” In 2002, he stated, “I will preserve and protect a woman’s right to choose. I will not change any provisions of Massachusetts’ pro-choice laws.“
However, during the 2007 Republican presidential debate, he explained that he had begun having a change of heart.
“I was effectively pro-choice when I ran for office,” he stated. “When I became governor of Massachusetts, the first time a bill came to my life that dealt with life, I simply could not side with taking a life, and I came on the side of life.”
Last year, Romney created a document entitled “My Pro-Life Pledge,” in which he outlined his beliefs on abortion.
“I am pro-life and believe that abortion should be limited to only instances of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother,” he wrote.
He also stated in the pledge that he would only appoint pro-life judges to the United States Supreme Court. However, he later explained during the January 2012 debate that in regard to his own state, “We don’t have a litmus test for appointing judges–asking them if they’re pro-life or not pro-life.”
Romney also expressed his opposition to banning contraception during a separate debate that same month. “I can’t imagine a state banning contraception. I can’t imagine the circumstances where a state would want to do so, and if I were a governor of a state or a state legislature, I would totally and completely oppose any effort to ban contraception,” he said.
In April, the pro-life group Susan B. Anthony list officially endorsed Romney, stating, “The difference between Governor Romney and President Obama couldn’t be clearer, which is why our Board of Directors voted unanimously to get behind him. It is the responsibility of all pro-life voters to now unite behind Governor Romney. Together we can put a pro-life leader in the White House.”
“Mitt Romney is pro-life and is a true conservative on issues of family and faith,” opined former State Senator Pat Neal, who is also the former Chairman of the Board of the Christian Coalition of Florida. “The members of this committee are tired of the liberal policies of the Obama Administration and are confident that Governor Romney will stand up for the values that have made our country strong and will appoint judges that respect the Constitution and the rule of law.”
However, Mass Resistance, an organization out of Romney’s home state of Massachusetts, disagrees.
“His current statements that abortion should be left to the states to decide, and that exceptions may be made in the cases of rape and incest, should be enough to establish that he is not truly pro-life,” Amy Contrada of Mass Resistance said.
Keith Mason of PersonhoodUSA also expressed deep concern as Romney and Obama are the only two presidential candidates that have refused to sign the Personhood pledge.
“We’ve gotten the attitude from Romney that he doesn’t need those of us who are pro-life. He won’t interact with us on the Personhood pledge,” Mason stated. “[I]n a debate sponsored by CNN, Romney said he would not favor protecting the pre-born under the 14th Amendment because it would create a constitutional crisis. … That doesn’t sound like someone who is pro-life to me.”
While argument remains on both sides regarding Romney’s various positions on abortion, Planned Parenthood officially endorsed Obama this past week, while launching its “Wrong for Women” ad campaign. Other similar ad campaigns by Democratic groups have run in states such as Wisconsin and Illinois.
Become a Christian News Network Supporter...
Dear Reader, has ChristianNews.net been of benefit and a blessing to you? For many years now, the Lord has seen fit to use this small news outlet as a strong influential resource in keeping Christians informed on current events from a Biblical worldview. With much compromise and many falsehoods in modern-day Christianity, we strive to bring you the news by keeping Christ and His word in focus. If you have benefited from our news coverage, please prayerfully consider becoming a Christian News supporter by clicking here to make a one-time or monthly donation to help keep the truth of God's word widely and freely published and distributed. May Christ continue to be exalted through this work!
