Romney Mum On Abortion Ultrasound Bill

(CBS/AP)  Republican Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney declined Friday to weigh in on a South Carolina proposal that would require women seeking an abortion to view an ultrasound.

Instead, the former Massachusetts governor said states should make their own abortion laws.

"I would like to see each state be able to make its own law with regard to abortion," Romney said after a speech to about 50 small business leaders. "I think the Roe v. Wade one-size-fits-all approach is wrong."

Although Romney's presidential campaign reported earning nearly as much as the campaigns of Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, his name recognition isn't on the same level.

A new CBS News poll shows that 7 in 10 Republican primary voters say they don't really know Romney. And those who do associate one thing more than any other with him — not that he was Massachusetts governor or head of the Salt Lake Olympics, CBS News chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod reports. They know Romney is a Mormon.

And after Islam, the Mormon faith is the one most Americans still consider a deal-breaker in backing a candidate.

But, as Axelrod reports, the candidate has faith that his faith won't be an issue.

South Carolina is an early voting state dominated by conservatives who oppose abortion rights. The ultrasound requirement has generated much emotional debate in the state Legislature.

Proponents think women would change their minds after seeing an ultrasound and choose to keep the child or offer it for adoption. Critics consider it a way to intimidate women who already have made a difficult decision.

The House approved a version of the bill requiring women to view the images. If that proposal were enacted, it would make South Carolina the only state with such a requirement. However, a state Senate panel this week removed that language, setting up a possible showdown between the two Republican-dominated chambers.

South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster, a Republican, said he supports the requirement, but forcing a woman to view an ultrasound would be illegal. McMaster's opinion led the senate subcommittee to make viewing the ultrasound an option, rather than a requirement.

Critics have said Romney has reversed his position on abortion rights, and he has sought to reassure social conservatives that he sincerely opposes abortion.

Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, also campaigning in the state, reaffirmed his support Thursday for legislation that would mandate the requirement.

Romney's visit began a two-day swing through South Carolina. He plans to visit several county conventions, which his campaign has called key building blocks for the primary race here.

Also Friday, Romney announced that Lt. Gen. Claudius "Bud" Elmer Watts III and Brig. Gen. Thomas R. Mikolajcik would serve as chairmen of a veterans coalition supporting Romney in South Carolina.

The announcement came one day after South Carolina Adjutant Gen. Stan Spears threw his support behind Arizona Sen. John McCain, announcing he would lead a similar veterans panel.

[jburdman7]

"South Carolina is an early voting state dominated by conservatives who oppose abortion rights."

Should the Bill of Rights be rewritten by this author, what wording would be used for the "Right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' part?

Why does the media NOT state:
"South Carolina is an early voting state dominated by conservatives who view the right to life as starting at conception."
Or
'Who feel obligated to protect the weakest among us.'

Why not have some respect for a political party that offers to protect innocent life, even if it can not yet vote, or be baited by class warfare politics?

Do I smell BIAS?!

I give up. Why should I expect any moral compass from a corporation which also owns MTV.

[randalds]

to dallison7, first of all any nitwit who uses "ROFLMAO" clearly spends too much time in chatrooms.maybe you should turn off the computer more, take a shower at least twice a week and get a job instead of your life now which probably consists of surfing between moveon.org and dailykos and then painting up your latest "no blood for oil" and "bush is hitler" signs for your latest pro-terrorist rally. second of all, in spite of all your brilliant analysis of the republican frontrunners, you might want to check out ANY poll (not conducted by the huffington post or moveon) and you will see that those "dwarfs" as you call them spank any of those little race baiting, sanctimonious windbags you have on your side. so roll on the floor laughing your *** off about them apples!!
Posted by goheels_15 at 01:56 PM : Apr 15, 2007

ROTFLMFAO!!!!

[goheels_15]

to dallison7, first of all any nitwit who uses "ROFLMAO" clearly spends too much time in chatrooms.maybe you should turn off the computer more, take a shower at least twice a week and get a job instead of your life now which probably consists of surfing between moveon.org and dailykos and then painting up your latest "no blood for oil" and "bush is hitler" signs for your latest pro-terrorist rally. second of all, in spite of all your brilliant analysis of the republican frontrunners, you might want to check out ANY poll (not conducted by the huffington post or moveon) and you will see that those "dwarfs" as you call them spank any of those little race baiting, sanctimonious windbags you have on your side. so roll on the floor laughing your *** off about them apples!!

[dallison7]

ROFLMAO!!!!


