Mitt Romney has changed his views on abortion so many times that he can’t recall what his actual view is. Just last week, he told The Des Moines Register, “There’s no legislation with regards to abortion that I’m familiar with that would become part of my agenda.”
Of course, this isn’t true.
Quickly, his campaign followed, saying, “”Governor Romney would of course support legislation aimed at providing greater protections for life.”
In 1994, Ted Kennedy said Mitt Romney wasn’t pro-choice or anti-choice. He was “multiple choice.” These days you might as well call Mitt “no choice.” His abortion agenda isn’t his own—it’s the same extreme agenda all Republicans have to buy into to exist in the modern GOP.
Here are Mitt Romney’s most extreme stands on women’s health.
Photo credit: AP Photo/Steven Sennen
Defunding Planned Parenthood
Loved by Barry Goldwater, funded by Ronald Reagan and both Bushes, Planned Parenthood has been relied upon by American women for basic reproductive health care. Funding the organization was seen as a wise investment that saves taxpayers money until the Tea Party Congress came to Washington, D.C. Now, every Republican—including Mitt Romney—must vow to defund the organization, which will likely deprive millions of women of the care they need to prevent disease and unwanted pregnancies.
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Overturning Roe v. Wade
A President Romney would likely have the chance to appoint two or three Supreme Court Justices. Would these right-wing justices seize the chance to throw away decades of precedent to achieve the Holy Grail of the Christian conservative movement? Do you doubt it? What would that mean? States would have the right to criminalize abortion. The rich would be able to travel if necessary to have the procedure. The poor—who in many states already have to travel hundreds of miles for access—likely wouldn’t.
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Ending The “Mexico City Policy”
Romney has said, “I will reinstate the Mexico City Policy to ensure that non-governmental organizations that receive funding from America refrain from performing or promoting abortion services, as a method of family planning…” This is another political football the anti-abortion activists use to impose their will on the world. When George W. Bush re-imposed this policy in 2001, 68,000 women died around the world as a result of unsafe abortions. You can expect the same under a President Romney.
Photo credit: Mark Nobil
Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
Mitt Romney has specifically said that he supports and would sign the “Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act,” which bans abortion after the 20th week. In fact, 98.5 percent of abortions happen before that time, but anti-abortion activists focus on later abortions where bans have proven to be legal. The problem with banning abortions after the 20th week—except in cases where the mother’s life is severely threatened—is many abnormalities in the fetus may have not been identified and a mother could easily be forced to take an unviable fetus to full term. Rep. Eric Meyer (D-Paradise Valley) is also a doctor who serves in Arizona’s State House, where a 20th-week ban was passed. “To force a woman to carry a fetus that has anomalies that are not compatible with life for (another) 20 weeks isn’t a decision we should be making here at the Legislature,” he said. “That’s a decision for that woman to make with their physician and their family.”
