"Ask Mitt Anything"-- Pointed questions for the Governor about abortion.
Mitt Romney in Laconia, NH 5/29/07 (GG photo)
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Republican presidential wannabee Mitt Romney was here in GraniteGrok's backyard yesterday. Appearing at an event in Laconia, NH billed as "Ask Mitt Anything", Romney fielded a rather intense and specific pair of questions on the subject of abortion. The YouTube below captured the exchange.
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The questioner, welcoming Mitt to NH, noted,
"I think you know, in the past social conservatives have been a little concerned about your position on abortion..."
"Is abortion murder?"
After a rather detailed answer involving his discussions with various experts, legal people, etc. he makes his point, I guess, which can be summed up as "It is not murder, but is the taking of human life." It's all rather convoluted, and the most difficulty I have seen Mr. Romney have with a question on the topic.
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The followup question wasn't easy for Gov. Romney either. It involved following the line that, if he's "evolved" in his thinking that Roe vs. Wade should be overturned, and the act of abortion is the taking of a human life, what comes next?
"When we work to ban abortion in this country, what types of penalties can be put in place by the Federal government?"."Manslaughter?"
His answer was the standard "let each state decide" mantra that, at the end of it, isn't much different than that of pro-choice Republican hopeful Rudy Giuliani. While I happen to agree that that's the right answer, I'm not sure what Romney is saying in this particular exchange qualifies him as the staunch pro-life candidate he purports to be. In fact, if you listen carefully, his words almost seem like they could be subject to interpretation. You know, down the road, if need be...
