MITT VS. FACT: Shifting Positions On Abortion

The Gloves come off in the GOP Race

For Immediate Release
Contact: Matt David
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
703-650-5550

SHIFTING POSITIONS ON ABORTION
"Mitt Romney's biggest challenge in this election will be convincing Republicans he has principled positions on important issues, especially now that it's known that he remained committed to pro-choice policies after his 'epiphany' on abortion in 2004. In stark contrast, John McCain has a consistent 24 year pro-life record." - Matt David, Deputy Communications Director

MITT: Mitt Romney maintains that he changed his position on abortion to pro-life after a "single revelatory moment" in November 2004.
VS.
FACT: A new video shows Mitt Romney, just six months after his so-called epiphany, declaring himself "absolutely committed" to supporting pro-choice laws. (YOUTUBE VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxV-QNXoRIc)

BACKGROUND:
Romney Says He Converted To Pro-Life Cause In November 2004, Saying That After That Time He Was Compelled To "Stand For The Dignity Of Human Life"
Romney "Simply Changed His Mind" On Abortion One Day In November 2004. "On abortion, Romney says he simply changed his mind. He recalls that it happened in a single revelatory moment, during a Nov. 9, 2004, meeting with an embryonic-stem-cell researcher who said he didn't believe therapeutic cloning presented a moral issue because the embryos were destroyed at 14 days. 'It hit me very hard that we had so cheapened the value of human life in a Roe v. Wade environment that it was important to stand for the dignity of human life,' Romney says." (Karen Tumulty, "What Romney Believes," Time, 5/21/07)

The Doctor, Harvard's Douglas Melton, Claimed Romney "Mischaracterized My Position." "Governor Romney has mischaracterized my position; we didn't discuss killing or anything related to it. ... I explained my work to him, told him about my deeply held respect for life, and explained that my work focuses on improving the lives of those suffering from debilitating diseases." (Scott Helman, "Romney's Journey To The Right," The Boston Globe, 12/17/06)
Romney: "When I First Ran For Office ... I Concluded, Wrongly, That I Would Support The Law As It Was In Place ... And So I Publicly Acknowledged My Error, And Joined With You To Promote The Sanctity Of Human Life." "As you know, when I first ran for office ... I concluded, wrongly, that I would support the law as it was in place - effectively, a pro-choice position. ... And I was wrong. And so I publicly acknowledged my error, and joined with you to promote the sanctity of human life. And you know that my words were matched with my actions." (Mitt Romney, Remarks To Massachusetts Citizens For Life Mother's Day Dinner, Agawam, MA, 5/10/07)

Six Months After His So-Called Epiphany, Romney Said He Was "Absolutely Committed" To Maintaining Pro-Choice Laws In Massachusetts
Romney In May 2005: "I am absolutely committed to my promise to maintain the status quo with regards to laws relating to abortion and choice and so far I've been able to successfully do that and my personal philosophical views about this issue is not something that I think would do anything other than distract from what I think is a more critical agenda ..." (Mitt Romney, Remarks At Press Conference, 5/27/05)
· Watch

Mitt Romney Say He Was "Absolutely Committed" To Maintaining Pro-Choice Laws Six Months After So-Called Epiphany On Abortion.

Today, Romney Says "As Governor I Came Down On The Side Of Life"
Romney In May 2007: "You don't have to take my word for it. You can look at what I did as a governor. And as a governor I came down on the side of life." (Fox News' "Hannity & Colmes," 5/7/07)