Pro-life group defends Romney: He’s been an ally since the last election
SBA president Marjorie Dannenfelser then e-mailed me early Sunday claiming that she had spoken with the Romney campaign to try to clarify the pledge. She denied that there was any attempt to damage Romney and stated, “Romney has been an ally of mine/ours since the last election. His not signing came after a sincere effort to clarify intent and convince him to sign.”
The Romney campaign declined further comment on the record. Although no reason was given, I can imagine that the last thing the campaign wants to do is gin up a fight with a group that’s already caused a stir. However, the points raised by Romney remain in the pledge (its overbroadness on providers and its impact on executive branch appointees). It is baffling that SBA, if it intended to qualify and limit the pledge, didn’t redraft and recirculate it. What is the point of a pledge that says one thing but is interpreted privately in an entirely different way?
Blowback
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Odd, considering they spared no time beating him about the head with their worthless pledge after he refused to sign it.
KingGold on June 20, 2011 at 8:31 AM
Nothing odd about it. It’s called damnation by faint praise.
Ted Torgerson on June 20, 2011 at 8:36 AM
I agree with the article’s conclusion: the pledge was a stupid idea. It went too far and caused candidates to attack each other over essentially a couple of nuances, making them look ridiculous. I like Romney and Cain’s positions for not signing. Bachmann and Santorum, IMO, come off as too rigid and opportunistic. The Dems must be loving this.
Aardvark on June 20, 2011 at 8:39 AM
For romney to sign the pledge it would require him to defedn Romneycare since it funds abortions with taxpayer money…
unseen on June 20, 2011 at 8:47 AM
He’s an “ally” to a lot of groups after having his head handed to him from the last election…but that is a big part of his problem, his “compass” is determined by the amount of money and support he receives, not from any real personal stand.
If he can be “bought” one way, he can be sold the other…
right2bright on June 20, 2011 at 8:55 AM
rubin4romney
all you need to know
completely disagree. I want no part of Romney, and no part of any other candidate who won’t take him on directly.
james23 on June 20, 2011 at 8:56 AM
the real story here is the fact that Rubin has thrown herself all in for Mitt this early in the campaign. Any future article/colume by her will be suspect since she just declared her Mitt love
unseen on June 20, 2011 at 9:00 AM
Mitt Romney is ALWAYS a “Fair Weather” Ally at best.
HondaV65 on June 20, 2011 at 9:00 AM
I assume that “defedn” means “defund” and not “defend”? The abortion funding is based on prior, existing State law in the State of Massachusetts.
Private insurers also fund abortions. You want to attack them now too? Maybe start a petition and force candidates to sign your pledge? May I suggest you look to groups like MoveOn dot Org or the Color of Change, that like to issue daily petitions and use boycotts to shut down private corporations who support causes or candidates they disagree with?
Buy Danish on June 20, 2011 at 9:02 AM
Mittens on abortion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_w9pquznG4
DB9 on June 20, 2011 at 9:02 AM
Wow. You-know-who is so lucky to have such a profound spokesperson (who employs such elegant prose!), tirelessly working on her behalf.
Buy Danish on June 20, 2011 at 9:08 AM
Romneycare funds abortions. simple fact.
unseen on June 20, 2011 at 9:14 AM
and yet rubin is still in love with Mitt. And therefore her articles are immediately suspect. Of course she is going to find some pro-life group to soften the stupidity of Mitt in this.
unseen on June 20, 2011 at 9:16 AM
You make it sound like a fracking soap opera. unseen is in love with you know who, and Rubin is in love with Mitt.
But on to important stuff: “Some pro life group” is the SBA Group who issued the pledge you all are attacking Mitt for not signing. “LOL” as you like to say.
Buy Danish on June 20, 2011 at 9:21 AM
The attacks on Romneycare, abortion, etc are old news. He fought those battles in 2008.
csdeven on June 20, 2011 at 9:22 AM
I don’t like Romney and would prefer any of the other candidates to him except Gingrich, even {shudder} Ron Paul. That said, I agree with him on this one issue: I believe that Romney and Cain were right to stand on their principles (which varied a bit, admittedly) and not sign the pledge. Just my opinion.
By all means, let the other candidates go after Romney. His positions are shot full of flip flops and rotten policy. Hit him hard on AGW and the rest. I just don’t think that the pledge is a good line of attack.