The republidrunks are scurrying around looking for a presidential candidate!!! LMAO!!

The three front runners aren't looking too good!!

1. Guiliani-All mouth, no substance. Male slvt with no moral compass.

2. Romney-LOL!! Believes deeply that scripture was revealed to his 'prophet' (Joe Smith) by a 'talking white salamander'!! Can't decide from day to day where he stands on issues!!

3. McCain-Body armor, 20 armed humvees, attack helicopters, 150 armed body guards... "It's really safe here on the streets of Baghdad". What a joke this guy has become!!

The parade of republican candidates is looking like a homecoming for the 'Seven Dwarfs'. LMAO!!

Now Fred Thompson is preparing to jump in.

Hell yes, come on and join the party, 'Sleepy'!!

[randalds]

Mormons may portray themselves and their cult as Christians, but they are NOT.
A true Christian believes in Jesus Christ, unconditionally and without reservations follow HIS teachings. Mormons, like other 'pseudochristians' DO NOT.
Posted by nikosk1 at 01:09 PM : Apr 14, 2007

All religions are cults. Some are just older and bigger then others. When Jesus started Christianity it was a cult too. Just because it's now bigger doesn't make it any less of a cult, just a big one. They're no different then Islamics, Mormons, Druids, Wiccans, Buddhists, etc. All cults of one size or another.

[jacksteen1]

I have to laugh every time CBS or these other media spinners run another story about this cross-eyed, inbred mormon cult member...trying to make him look like a viable candidate for anything other than multiple-marriage scofflaw and White Salamander Translator.

Go back to Salt Lake City, Mutt - oversee the collections racket your cult's Discover Card brings in - and leave the rest of us true Christians alone.

[gfox67]

In a recent poll a over 80% of the people of Germany said today's REpublican Party AND George Bush WERE Fascist

mcvet

Who was this poll taken by........ CBS, CNN, or ABC ......... FASCIST news agencies?

[forthepeopl1]

THIS IS THE TIME TO TAKE UP ARMS AGAINST OUR GOVERNMENT NOW....

ITS OUR RIGHT AS AMERICANS AND ITS IN THE CONSTITUTION THAT IF THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT DOING WHAT THE AMERICANS ARE ASKING FOR.

SO LETS CHANGE IT. THEY CANT GET ALL OF US, AND IF WE CHARGE ALL AT ONCE THEY CANT SHOOT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS AT THE SAME TIME. SO LETS GET EVERYONE READY TO HAVE THE GREATEST REVOLUTION THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER HAD.

THEY WANT A CIVIL WAR, THEY WILL HAVE IT GIVEN TO THEM ON A PLATTER.AMERICANS NEED TO STAND UP FOR AMERICA, BEFORE ITS TO LATE..

EMAIL ME TO WHEN YOU ALL WANT TO START. [e-mail] AND I WILL BE READY TO GO AND GIVE MY BLOOD FOR OUR COUNRTY.AS A VET I KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT.AND THIS GOVERNMENT IS NOT RIGHT. now stand up americans dont let them destroy our america

[goheels_15]

"by the way NAZI was a GERMAN PARTY OF FASCIST!!"


wrong again there "sparky"...like i said, pick up a history book mc-hammer-vet. they were both totalitarian regimes...BUT nazism had nothing to do with facsism.

"So according to your ONE PARTY View unless I'm Italinan I can't be a fascist?"

nice spelling of italian btw...thats not what i said either "sparky"...my point was how all of YOU anti-american nutjobs call bush a fascist and then compare him to hitler. i'll make it simple for your simple mind here "sparky"...hitler=nazi, mussolini=fascist. so either call bush a nazi and compare him to hitler or call him a fascist and compare him to mussolini. but dont miz them. i would say to make it simple just call him a totalitarian but i know multi-syllabic words are hard for your ilk so never mind.

[mcvet]

wouldn't say anything about this bill either. It is the most stupid thing that I have ever heard of. So exactly how did these SC idiots think such a law would be enforced. Strap the woman in a chair and sew her eylids open.
Posted by kansas1946 at 09:06 PM : Apr 13, 2007

Well anyone who knows anything about Southern Fascist would tell you that such would not be beyond them. They just a few years ago, refused to allow any Religious Leader in school for "Prayers" who didn't have as part of that "Prayer" the iron clad rule that "Eqaul but Different" was the word of God. After that I'd say these slimy creatures are capable of anyting. Sieg Heil Y'all.