Pro-choice GOP group hits Mitt again
Posted: Tuesday, December 04, 2007 6:32 PM by Mark Murray
From NBC/NJ's Erin McPike
As Romney collects growing praise from various socially conservative activists and groups, the Republican Majority for Choice is taking a page from the Log Cabin Republicans’ playbook -- by scolding him for his flip-flops.
But while the pro-gay rights Log Cabin group has been honing in on a slate of issues that does not involve gay rights, the pro-choice GOP organization is after Romney only for his shift on abortion.
In addition to already running a TV ad lampooning Romney and documenting where his rhetoric has shifted, the RMC today “sent Mr. Romney a letter reminding him of his past promises and releasing, for the first time in the Presidential campaign, Romney's 2002 Gubernatorial literature pledging his commitment to protect a woman's right to choose,” according to an e-mail announcing the expansion of the campaign.
Included in the literature is the 2002 message: "Mitt has always supported a women's right to choose. Mitt is a strong supporter of women's rights and has promised to protect a woman's right to choose. Mitt inherits a proud legacy from his mother, who championed a woman's right to choose when she ran for the US Senate in Michigan in 1970 before Roe v. Wade when abortion was a crime and not a choice."
Romney repeatedly has stated in campaign appearances when asked questions about his stance on abortion that he has always personally opposed abortion -- but went through a change of heart with a bill on stem-cell research that involved cloning.
Spokesman Kevin Madden replied with this statement via e-mail, shifting the focus to Giuliani: "Governor Romney is firmly pro-life and he firmly believes that the Republican Party must remain the party that protects the sanctity of life. Governor Romney, like Ronald Reagan before him, is a pro-life advocate who has changed in the right direction on this issue. The political group that is attacking and distorting Governor Romney's position is desperately trying to destroy the Republican Party's position on the issue of protecting life, while also supporting Mayor Giuliani and his pro-choice position that is at odds with grassroots conservative Republicans. Governor Romney will not back down from his pro-life position, despite this group's attempts to weaken the party and promote Mayor Giuliani's pro-choice candidacy."
Those aren’t the only attacks the campaign is facing today. Several days before delivering his address on religion, the DNC issued an e-mail with the subject heading, “Romney’s selective views on Religious tolerance.” It points out discontent within the Arab-American community for Romney’s recent comments about appointing a Muslim to his cabinet, drawing attention to a newsletter issued by the Arab American Institute that scrutinizes Romney's comments and follow-up comments on the matter.
