Posted on 05/11/2007 3:15:35 PM PDT by Unmarked Package
In all my years in the pro-life movement, I have always believed that our goal was not only to change laws, but to change minds -- and we have changed many minds. Ronald Reagan, Henry Hyde, and countless others who at one point supported abortion rights later came to understand that human life at its very beginning moments must be protected.
We take pride in the work of these individuals, because in their changes of heart, they proved that the mission of the pro-life community is not only sacred, but it is also capable of winning new adherents and allies.
I can think of no better example of this change of heart than Governor Mitt Romney. He has traveled down a path of discovery, and explored the philosophical and scientific basis for the pro-life position. Now, he counts himself among the millions of Americans who oppose abortion on demand and scientific experimentation with human embryos.
I have watched Governor Romney's journey, and I believe he is sincere in his change of heart. But you don't have to trust me on that count; you merely have to look at what Governor Romney said and did on life issues when it counted:
In 2002, during his campaign for governor, he supported Massachusetts' parental notification laws for minor girls seeking abortions; his opponent opposed such notification laws. Thankfully, he won and those parental notification laws remain on Massachusetts' books.
In 2005, Governor Romney vetoed a bill that would have expanded stem cell experiments involving the cloning of human embryos – a practice he called morally wrong. At the time, Romney spoke movingly of the moral issues at work: "It is wrong to allow science to take an assembly line approach to the production of human embryos," he wrote in a letter explaining his veto.
That same year, he vetoed legislation that would have allowed the "morning after pill" to be purchased without a prescription. He also vetoed legislation that would have redefined a human life as an implanted embryo, rather than a fertilized embryo. The legislation would have allowed scientists to experiment freely on fertilized embryos before destroying them -- treating the fertilized embryo as nothing more than what some scientists call a "clump of cells."
In 2006, he announced that the state would sponsor abstinence education programs in its middle schools, the first time Massachusetts agreed to spend federal abstinence education funds on in-school programs.
I am hardly the only pro-lifer to notice that Governor Romney has been a reliable friend of the pro-life community. Prominent pro-life attorney James Bopp Jr. recently wrote that Governor Romney has the "conviction and courage" needed to help America reach a pro-life consensus and adopt pro-life laws. Massachusetts Citizens For Life Executive Director Marie Sturgis said Governor Romney was "one of the strongest assets the pro-life movement has had in Massachusetts."
Time after time, when pressed by a very liberal legislature to approve laws liberalizing the use of abortion and experimentation on embryos, Governor Romney has consistently chosen life. In his constancy, Governor Romney has proven himself a staunch ally in our effort to change hearts and change minds. He has shown that someone leading a state with a liberal electorate can govern as a pro-life leader.
And most importantly, he has shown an understanding of the pro-life movement. We are not a single issue movement. We do not simply seek to end the Roe v. Wade era. We seek to raise America's consciousness of the nature of life at its earliest moments -- fragile, weak, and completely dependent for protection and sustenance.
We will accomplish this goal by supporting leaders such as Governor Romney. He has been an ally in opposing abortion on demand, he has been an ally in opposing scientific experiments on human embryos, and he has been an ally in defending the primacy of the family. With his wife of 38 years, his five sons, and ten grandchildren, he is the living embodiment of what the pro-life movement stands for -- and we should all support his candidacy.
Rep. Pete Hoekstra, a Republican, represents the second district of Michigan
Peter Hoekstra is a good man. It’s worth noting that he was on the American Conservative Union’s Best of the Best list:
http://www.conservative.org/pressroom/2006/0604052pr.asp
Romney claims first thing he did when he heard about the VT killings was to pick up a bible. Color me suspicious. Sounds like pandering to me. Not to say his conversion is necessarily one of convenience but I have my doubts.
He has always been a devout Mormon though. He helped build a huge Temple in Belmont, his home town, overlooking I-90 despite strong local reisistance.
Some interesting facts to consider in the evaluation of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
“In 2005, Governor Romney vetoed a bill that would have expanded stem cell experiments involving the cloning of human embryos – a practice he called morally wrong.” And therein is the cogent point. Romney made his decision as a MORAL point, which is the proper persepctive. Perhaps he is evolving in his understanding of the issues; other Mormon men like Hatch and Reid believe it is okay to exploit embryo-aged humans if they haven’t been implanted, but the moral decision was not something Romney fled from IN A SICKENINGLY LIBERAL STATE and that is indeed encouraging.
