Statement on the Iowa Caucuses
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 4, 2012 Statement on the Iowa Caucuses Washington, D.C. – Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, issued the following statement regarding former Gov. Mitt Romney’s win in the Republican caucuses in Iowa. “Former Gov. Romney may have won first place in Iowa, but his anti-choice views are out of touch with our nation’s values and priorities,” Keenan said. “Romney has pledged to support policies that would undermine women’s freedom and privacy at every turn. He might have scored points with a very narrow segment of voters in one state, but, if Romney becomes the nominee, he will have to start explaining those views to voters in battleground states during the general election. We will make sure that Romney’s extreme views—and his flip flops on this issue— are a liability.” During his campaign for governor of Massachusetts, Romney pledged to uphold pro-choice laws. However, once he assumed office, he took many anti-choice actions, such as vetoing a bill giving rape survivors information about and timely access to emergency contraception. Recently, Romney endorsed a constitutional ban on abortion, a concept similar to a “personhood” measure that Mississippi voters rejected by a wide margin last November. “The occupant of the White House wields more power over reproductive rights than any other person,” Keenan continued. “The U.S. Constitution and American tradition give 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.” For more information on Romney’s record on choice, please visit our website here. In addition, NARAL Pro-Choice America recently released findings from a survey in key battleground states that shows that a key bloc of women voters is resistant to a candidate with extreme anti-choice views: Contact: Samantha Gordon, 202.973.3042
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