Mitt Romney: No One Would Care If I Went From Pro-Life to Pro-Abortion

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   May 8, 2007   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Mitt Romney: No One Would Care If I Went From Pro-Life to Pro-Abortion Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 8
, 2007

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney says he’s getting tired of the questions about his shift a few years ago from supporting to opposing abortion. In a television interview last night, he said he wouldn’t be barraged with so many questions if he had switched from pro-life to pro-abortion.

The comments came during a Monday night interview on the Fox News Channel program "Hannity and Colmes."

Romney has frequently explained how he became pro-life a few years ago after having to deal with the issue of embryonic stem cell research as governor — after campaigning as a pro-abortion candidate on previous occasions.

"What I find interesting is, had I been pro-life and then changed to pro-choice, no one would ask the question," the former Massachusetts governor said.

He added: "But if you go the other direction, as I have and as Ronald Reagan did and (former Illinois Rep.) Henry Hyde and (former president) George Herbert Walker Bush, it’s like the media can’t get enough of it: ‘Oh, well, why did you change?’ "

Romney talked about his abortion views during the Republican presidential debate last week.

Asked whether "the day that Roe v. Wade is repealed" would "be a good day for Americans" Romney replied, "Absolutely."

The former governor was also asked about his position change — something that presumably led to the Fox News comments.

"I’ve always been personally pro-life, but for me there was a great question about whether or not government should intrude in that decision. And when I ran for office, I said I’d protect the law as it was, which is effectively a pro-choice position," Romney explained.

"About two years ago when we were studying cloning in our state, I said, look, we have gone too far; it’s a brave new world mentality that Roe v. Wade has given us; and I change my mind," he added.

"And I said I was wrong and changed my mind and said I’m pro-life. And I’m proud of that and I won’t apologize to anybody for becoming pro-life," he concluded.