Monday, January 23, 2012

Is Mitt Romney a PLINO--Pro Life In Name Only?


I have been mystified by candidate Mitt Romney's walk in the Pro-Life movement. He claims at the young age of 58 to have been a convert to the Pro-Life cause. Yet I have not seen Romney do anything to further the cause than just espouse a few sentences here and there.  Today, the anniversary of Roe v. Wade,  Romney put out a Pro-Life statement but yet failed to show up at last week's Pro-Life Forum in South Carolina.

David Brody writes an excellent rebuke of Romney for his declining the invitation to speak at the Greenville, South Carolina Pro-Life event on January 18th. Some highlights from the rebuke:
“I understand that he’s concerned that candidates and folks in the audience will probably attack his past support for abortion rights but he’s changed now right? That’s what he keeps saying so you would think he would go to an event like this to prove it and shut everybody up. Wouldn’t he be proud of the fact that he went from pro-choice to pro-life? Isn’t that something to shout from the rooftops as a conservative? Instead, he ditches the event. This isn’t the first time he’s ducked a pro-life event and it won’t be the last.
By the way, believe it or not evangelicals can actually walk and chew gum at the same time. They can be pro-life and be fiscal conservatives. The two are not mutually exclusive.”

Yes, Romney also did not attend Mike Huckabee's screening of The Gift of Life film and forum on December 14th. The film highlights adults whose life resulted from biological mothers’ choices of life over death and how their lives have been a shining example of why more should do the same.

There were no gotcha question/answer sessions at this event. Each candidate was given an opportunity to share their Pro-Life message before the film was presented. Then the candidates sat with the audience and enjoyed the film. Was Romney afraid of having his speech taped at this Pro-Life event? Was he afraid that it would be used against him in the general election if he were to become the nominee?

What about the Value Voter Summit of 2010? How much time did Romney give to the Pro-Life cause in his speech to voters who emphasize life, family and God? In Romney's speech he only mentioned the value of life and marriage in passing and instead emphasized the economy: “If he (President Obama) or any of his economic advisers had any experience in the real economy, he would have known that the first three rules of any turnaround are focus, focus and focus.” Compare that sentence to the one sentence that Romney stated about Values: “This room is filled every year by citizens-modern patriots–who are passionate about America’s values .These values include the sanctity of life and the preservation of marriage.” That’s it. That is all he said to this Values Voter crowd who specifically came to hear the speakers talk about family, marriage, and the gift of life. Compare that to Mike Huckabee’s speech or Mike Pence’s speech. They linked moral values to fiscal values and showed how getting it right on the moral issues will lead to getting it right on the fiscal issues. But Romney only threw the crowd a one sentence bone: These values include the sanctity of life and the preservation of marriage.

In 2008, Romney tried to convince voters in Iowa, South Carolina and other Red states that he was all three legs of the Reagan Conservative stool. Voters did not buy his story as it had no history to back it up. Romney bowed out of the race after Super Tuesday so that he could fight another day.

Now he is again fighting for the votes from all three legs of the stool. Yet he fails to show up for events that represent the Social Conservative leg of that stool.

Romney may, in the end, win the Republican party’s nomination. But will those social conservatives-who tend to be the grassroots activists within the party, fight for him in the general? I would imagine that they will give to Romney the attention to detail that he gave to their cause. Romney, the PLINO will get ballots cast by Values Voters, but that is all he will get. A check of the box on election day.

24 comments:

Graham said...

Read Romney's book. There's a section where he discusses his remarks on Roe v. Wade.

It's worth looking into, for a resolution.

Anonymous said...

Texas, I don't even have to read this. It doesn't matter. He is now pro-life.

The house is on fire, and you're worried about sweeping the floor.

Please. Your country is at stake. Time to grow up. The dirtbag doesn't seem to bother you too much. Puzzling.

-Martha

Anonymous said...

And Gingrich sought forgiveness now,the country is at stake, time to grow up. SEE WHAT I DID THERE?!

Machtyn said...

That Pro-Life forum was another trap, ala VVS Forum in Iowa in late Dec.

In any case, Romney's record as Governor in MA on the pro-life movement is pretty conclusive as to which side of the divide he sits.

Anonymous said...

In 1967 Ronald Reagan passed the Therapeutic Abortion Act in California. He was 56 years old. This act set off an explotion of abortions in the state, as well as set off a nationwide trend.

