Commentary

Mitt Romney Vows to Do Away With Advancements in Women’s Health


Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–August 31, 2012.  Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, blasted Mitt Romney for his call to repeal the Affordable Care Act during his acceptance speech for the Republican Party’s nomination.

“Once again, Romney vowed to repeal Obamacare, one of the greatest advancements for women’s health in a generation, which shows just how out of touch he is with the American public,” Keenan said. “This law has already begun to bring millions of Americans into a health-care system that includes affordable family-planning services, better access to contraception, and improved maternity-care coverage. That’s why we must stand with President Barack Obama and women across this country in supporting this important law.”

Mitt Romney’s promise to deny millions of women health-care coverage came just days after the party’s platform adopted language that calls for a Human Life Amendment to the U.S. constitution.  This type of “personhood” language would ban abortion in almost all circumstances with no exceptions for rape or incest.  It would also potentially ban several common forms of birth control, and restrict fertility treatments.

While running for president, Romney has pledged to defund the nation’s federal family-planning program that provides millions of Americans with access to contraception and cancer screenings. He endorsed a constitutional ban on abortion, a concept similar to a “personhood” measure that Mississippi voters rejected by a wide margin last November and just this week failed to qualify for Colorado’s 2012 ballot. And, he chose the extreme anti-choice politician Paul Ryan as his running mate. Ryan believes in no exceptions for rape or incest.

“The occupant of the White House wields more power over reproductive rights than any other person,” Keenan continued. “The U.S. Constitution gives the president a wide variety of means to influence the laws and policies that govern freedom of choice.  Depending on the person who occupies the office, that unique authority can be used either to protect or to take away our rights. Romney has pledged that taking away women’s rights will be a priority for him.”

Get more information on Romney’s record on choice.

In addition, NARAL Pro-Choice America conducted research in key battleground states that shows that a key block of women voters is resistant to a candidate with extreme anti-choice views.

Source: http://www.prochoiceamerica.org


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