Atlantic Umpire: Does Romney Want South Carolina Republicans To Think He Favors An Immediate Constitutional Ban On Abortion?

But wants a broader audience to think he'd go a little slower?

It's unclear.

Romney, in a direct mail piece he's distributed to South Carolina Republicans, brags he's the: "The only major presidential candidate who supports the Republican Party's pro-life platform: A constitutional amendment banning abortion nationwide."

(The piece was evidently written before Mike Huckabee's rise...)

Last night, Romney said:

"We should overturn Roe v. Wade and return these issues to the states. I would welcome a circumstance where there was such a consensus in this country that said we don't want to have abortion in this country at all period? That would be wonderful. I would be delighted … to sign that bill. but that's not where we are. That's not where America is today. Where America is ready to overturn Roe v. Wade and return to the states that authority."

(And, of course, there's this oldie, but goodie, from Romney's seminal 2005 op-ed on his abortion transformation: "The nation remains so divided over abortion, I believe that the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate." )

Terry Sullivan, Romney's South Carolina state director, said the mailing accurately described Romney's view.

"There is absolutely no difference what-so-ever. Overturning Roe v. Wade is the first step. Then when there is a chance to get 2/3 or realistically ¾ of the states to ratify a Constitutional Amendment we should do exactly that… as the Governor said. “don't want to have abortion in this country at all period? That would be wonderful. I would be delighted … to sign that bill.”

Says Sullivan: "Governor Romney, If elected, would publicly support an amendment."

And it's true that neither Fred Thompson nor Rudy Giuliani would.

Comments

Romney is very dishonest and cunning politician. He will say and do anything to win elecions.

Posted by Romney | November 29, 2007 9:09 AM

Romney is the only honest and ethical candidate from either party. He keeps his promises!

Posted by Christian | November 29, 2007 10:30 AM

Journalists didn't major in journalism for nothing. Conceptual distictions most people get pretty quickly journalists start by seeing as obvious "hypocracies" - then after five or six months of trying to explain it to them....well they forgot what they once understood....and you start all over again. This issue was raised about four months ago, answered, momentarily understood....and now....they need to go over it all again. Sigh. Good thing our elections last two years now. Eventually the truth sinks in for most people - we finally can see the forest behind the journalists.

Posted by copp | November 29, 2007 2:17 PM

It is interesting to me that Romney's flyer says he supports a Human Life Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The question was put to him directly by Marc Ambinder for the National Journal's Feb. 9, 2007 issue.

NJ: You would favor a constitutional amendment banning abortion with exceptions for the life of the mother, rape and incest. Is that correct?

What I’ve indicated is that I am pro-life, and that my hope is that the Supreme Court will give to the states over time or give to the states soon or give to the states their own ability to make their own decisions with regard to their own abortion law.

NJ: If a state wanted unlimited abortion?

The state would fall into restrictions that had been imposed at the federal level, so they couldn’t be more expansive in abortion than currently exists under the law, but they could become more restrictive in abortion provisions. So states like Massachusetts could stay like they are if they so desire, and states that have a different view could take that course. And it would be up to the citizens of the individual states. My view is not to impose a single federal rule on the entire nation — a one-size-fits-all approach — but instead allow states to make their own decisions in this regard.

Particularly that last sentence of the second answer strikes me as inconsistent with the assertion in his flyer that he supports the platform and the HLA.

Posted by Daniel | November 29, 2007 5:08 PM