Redstate

For unknown reasons, Mr. Zandstra, Gary Glenn and others continue to pit a couple of old comments of Gov. Romney's against his record as an elected official (actually, they just ignore his record altogether). Let's take a look at Gov. Romney's track record and comments.

First, the quotes:

"I understand that my views on laws governing abortion set me in the minority in our Commonwealth. I am pro-life."

"For all the conflicting views on this issue, it speaks well of our country that we recognize abortion as a problem. The law may call it a right, but no one ever called it a good, and, in the quiet of conscience people of both political parties know that more than a million abortions a year cannot be squared with the good heart of America."

"Many women considering abortion face terrible pressures, hurts, and fears; we should come to their aid with all the resourcefulness and empathy we can offer. At the same time, the starting point should be the innocence and vulnerability of the child wanting to be born."
–Source: “Why I vetoed the contraception bill” Boston Globe Op-Ed, July 26, 2005

"I am firmly pro-life."
–Source: Fox News Sunday (February 26, 2006)

"…the drug that they’re referring to not only is a contraceptive, but it’s also an abortive product. Individuals who have already become impregnated and that have a living embryo within them take this drug and ends the life of that embryo. So it’s not only a contraceptive, it’s abortive."
–Source: Interview with Hugh Hewitt (July 2005) *Explaining his decision to veto an emergency contraception bill.

"I am a pro-life governor. And I indicated during my campaign that I did not favor abortion. But I'm in a very pro-choice state, and I committed to the people that if elected, I would not change the laws. I would put in place a moratorium if you will, a status quo provision, that there would be no changes in the abortion laws, one way or the other. And so this emergency contraception bill was an effort to sort of get around that, and to try to get me to change my commitment. And I, of course, wasn't going to do that. But I am pro-life. I have made that quite clear today. Usually, I have not used that term. I've just said look. I don't favor abortion. But I wanted to make it clear that over the past two and a half years serving as governor, I've watched an activist court. I've also had the experience of seeing what happens with embryo farming, and embryo cloning being considered. And I just recognized that we have to be very clear in standing up for the importance of the sanctity of life."

"I would hope that at some point, America would recognize that over a million abortions a year is just not right. And at the heart and the minds of the people of American would come to agree on a national consensus that abortion should not exist in our land."
–Source: Interview with Hugh Hewitt (July 2005)

"Human cloning for any purpose — whether for research or reproduction — is ethically wrong. Once cloning occurs, a human life is set in motion."
–Source: Letter to the Massachusetts Legislature (May 2005)

And what do others have to say?

Ted Miller, a spokesman for NARAL Pro Choice America, said his organization considers ... Romney as "anti-choice."

“…Romney has done his best to defend the culture of life on what is probably the most inhospitable terrain in the country.”
–John J. Miller (National Review)

“He has been in fights with liberals on every social issue imaginable — gay marriage, cloning, abstinence education, emergency contraception, gay adoption. At times, it's almost been as if the conservative capital of America has been in that tiny slice of Boston occupied by Romney's office.”
-Rich Lowry (National Review)

"Even in the traditionally pro-choice state of Massachusetts, Governor Mitt Romney (R) announced this month that he would sign a bill outlawing most abortions if it ever reached his desk."
-Planned Parenthood website

In Romney's 1994 campaign against Ted Kennedy, from which Mr. Zandstra likes to quote, it is important to note that Romney neither sought nor received the endorsement of Planned Parenthood or NARAL.

And what has he done as governor of possibly the most liberal state in the Union?

1. He vetoed legislation for an emergency contraceptive pill.

2. He has continually claimed that human life starts at conception, and has used his own campaign money to run ads to fight embryo harvesting and stem-cell research.

3. He has pledged to veto allowing RU-486 abortion pill from being given further access to his state's citizens.

4. He has increased abstinence education in Massachusett's schools.

Romney is pro-life, and his actions prove so.
For more info, see http://www.americansformitt.com/prolife_perspective.html

You can read more on Romney's stance on abortion at Possible GOP Prez Candidate Mitt Romney Discusses Abortion Change.