Yes, Mitt Romney once supported abortion, but he never passed any pro-abortion laws, unlike Reagan. In fact, Romney vetoed embryonic stem cell research in Massachussettes. That was Romney's turning point. Once he studied the issue in depth, he realized the profoundity and seriousness of the abortion issue and could no longer support it.

Romney doesn't even come close to inflicting the damage Reagan wreaked to the pro-life movement. Yet, Reagan is forgiven with little hesitation and Romney is forever a flip flopper.

Romney is just held to an impossible standard of authenticity, for reasons I'll leave out right now. But why should he be doubted as harshly as he has been? It's not like he dumped his wife when she developed MS that would cause people to question his word and personal character.

Maybe, it's the existing audio and video of Romney supporting abortion that has such a devastating impact. But no matter how devastating the audial and visual impact of that support is, it will be never equal in power to the consequences of Reagan's signature on the Therapeutic Abortion Act. When push came to shove in pro-abortion legislation, Reagan relented and Romney resisted.

And I don't think it would matter how many pro-life summits Romney would attend. Most people just don't want to believe him.

Anonymous said...

Because he looks and talks like a used carsalesman. It's a image thing.

Anonymous said...

Anon "And Gingrich sought forgiveness now,the country is at stake, time to grow up. SEE WHAT I DID THERE"

Problem is, it's not about forgiveness. I can forgive Newt his trespasses. Heck, I can even forgive a dirtbag who molests a child. However, could I trust that same repentant dirtbag to watch my kids for the weekend? Not in a million yrs. Is Newt a child molester? NO. Should I trust him just because he's been forgiven? NO. It's that simple. And that's just in regards to this one issue. Now his progressiveism, that's a whole different issue. Trust Newt? No way.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous @ 1:59

Whatever each individuals' perception of Romney's appearance may be, he's lived his personal life in a way that's pretty much pristine. It's opposite of the stereotypical sleazy and scummy used car salesman.

So, why shouldn't he be trusted at his word.

nkmom said...

Here is CNN's fact-checking regarding Romney's pro-life claims ...

Truth Squad: Romney defends his record on abortion
By the CNN Wire Staff
January 20, 2012 -- Updated 0639 GMT (1439 HKT)

Editor's note: Part of the CNN Republican debate fact-checking series

(CNN) -- Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney defended his record on abortion during Thursday night's CNN presidential debate in South Carolina.

The statement: "What came to my desk was a piece of legislation that said, 'We're going to redefine when life begins.' In our state, we said life began at conception. The Legislature wanted to change that to say, 'no, we're going to do that at implantation.' I vetoed that. The Legislature also said, 'We want to allow cloning for purposes of creating new embryos of testing.' I vetoed that. They didn't want abstinence education; I pursued abstinence education. There was an effort to have a morning-after pill provided to young women in their teens; I vetoed that. I stood as a pro-life governor." -- Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

The facts:

Romney ran two statewide campaigns in Massachusetts -- an unsuccessful bid for Senate in 1994 and a winning one for governor in 2002 -- as a supporter of abortion rights. But in 2005, he vetoed an emergency contraception bill and declared in the pages of the Boston Globe that he was an opponent of abortion, though he "respected the state's democratically held view" in favor of abortion rights.

Romney went on to veto the other bills he mentioned as well, though state lawmakers overrode his veto of a bill that would have allowed the creation of embryos for stem-cell research.

In April 2006, he announced $800,000 in grants for abstinence education programs, which are supported by many religious conservatives as an alternative to sex education.

The verdict: True. Romney's opposition to abortion is still viewed suspiciously by many conservatives, but his record supports the claims he made Thursday night.

CNN's Matt Smith and Lindsey Knight contributed to this report.

Ohio JOE said...

"The house is on fire, and you're worried about sweeping the floor." But it is OK for the unborn to be on fire? Ironically, while Mr. Romney is a little weak on the Pro-Life issue, he is nevertheless Pro-Life; his real weakness is the economy.

Anonymous said...

Give be a freakin break OJ!! And there you go again! You are also worried about sweeping the floor when you go after Romney on the economy, and ignore Newt's travesties!

NEWT is the one tashing capitalism!
Don't. You. Get. That!?

Romney is the strongest candidate on the economy! Stop with the nonsense.

