Romney dismisses photo of him at Planned Parenthood event

The Boston Globe ^ | 12/18/2007 | Michael Levenson

[wastedpotential]

Mitt Romney, who has taken hits from his Republican presidential rivals for his change of heart on abortion, had to explain earlier this year a donation that his wife made to Planned Parenthood. Now, his campaign is trying to explain a photo, sent to several news organizations today, that shows him at a fund-raiser for the abortion provider. Nicki Nichols Gamble, a former president and chief executive of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, said today that the photo shows Mitt and Ann Romney at a private home in Cohasset in June 1994. At the time, Romney was hoping to unseat US Senator Edward M. Kennedy, and eager to show his support for abortion rights, said Gamble, who is pictured in the photo with her back to the camera. The photo "demonstrates again, and it's already been demonstrated, that Mitt Romney has changed his mind about whether he is pro-choice or anti-choice more than once, and that he seems to change his mind based on the practicality of the political situation," Gamble said in a telephone interview today. "In 1994, he was in a very tightly contested race with Ted Kennedy, who is pro-choice, and he seemed to embrace the pro-choice cause.” Romney's campaign acknowledged in May that Ann made a $150 contribution to Planned Parenthood in 1994, but his spokesman Kevin Madden said at the time, "Since it was so long ago, Ann has no information of the circumstances." Romney has said he changed his mind about abortion starting in 2004 after talking to scientists about stem cell research. Romney dismissed any significance of the photo. "I attend a lot of events when I run for office. I don't recall the specific event," Romney said while campaigning today in South Carolina,

[wastedpotential]

Oh yeah, he wasn't really there to support them or their cause, just to write them checks and pick them up. He has now "seen the light" on this issue.

[weegee]

“Mitt Romney has changed his mind about whether he is pro-choice or anti-choice more than once, and that he seems to change his mind based on the practicality of the political situation,”

A constitutional amendment to protect all life would end this ploy for votes every election cycle AND take the matter out of the hands of activist judges who try to create new rights.

[Mariner]

I just don't see Huck or Mitt winning this race.

They're both disingenuous crackpots.

I still see a two-man race, Fred and Rudy...

[Vigilanteman]

Like we really need the Boston Globe to screen our candidates. All you sheeple out there:

LIMIT YOUR CHOICES TO GUILANI, McCAIN and HUCKABEE! WE CAN'T TRUST HUNTER, THOMPSON, ROMNEY or TANCREDO!

[tobyhill]

He may dismiss the photos but I’m not.

[elizabetty]

Mitt Romney NEVER voted for any pro-aborition law. He vetoed every single bill that came across his desk that did not advance the PRO-LIFE position.

This is the ultimate red herring because his record of ACTION is 100% pro-life.

Words are worthless, action is all that matters in life.

[LS]

Well, check realclearpolitics.com. Fred has been losing steam in every single state since November. He hasn't gained ANYWHERE, and is down in several states by 1/3 from his late November numbers. He's all but pulled out of NH; is at #3 in SC (barely tied with Rudy); and in some places he is off by 2/3 from late November.

I'm still waiting for anyone to show me a path to the nomination for this guy. Where does he get delegates? NJ? CA? IL? CT? NY? PA?

[unspun]

A constitutional amendment to protect all life would end this ploy for votes every election cycle AND take the matter out of the hands of activist judges who try to create new rights.

I wish Fred Thompson were not opposed to this.

[Luke Skyfreeper]

Oddly, I believe him. 1994 was a long time ago.

It does in fact say he was more interested in the money than in the ideology, but that’s no stretch.

[elizabetty]

George Bush at a Mosque. This must mean he is Muslim.

[Blue Highway]

Governor Romney does not regret, and won’t apologize for the fact, that he has become pro-life."

Has he publicly apologized for being pro-choice? If so I haven't heard it.

[DemEater]

I hope you don’t honestly believe the 2 are analagous.

[The Electrician]

He may dismiss the photos but I’m not.

I find an interesting conundrum inherent in that view. Do you realize that it looks like an erstwhile Planned Parenthood executive, who has a passionate interest in promoting abortion, has told you to jump at their command, and apparently your response has been "how high"?

[pissant]

He’s got a memory like Fred Thompson.

[Spirochete]

George Bush at a Mosque. This must mean he is Muslim.

We'll he does believe islam is a beautiful religion of peace. Thats a start.

[Retired Greyhound]

why can’t we trust Fred and Hunter?

[tobyhill]

I wasn’t for Romney anyway. As for his posing with PP, if he knew who they were and still did the pose, he’s wrong regardless who wants to hurt his campaign. He can redeem himself if he gets on National TV and tells everyone that as President he will only pick judges that oppose abortion.

[webschooner]

I haven't picked a candidate to support, but having said that, I think Romney is way less disingenuous than the phoney baloney RINO Huckabee.

[ansel12]

“As for his posing with PP, if he knew who they were and still did the pose,”

---

He knew who they were, that is why he was there to help them. A republican senatorial candidate does not accidentally attend a private Planned Parenthood fund raiser and write them a check.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9IJUkYUbvI

[tobyhill]

I was giving him the benefit of doubt before the excuses come in that he didn’t know who they were.