Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney told reporters yesterday that there are no current pieces of legislation pertaining to abortion that he would support if elected as president.
“There’s no legislation with regards to abortion that I’m familiar with that would become part of my agenda,” he advised the editorial board of the Des Moines Register during a visit Tuesday.
Romney met with the newspaper prior to a campaign rally at a farm in Van Meter, Iowa.
He outlined that by executive order, he would reinstate the Mexico City policy that was in place during the presidency of George W. Bush, which bars using federal funds for overseas abortions. However, in regard to the home front, he had no immediate plans to overturn any laws pertaining to abortion.
After receiving word of his comments, the Obama campaign released a statement criticizing Romney for confusing voters on where he stands on the matter.
“It’s troubling that Mitt Romney is so willing to play politics with such important issues,” Obama spokesperson Lis Smith stated. “Women simply can’t trust him.”
Barack Obama has consistently expressed his support for abortion, making several speeches at Planned Parenthood gatherings.
“I remain committed to protecting a woman’s right to choose and this fundamental constitutional right,” he told an audience in January, which marked the 39th year since Roe v. Wade. “And as we remember this historic anniversary, we must also continue our efforts to ensure that our daughters have the same rights, freedoms and opportunities as our sons to fulfill their dreams.”
As previously reported, Mitt Romney announced in August that he does not oppose abortion in instances of rape.
“A Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose abortion in instances of rape,” explained campaign spokesperson Amanda Henneberg in a statement promptly released in opposition to remarks made by Senatorial candidate Todd Akin. Akin had stated in an interview that he believes “the punishment ought to be on the rapist and not attacking the child.”
Brendan Buck, press secretary for the Romney-Ryan campaign, also told Christian News Network that while Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan disagree on which exceptions to abortion are permissible, they have come to a compromise under the heading of the campaign.
“[T]he position of the campaign is not to oppose abortion in the cases of rape, incest, and to protect the life of the mother,” he advised. “Congressman Ryan’s personal beliefs provide only a life of the mother exception, but the position of the Romney-Ryan campaign also allows exceptions in the case of rape or incest.”
Keith Mason of Personhood USA states that of all of the presidential candidates during this election, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney were the only two that refused to sign the Personhood Statement.
“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 remarked. “[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.”
Current legislation being presented to Congress in regard to abortion includes the Life at Conception Act, introduced by Representative Duncan Hunter of California. Approximately 120 congressmen from across the country have co-sponsored the bill. Many believe that the law, in establishing the personhood of the unborn, would effectively overturn Roe v. Wade.
Photo: Gage Skidmore
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