-Martha

Ohio JOE said...

"Romney is the strongest candidate on the economy!" And when did this take place? When he realized that he actually had to campaign and would not get the nomination handed to him.

Terrye said...

If you read the book it is easy to understand....by the way, I have changed my own position on this issue as I have grown older. In fact, the American people overall have changed their position on this issue.

Meanwhile Gingrich supported tax dollar funding for abortions back in the 90s but that is ok because Newtie is not expected to live by the standards that he and talk radio cram down everyone else's throats.

Terrye said...

Ohio Joe...why was it okay for Gingrich to support pro abortion policies when he was in the Congress....he certainly did...why the double standard? It is as if people have just jettisoned all of their principles.

Terrye said...

And Romney is the strongest candidate on the economy because he has actually worked in it...Gingrich has been sucking of the state forever...I mean come on.

Terrye said...

As for the nomination being handed to him.what does that even mean? If it is that important to people on the right to make it a real race couldn't they come up with someone to run who was not an embarrassment to his party?

Ohio JOE said...

"why was it okay for Gingrich to support pro abortion policies when he was in the Congress" HELLO, when did I say it was OK??? I am not the Gingrichite.

Anonymous said...

TC, your posts leave me speechless. There are many cases where Romney is damned if he does or doesn't. He just has to try to avoid the pitfalls wherever he can. I know who David Brody is, and chances are he is not going to like Mitt no matter what he does. Not a good, unbiased source.

You should watch Mitt's ad done by Mary Ann Glendon--former ambassador to the Holy See--about how he governed in Massachusetts. Maybe you'll believe HER, even if you don't believe him.

AZ

Terrye said...

Ohio Joe..really? So why is it when a post like this gets done that the only guy you yell at is Romney..if you don't want me to believe you are not a Gingrich guy..then spend as much time going over his record as you do Romney's.

Anonymous said...

Considering Newt's preference for "free love" My guess is he has paid for more than one abortion... that's what his life style demands... but of course since he has no conscience it doesn't matter.

Newt Gingrich is a hypocrite. Look into his many affairs... you'll find abortion. Bet on it.

Lori Patriot said...

http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/House/Georgia/Newt_Gingrich/Views/Abortion/

Even his colleagues in DC say he should never have run with his skeletons and baggage. http://www.1170kfaq.com/Pat_Campbell_On_Demand.html

http://newtfacts.com NewtCantWin.com

Do your own research and stop believing propaganda from the New World Order advocate, Newt. Newt is unfit for office and a disgrace who takes credit for achievements of others. He is on the Center On Foreign Relations which is connected to Bilderberg and Trilateral that Clinton heads up. The organization recently unpublished their membership due to the radicals in the streets ---Occupy Wall Street protesters disrupted business, behaved like animals and caused crime, rape and murder. The Tea Party did not, yet Obama call them radicals NOT the scum protesting with the help of the Communist and Soros groups.

Gov. Romney is for the sanctity of human life and he has proven it:

He is a “convert” to the pro-life position, much like Ronald Reagan
He believes life begins at conception
He vetoed a bill to give kids access to emergency contraception without parents’ knowledge
He promised a “moratorium” on changes to abortion laws in his 2002 gubernatorial run
He opposes Roe v. Wade and thinks states should set abortion policy
He opposes cloning of human embryos for stem cell research—even though his wife has multiple sclerosis
He vetoed a bill to expand such research despite the overwhelmingly hostile liberal majority in his state legislature
Quote: “In considering the issue of embryo cloning and embryo farming, I saw where the harsh logic of abortion can lead—to the view of innocent new life as nothing more than research material or a commodity to be exploited.”
http://evangelicalsformitt.org/on-the-issues/

Anonymous said...

Don't worry, folks. If Newt's past turns up an illegitimate child or an abortion, we can just forgive him for that too.

-Martha

Ohio JOE said...

"So why is it when a post like this gets done that the only guy you yell at is Romney" Hello, this post is about Mr. Romney, but if you think I was yelling at him, you are rather thin skinned.

"Don't worry, folks. If Newt's past turns up an illegitimate child or an abortion, we can just forgive him for that too." Yeah, I suppose like we should forgive Mr. Romney for TARP and mandates? Huh?

Anonymous said...

OJ, Romney doesn't need to be forgiven for anything. Not TARP, not MassCare.

-Martha