Celebrities blast Romney on women's health

President Obama's support from Hollywood's a-list has already helped swell his campaign coffers, but thanks to a new ad from progressive organization MoveOn.org, that support will soon be flooding the airwaves.

In the ad, a trio of actresses who have endorsed Mr. Obama's bid for reelection and all spoke at this summer's Democratic convention - Eva Longoria, Scarlett Johansson, and Kerry Washington - assail GOP nominee Mitt Romney's record on women's health care issues and reproductive rights, warning viewers, "If you think this election won't affect you and your life, think again."

With recent polls showing Obama's support among women receding from previous highs, the ad's message could pack a timely punch.

The script touches on every major women's health flashpoint, from contraception and abortion to Planned Parenthood funding, rape redefinition, and compulsory ultrasound legislation.

"Mitt Romney is for ending funding to Planned Parenthood," warns Longoria, an outspoken Obama supporter who delivered a primetime speech at the Democratic convention in Charlotte.

"He said he'd overturn Roe v. Wade," reminds Washington.

The reminder comes on the heels of Romney's comment to the Des Moines Register that abortion legislation is not "part of my agenda," a comment that elicited incredulous cries of "flip-flop" from Democrats and compelled Romney's campaign to reassure pro-life voters that Romney will indeed carry their water.

Johansson, yoking the GOP ticket to congressional Republicans, reminds viewers of House Republicans' attempt to restrict abortion funding to instances involving "forcible rape," explaining, "We have Republicans trying to redefine rape."

"Trying to force women to undergo invasive ultrasounds," chimes in Longoria, referring to legislation pushed by GOP-led legislatures in several states that would require women to submit to an ultrasound procedure before terminating a pregnancy.

As for how viewers can stymie the GOP agenda on women's health, the stars' message is crystal clear: "Vote for Barack Obama," says Johansson.

The ad, described by MoveOn as a "six figure buy", will air in Colorado and Virginia, two states where the impact of the female vote is expected to be particularly pivotal.

Rob Reiner, who directed the ad with the help of his wife Michele, was particularly heated in his criticism of the GOP ticket, saying in a statement that Romney and his running mate, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, would "eviscerate women's rights" if they are elected. "As a husband, son, and father, I can't stand by and let this happen."

[Franciscan44]

The Obama campaign is running ads trying to portray Romney as extreme on abortion now. But most Americans want limits on abortion and identify themselves as "pro-life". Obama publicly opposed a law that would stop abortions that single out unborn babies whose only crime was that they were the "wrong" gender (a kind of abortion that disproportionately singles out girls, btw). He opposed a law against the barbaric practice of partial birth abortion. Four times he voted against a law that would have protected babies who were born alive after a botched abortion attempt. He opposes parental notification laws. He supports the right to abortion at any time during pregnancy and for any reason. So who is the extreme one on abortion, really?

Gallup poll on abortion:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/1576/abortion.aspx

Obama against law outlawing gender selection abortion:

http://dailycaller.com/2012/05/31/obama-opposes-ban-on-sex-selective-abortions/

Obama 4 times voting against the "born alive" infant protection act:

http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/archive/ldn/2008/aug/08081101

http://www.lifenews.com/2012/08/23/new-audio-surfaces-of-obama-defending-infanticide-in-illinois/

More on Obama's abortion record:

http://www.ontheissues.org/2012/Barack_Obama_Abortion.htm

[hancul6]

These celebrity actresses live a life of fallacy. Their very good at their profession, acting, but to them the truth is what ever they want it to be. That's their job and that is how they live. Their truth is that a "fetus", the most infantile stage of human life, is not a life. But yet, they do not want to see a torn apart "fetus" after an abortion. It is life, for God's sake. Science tells us that, common sense tells us that and our very lives tells us that. But hey, we are so sophisticated and talented, and so darn smart, we know better. So give me my right to exterminate a life because it is inconveniently in the way of my ambitions. 51 million aborted children and counting.

[Wicasawakan]

@HATEHOLLYWOOD - You must not realize there's a million articles online, in the papers and television shows reporting on multiple issues. This article just happens to be focused on one of those issues. It just happens to be the one Mitt the Twit is scared to death to tackle. Take your Type A issues somewhere else. You aren't contributing, you are wasting space.

[cliffndort]

I believe that every child should be conceived between two loving adults. My hope is that this child will be born, loved, nurtured and raised by those same two loving parents. However, I believe in a woman's right to choose. It is not up to me, you, or our government to tell any woman that she must carry a fetus to term. I am not in that woman's shoes, I have no idea why she requests an abortion, and it is not my right to know.

That being said, I do believe that all abortions should be limited to no later than the second trimester of pregnancy, with the exceptions to save the life of the mother, or because the fetus is so badly damaged that it will be born either dead or whose life will be devastatingly short, causing heartbreak and financial ruin to the parents and family.

