NARAL Rips Romney on Abortion After Iowa Caucus Victory

Politics   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jan 5, 2012   |   1:23PM   |   Washington, DC

The pro-abortion group NARAL quickly took on former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney following his narrow eight vote victory in Iowa’s republican caucus vote on Tuesday night.

Hours after the final votes were counted, Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL, issued a statement regarding Romney and his pro-life views on abortion.

“Former Gov. Romney may have won first place in Iowa, but his anti-choice views are out of touch with our nation’s values and priorities,” Keenan said, calling his positions favoring overturning Roe and de-funding Planned Parenthood anti-woman.

Keenan said:  “Romney has pledged to support policies that would undermine women’s freedom and privacy at every turn. He might have scored points with a very narrow segment of voters in one state, but, if Romney becomes the nominee, he will have to start explaining those views to voters in battleground states during the general election. We will make sure that Romney’s extreme views—and his flip flops on this issue— are a liability.”

“During his campaign for governor of Massachusetts, Romney pledged to uphold pro-choice laws.  However, once he assumed office, he took many anti-choice actions,” Keenan said, criticizing him for vetoing a bill to expand access to the morning after pill, that can sometimes cause an abortion.

“Recently, Romney endorsed a constitutional ban on abortion, a concept similar to a “personhood” measure that Mississippi voters rejected by a wide margin last November,” Keenan complained.

“The occupant of the White House wields more power over reproductive rights than any other person,” Keenan continued. “The U.S. Constitution and American tradition give the president a wide variety of means to influence the laws and policies that govern freedom of choice.  Depending on the person who occupies the office, that unique authority can be used either to protect or to take away our rights. Romney has pledged that taking away women’s rights will be a priority for him.”

This is the second time NARAL has specifically gone after Romney, whom it apparently views as the Republican frontrunner.

In December, Keenan took aim at Romney, penning a strongly worded editorial published by the Huffington Post, as LifeNews political reporter Andrew Bair noted:

Keenan blasts Romney for supporting pro-life efforts to stop taxpayer funding of abortion through the No Taxpayer Funding of Abortion Act (H.R. 3) and the Protect Life Act (H.R. 358). Keenan once again perpetuates the pro-abortion myth that by not using taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions women will die.

Contrary to Keenan’s extreme characterizations, poll after poll indicates the American public does not favor their tax dollars being used for abortions. Romney echoes this view and has not wavered in his support for this legislation. In fact, Romney has publicly pledged to eradicate taxpayer funding of abortion and federal funding for groups that provide or promote abortion like Planned Parenthood.

Romney’s support for an eventual human life amendment to the US Constitution was also the target of Keenan’s editorial. Keenan intentionally blurs the lines between federal and state human life amendments. A federal amendment to the US Constitution, which is a painstakingly difficult process requiring action by both Congress and two-thirds of the states, would have the effect of superseding the Supreme Court’s Roe vs. Wade decision and protecting unborn children.

Romney’s position on abortion, unfiltered by fear-mongering abortion advocates like Nancy Keenan, was released both on his campaign website and in an article for National Review.

Romney commits himself to reinstating the pro-life Mexico City Policy, ending funding for Planned Parenthood and the United Nations Population Fund, renewing the Hyde Amendment, advocating for a federal Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act and appointing strict constructionist judges to the US Supreme Court. Romney’s pledge is even stronger than previous pro-life presidents in many aspects. After the disastrous presidency of Barack Obama, it’s clear we need a president who will stand on the side of vulnerable human life. Romney’s pledge indicates he will do just that.

Some conservatives question the authenticity of Romney’s conversion from pro-abortion to pro-life but it’s clear the other side has no doubts about the type of president Romney would be.

Mary Ann Glendon, Harvard Law professor and former Ambassador to the Vatican, entered the national spotlight after refusing an award from Notre Dame after the university announced it would be giving an honorary degree to pro-abortion President Obama.  Glendon currently serves on Romney’s team of judicial advisers and is outspoken in defense of Romney’s pro-life views.

Next year’s election will be absolutely critical for the pro-life movement with the Supreme Court within just one vote of overturning Roe vs. Wade, the decision that has victimized over 53 million unborn children and broken the hearts of so many mothers.