Change minds and HEARTS!
"Massachusetts Citizens For Life Executive Director Marie Sturgis said Governor Romney was "one of the strongest assets the pro-life movement has had in Massachusetts."Mitt Romney received an award yesterday from Massachusetts Citizens For Life and was the keynote speaker at their Mother's Day Pioneer Valley Dinner.
Ann Romney also serves as co-chairman of the Massachusetts Citizens for Life capital campaign.
The text of the keynote speech given by Gov. Romney is available online: Governor Romney's Remarks At The Massachusetts Citizens For Life Mother's Day Pioneer Valley Dinner. It's a very fine speech that ends with these comments:
..."Now of course you recognize not everyone agrees with me or with you. You can't be a pro-life Governor in a very pro-choice state without considering that there are heartfelt and thoughtful arguments on both sides of the question. And I certainly believe in treating all people with respect and tolerance. It's our job to persuade our fellow citizens of our position.
"The problem is that there are some people who believe that their views must be imposed on everyone. More and more, the vehicle for this imposition is the courts. Slowly but surely, the courts have taken it upon themselves to be the final arbiters of our lives. They forget that the most fundamental right in a democracy is the right to participate in your own governance.
"Make no mistake: abortion and same-sex marriage are not rights to be discovered in the Constitution.
"I think Chief Justice John Roberts put it best at his confirmation hearing. He described the role of a judge. He said, 'Judges and Justices are servants of the law, not the other way around. Judges are like umpires,' he said. 'Umpires don't make the rules, they apply the rules...and I will remember that it's my job,' he said, 'to call balls and strikes and not to pitch or bat.'
"That's my kind of judge and that's the kind I'd appoint.
"On the tenth anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Ronald Reagan observed that the Court's decision had not yet settled the abortion debate. It had become as he said, 'a continuing prod to the conscience of a nation.'
"And now, more than thirty years later, that is still the case. Honored court decisions haven't settled this question, but have further divided the nation. And Roe v. Wade continues to work its destructive logic throughout our society.
"This can't continue.
"At the heart of American democracy is the principle that the most fundamental decisions should ultimately be decided by the people themselves.
"We're a decent people who have a commitment to the worth and dignity of every person, ingrained in our hearts and etched in our national purpose.
"So these are the challenges that face the next President: strengthening our country and our families, protecting marriage and human life and preserving for our children the true blessings of liberty.
"These are noble purposes, worthy of a great people.
Well, I was riding in a car from NY to WI when I heard about the VT killings and the first thing I did was to make the sign of the cross and to say a prayer. Are you doubting me?
I believe Gov. Romney.
That would make a great tagline. : ) How nice of you to be thoughtful and respectful enough to call him governor.
He has a MORAL compass, which is always a good thing.
If Fred doesn’t get in, that may be the ONLY choice for conservatives since it appears Romney would not agree to a Hunter-Romney ticket.
"I think Chief Justice John Roberts put it best at his confirmation hearing. He described the role of a judge. He said, 'Judges and Justices are servants of the law, not the other way around. Judges are like umpires,' he said. 'Umpires don't make the rules, they apply the rules...and I will remember that it's my job,' he said, 'to call balls and strikes and not to pitch or bat.'
"That's my kind of judge and that's the kind I'd appoint."
Well and CLEARLY stated by the Governor and so good to hear. I believe Romney will appoint that 5th judge we so desperately require, to overturn Roe vs. Wade.
I have no reservations, as a born again Christian, voting for Mitt Romney if he’s actually chosen as the Republican candidate. I would have reservations for Guiliani and some of the others, but I actually like Romney. He’s not perfect, but then WHO IS???
The fact that Democrat commentators including Joe Klein and Bob Beckle sp? and Al Sharpton have been dumping on Romney since he did so well in the debate encourages me to vote for him. He seems like a smart, personable guy; he was in the top five percent of his Harvard class and earned both a J.D. and an M.B.A. which suggests he has a few brains.
YUP. Belmont is chock full of Moonbats.
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