By the end of the second trimester, all women should know whether they are pregnant or not, so the excuse "I didn't know" won't cut it.

Frankly, to solve the abortion issue, birth control in the form of condums, pills, IUDs, whatever should be absolutely free to everyone. Birth control education should first be taught to pre-teens at the time of puberty by the parents. It should then be followed up with mandatory education in our schools to all students. Parents could opt their child out of this education, but I do not recommend it because abstinence only is not working.

Off soapbox now

[jstra2]

Preach!

[hatehollywood]

Single-issue, bubble-headed, brainwashed, monolithic hollywood women think they are speaking for all of us. How about the blatant lack of respect for our constitution by your incumbent candidate? The lying? The miserable economy? His lack of leadership? those don't count? Just abortion?

[Wicasawakan]

You must not realize there's a million articles online, in the papers and television shows reporting on multiple issues. This article just happens to be focused on one of those issues. It just happens to be the one Mitt the Twit is scared to death to tackle. Take your Type A issues somewhere else. You aren't contributing, you are wasting space.

[Wicasawakan]

@HATEHOLLYWOOD You must not realize there's a million articles online, in the papers and television shows reporting on multiple issues. This article just happens to be focused on one of those issues. It just happens to be the one Mitt the Twit is scared to death to tackle. Take your Type A issues somewhere else. You aren't contributing, you are wasting space.

[cliffndort]

I believe that every child should be conceived between two loving adults. My hope is that this child will be born, loved, nurtured and raised by those same two loving parents. However, I believe in a woman's right to choose. It is not up to me, you, or our government to tell any woman that she must carry a fetus to term. I am not in that woman's shoes, I have no idea why she requests an abortion, and it is not my right to know.

That being said, I do believe that all abortions should be limited to no later than the second trimester of pregnancy, with the exceptions to save the life of the mother, or because the fetus is so badly damaged that it will be born either dead or whose life will be devastatingly short, causing heartbreak and financial ruin to the parents and family.

By the end of the second trimester, all women should know whether they are pregnant or not, so the excuse "I didn't know" won't cut it.

Frankly, to solve the abortion issue, birth control in the form of condums, pills, IUDs, whatever should be absolutely free to everyone. Birth control education should first be taught to pre-teens at the time of puberty by the parents. It should then be followed up with mandatory education in our schools to all students. Parents could opt their child out of this education, but I do not recommend it because abstinence only is not working.

Off soapbox now

[ibsage]

life is a seamless experience of continual evolution that begins at conception and continues until interrupted by natural death either through accident, sickness or old age. the exception occurs when it is interrupted by direct premeditated human intervention. in this case in almost all instances it is classified in civil societies as murder and punished accordingly.

abortion of a human fetus falls into this latter category of murder. it is a crime uniquely instigated and executed by women, most often for their own convenience and runs counter to all civilized concepts of maternal responsibility. experiencing the cognitive dissonance caused by this conundrum is the primary reason for the hysterical reaction against its recognition and the implausible attempt at justification by such meaningless arguments as "women's right to privacy". abortion has nothing to do with privacy. it's murder pure and simple and those who commit it are murderesses period. Ex Ovo, Omnia.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

I'd be much more impressed with people who weren't simply pro-BIRTH, honestly.

Have you adopted?

[Bigeee1]

Did CBS really call MoveOn.org a progressive organization? I thought they were proven beyond a shadow of doubt to be a corrupt and scandal torn organization. I guess it doesn't matter where the news comes from anymore.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

I thought they were proven beyond a shadow of doubt to be a corrupt and scandal torn organization.

------------

Had to reread that one - I thought you were talking about the Catholic Church...

[redought]

Loving liberals want cradle to grave benefits for everyone......the hard part is making it to the cradle.All three of my beautiful children were "unplanned",as were all four of my grand children that we all love so much.Planned Parenthood regularly convinces not so well to do young mothers to abort their "fetus",it is later that guilt catches up,as reality is want to do.Women who have had abortions are definitely not healthier for the experience.

[kimberper]

REDOUGHT~ First of all, good for you. You had a choice and you choose to have 3 kids. It's not your choice what someone else does with their body. It's not your decision. You are anti-abortion, so don't have one.
Secondly, you are a liar. Planned Parenthood DOES NOT try to convince any woman to have an abortion. That is a FLAT OUT LIE. YOU ARE A LIAR.

[Ktillman]

Maybe if women would either use birth control (which is free in most places) they wouldnt need abortions. or learn to keep their legs closed and not make the babies they dont want in the first place... Just my thoughts. Be responsible for cryin out loud.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

Sooooo - we're not responsible at all when they don't keep their legs closed?

That's just crazy.

[cattiej]

If you are a man, you need to not have sex with a woman and she gets pregnant because guys like you belong in a cage somewhere. If you are a woman, shame on you. Regardless of your sex or lack there of.....you are a fool. maybe you should keep your mouth closed and be responsible for your own life and leave others alone...