Aardvark on June 20, 2011 at 9:23 AM
“an ally since the last election” pretty well says it all. No principle there; just electioneering.
michaelo on June 20, 2011 at 9:26 AM
In fairness to Rubin, she’s defended Palin too. Though I suspect most of the (ex)Commentary people have doubts about her seriousness. Which of course makes them natural Mittens chow.
Seth Halpern on June 20, 2011 at 9:28 AM
Still would like to know how you can support someone that wrote a bill that lead to the taxpayers of MA paying for abortions. unless of course you think abortions are a good thing.
unseen on June 20, 2011 at 9:28 AM
And how many abortions has Romneycare funded since 2008? how many babies have died because of that funding in the last 3 years and romney has not once called for MA to defund that part of his bill. In fact Mitt is still explaining to us all how great romneycare is for the state of MA.
unseen on June 20, 2011 at 9:31 AM
That’s not my point. My point is about camel’s noses under tents; that private insurers provide abortion coverage, and if unseen et al are consistent they will start protesting at the offices of private insurers too.
Heck, why stop there? They should demand that a Romney (or Palin! or Bachmann! or Pawlenty!) administration sign a pledge that says they will not hire anyone who has ever have worked for a private insurer because they are “baby killers”. The private insurance market can be destroyed and we can have a glorious single-payer system at last!
Buy Danish on June 20, 2011 at 9:33 AM
I am not a Romney Supporter but I think we are splitting hairs at this point with the Pro-life issue. The only thing I wish he had done was give a better reason as to not signing the pledge. Claiming it would have unwanted consequences is kind of silly. Cain didn’t sign it and his reasoning for it I think was good enough for me.
chb03c on June 20, 2011 at 9:37 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9IJUkYUbvI&feature=related
DB9 on June 20, 2011 at 9:38 AM
I guess I shouldn’t expect a Mitt supporter to understand the difference between public and private.
unseen on June 20, 2011 at 9:39 AM
Only you can conflate stating a fact about existing state law to approving the end result. More despicable tactics from you. What a shock!
Buy Danish on June 20, 2011 at 9:46 AM
I fully understand the difference between private and taxpayer dollars. YOU called ME a “baby killer” at the Romney/Pledge thread merely because I don’t believe in pledges or litmus tests. My point is that since you are so zealous about abortion that you go around calling people like me “baby killers” merely because I don’t believe in pledges, you should be consistent and oppose all abortion coverage from any source.
Buy Danish on June 20, 2011 at 9:53 AM
Wow, an ally since the last election, and Rubin relates this apparently non-ironically.
edshepp on June 20, 2011 at 10:55 AM
Aaaaand “unseen” is done, lol.
nickj116 on June 20, 2011 at 10:57 AM
Of course this assumes he has the brains to understand how/why he made an utter fool of himself.
Buy Danish on June 20, 2011 at 11:03 AM
BTW, for the longest time I though unseen was a she. What with all his talk of people (like Jennifer Rubin in this case) being “in love with Mitt”, he sure has a girly (and dare I add, sophomoric) way about him. What sort of man talks like this? Even beta men don’t talk like this. Nope it’s the discourse of little girls whose rooms are decorated with the covers of Tiger Beat.
Buy Danish on June 20, 2011 at 11:22 AM
This is a good piece by Rubin, and I wish it were getting 300+ comments on HotAir. But of course it won’t, because it defends Romney. Making a pledge written by a private group is just an extremely silly litmus test. I’m delighted Cain and Romney didn’t sign it, and find it pathetic that other candidates are going after them (mostly Romney) for it.
ThanksMo on June 20, 2011 at 11:25 AM
“Mitt Romney has been an ally ever since he stopped being our enemy.”
Great endorsement.
portlandon on June 20, 2011 at 11:25 AM
You think this is splitting hairs? Wait till the general when the Obama campaign raises a lot of issues about Romney that will alienate pro-lifers and social conservatives.
Oh yeah, and don’t think Obama/MSM will not bring up Romney’s Mormon background, Romneycare, etc…
By the time they are done with him, even the so-called “unelectable” Palin will be polling way better than him.
TheRightMan on June 20, 2011 at 11:51 AM
look at this genius…lol. I bet the fact that Romney is leading pains you a lot.
Chudi on June 20, 2011 at 10:22 PM