Romney and Abortion

Mitt Romney has come under attack by Sam Brownback, Tom Tancredo, and others for his deviations from conservative principles. He has been accused of flip-flopping for political reasons, and not being a true conservative. Both of these are quite unfair to Mitt.

Whatever may be said about his motivations for changing his position on abortion and gun rights (Romney did not change on gay marriage), Romney did not flip-flop a la John Kerry. Flip-flopping implies changing your position on a issue constantly, something that Romney has not done. The way his oppenents are applying "flip-flop", any candidate who changes his mind on any position should be considered an indecisive "flip-flopper".

Romney did not flip-flop, but many consider his policy changes to be a little too conviently timed. He suddenly became pro-life in 2004, the year in which he Republicans starting looking to '08- and also the year in which "values voters" were seen as a crucial voting bloc. It must make the most trusting person a bit suspicious when suddenly Romney becomes pro-life.

A look at his record clarifies his position a little. In 2002, he was personally pro-life, but effectivly pro-choice. In 2005, he vetoed an embryonic stem cell research bill and a bill providing emergency contraception to rape victims, both gutsy pro-life moves. However, in 2006 he opposed Roe v. Wade, but said he wouldn't tamper with abortion laws. In the same month, though, he declared he was pro-life. All of his utterences since then have indicated he was pro-life.

It appears that although Romney's abortion comments look a little shaky from the pro-life standpoint, they do seem to hold up. In my opinion, he would help the pro-life cause in America.

Although I realize that I have been writing about Romney a lot lately, I have not suddenly jumped on the Romney bandwagon (nor am I so arrogent to suppose that many people would particulary care or even notice if I did). I am simply trying to defend Romney from what I think is unfair media coverage. Romney is good presidential candidate, and he deserves better than he has gotten from many in media.