Dear Jeff Fuller,
"It's all context."
Yes, it's all context. And the context is that up until last year, Mr. Romney was on record as supporting the "right" of women to choose abortions, in spite of his personal feelings.
"It's just a reality of MA politics that NO POLITICIAN can run as a pro-life crusader."
I understand. However, Mr. Romney could have said in 2002 (and previously), "I personally believe that our laws should protect unborn human beings. I do not read of a 'right' to abortion anywhere in the Constitution. However, I will support the laws that we have now, and in that the electorate of Massachusetts is clearly pro-choice, I will do nothing to alter our laws."
Instead, he said:
"I RESPECT and will protect a woman's right to choose. . . . Women should be free to choose based on their own beliefs, not mine and not the government's."
Thus, what he said wasn't that this is something that should be settled on a local basis. Rather, what he said is that he respects a woman's "right to choose." In acknowledging this "right," Mr. Romney, at least at the time he said it, forfeited any pro-life credentials.
"Do you criticize Reagan and Bush 41 for being 'converts' to being 'pro-life politicians'?"
In Mr. Reagan's case, he actually expressed anguish for his actions as governor of California. That expression of anguish is an expression of repentance, which includes an acknowledgement that one has done wrong previously.
Let me know if Mr. Romney repents, rather than merely turns on a dime, as he deems politically necessary.
I was iffy on Mr. Bush immediately after his "conversion" in 1980. But I didn't have to vote for him for president for another eight years, and he gave every evidence of having truly changed his views. I believe Mr. Romney made this change in 2005. Perhaps he might get back to us in 2013 so we can further evaluate his record AND his rhetoric.
In any event, a four year-old quote is hardly so old that it is no longer relevant. It's wrong to criticize JohnnyZ for using a quote that's only four years old.
sitetest
I appreiciate your analytical and logical responses. They are too few and far between here.
I agree that Romney could and should have handled this issue better . . . but the real record that counts is his 100% pro-life legislative record (more so than what he's said about the political land mine issue of aboriton).
I think that Romney can and will convince of his change on the issue. This video is where Romney discusses his stance on Abortion and how it's changed. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4362623183954478320&q=tvshow%3ACharlie_Rose
Romney is the first 25 minutes of the video and the abortion theme is about 15 minutes into it (can scroll ahead).