One can be politically pro-life, taking pro-life stands for reasons of political expediency. This is a good thing, and I support Governor Romney's political maneuvers which benefit life.

Seperate is the state of being personally pro-life for rational and for moral reasons. In this category, one believes that this is about innocent human life, not political calculation.

Mitt Romney wants to be President, and that is a grand thing. Some people believe that it is possible that he will be elected President. I suppose there's nothing unhealthy about that as far as it goes. But what Romney's supporters have to understand is that conversions for political expediency are not acceptable to those who want one who actually means it. And you should also understand that whatever Romney's motives and beliefs on this matter, it will be nearly impossible to change the minds of many in the pro-life camp.

This brings up a question: Should we be permitted a glimpse into a Presidential candidate's soul?

I find it no small coincidene that this is a MI group as is the most prolific Anti-Romney basher Gary Glenn. Is this part of some backroom deal with Gary Glen so that he will support your organization? Most pro-lifers are keen to Romney for his strong stance on life and his most recent stance against stem cells.

It's funny to see you take on someone who could be your most likely allie in the Whitehouse. This is definitly a miscalculation that will cost you any type of leverage with Romney when he wins the nomination without you.

www.illinoisans4mitt.blogspot.com

One point to note. I am pro-choice, however, I fully agree with this statement:

"For all the conflicting views on this issue, it speaks well of our country that we recognize abortion as a problem. The law may call it a right, but no one ever called it a good, and, in the quiet of conscience people of both political parties know that more than a million abortions a year cannot be squared with the good heart of America."

Just because someone believes that abortion should be legal beyond in cases where the mother's life is in jeopardy, or cases of rape and incest, does not mean they think abortion is "a good". Having had three friends get pregnant before the age of 14, and two of those undergo abortions, I can certifiably say abortion is not "a good", and that abortion certainly feels wrong and immoral (even in cases where the mother's life may be in jeopardy).

Thinking abortion is bad, or immoral, doesn't necessarily make you pro-life. And, lest I repeat comments that I have made a million and one times on this site, Romney has not made a "handful" of pro-choice comments. He's made lots and lots of them, and he firmly held pro-choice beliefs for almost his entire life for deeply personal, unlikely to disappear as part of a weeks-long conversion, reasons. He held those views for a consistent, and long period of time, until he decided to think about running for President, that is.

Don't get me wrong-- I'd love to vote for a pro-choice Presidential candidate (though it is far from a no. 1 issue for me). But setting aside RomneyCare, I won't vote for someone who does a 180 on a pinhead on such an important issue at such a convenient time in his political career. That simple fact puts Romney below McCain, Giuliani and Newt on my list of 2008 contenders. And, btw, plenty of my readers disagree with me about this.

Liz Mair is the editor of WWW.GOPPROGRESS.COM, a RedState-style blog for libertarian, mainstream and moderate Republicans

By your standard, then, Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush also should have been shunned by pro-life politicians. The former liberalized California's abortion laws. The latter supported federal funding for Planned Parenthood's version of "family planning" (Title X) as a congressman.

Can you explain to everyone why the conversions of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush on this issue are acceptable while Mitt Romney's similar conversion (backed by vetos of a stem cell/cloning bill and an "emergency contraception" bill) is not acceptable?

Yes, let's examine Mitt Romney's record as governor. His RECORD, not what he said.

Why doesn't anyone want to know what made Mitt become "pro-life", just when he wanted to run for President?

Just four years ago Mitt said:
"On a personal basis, I don't favor abortion," he said. "However, as governor of the commonwealth, I will protect a woman's right to choose under the laws of the country and the commonwealth. That's the same position I've had for many years."

Source: Erik Arvidson, Lowell Sun Mar 20, 2002

This is the first time when runnin for office that Mitt has said he is pro-life.

Every other time he ran he said he was pro-choice.

So, is he a squishy pro-lifer who can't be trusted to be pro-life under pressure, or is he conveniently changing his position just in time to run for President?

Neither answer is very inspiring