Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–October 24, 2012. Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, challenged presidential hopeful Gov. Mitt Romney to withdraw his endorsement of Senate candidate Richard Mourdock for his extreme anti-choice position.
During last night’s Indiana Senate candidate debate forum, Mourdock declared that, “even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen.”
“Mr. Mourdock’s lack of compassion for rape survivors is callous, insulting, and completely out of touch,” Keenan said. “What is equally disturbing is the fact that Gov. Romney has endorsed Mourdock and appeared in a TV ad on his behalf. Unless Romney takes back his endorsement, women voters should assume that he embraces these same extreme anti-choice views of Mr. Mourdock.”
The War on Women has been characterized by a series of shocking, and in some cases ignorant, statements about women’s reproductive rights. Just this month, state Rep. Roger Rivard (R-WI) questioned the credibility of rape survivors, claiming that “some girls rape easy.” Earlier this year, Todd Akin drew national attention by claiming that pregnancy rarely occurs from a “legitimate rape.”
As governor, Romney vetoed a measure that would have ensured that rape survivors receive information about and timely access to emergency contraception. Thankfully, the Massachusetts state legislature voted to override Gov. Romney’s veto.
“This is why elections matter,“ Keenan said. “These narrow-minded views have no place in American politics and these anti-choice candidates cannot be trusted. Women’s fundamental rights are on the ballot, and we cannot take the outcome for granted.”
Source: http://www.prochoiceamerica.org
