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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsROL "Romney family abortion tragedy could be game changer"
http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2012/06/mitt-romney-abortion-bombshell-backstreetRepublican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney has kept a shocking family abortion secret from his pro-life supporters!
The White House hopeful was left devastated when a beloved relative died after undergoing a botched backstreet abortion The National Enquirer exclusively learned. Ann Keenan, the younger sister of Romneys brother-in-law, died at age 21 after contracting a fatal infection following an illegal abortion in 1963, and political insiders say the tragedy had a profound effect on the future politician.
Romney was just 16 at the time, and other than referring to Ann as a dear, close family relative, he has never identified her publicly or discussed her death in detail.
A GOP source revealed that Romney actually became pro-choice after Anns death. Mitt was absolutely crushed over the tragedy. Because of it, even though he was personally against abortion, he became convinced the procedure should be made safe, and the only way for that to happen was for it to be legal.
Romney stuck to that pro-choice position when he challenged then-Sen. Ted Kennedy for a Massachusetts Senate seat in 1994, but Romney flip-flopped to a pro-life stance before launching his bid for the presidency, and now aides fear President Barack Obama will zero in on the tragedy as the election campaign heats up.
There is no doubt that this issue will come up in a debate with Obama, and it could be a game changer, a political insider told The Enquirer.
Mitt will defend his pro-life position to the hilt, but his political opponents will no doubt claim he only changed his stance to appeal to the party base. Theres a very real concern in his camp that he could be pushed into a corner over this.
The 65-year-old candidates campaign has refused to identify Ann, who was from Detroit, Mich. Her older brother Loren married Romneys elder sister Margo Lynn in the late 1950s.
Ann passed away on Oct. 7, 1963, following what her death certificate described as a recent criminal abortion. But even some of her closest friends didnt know how she died.
The circumstances of Anns death were kept quiet because Mitts father George Romney was then governor of Michigan, said the source.
But Mitt was touched personally by the death of someone who risked her life by having a back room abortion a decade before Roe vs. Wade gave women the legal right to undergo the procedure.
JustAnotherGen
(31,780 posts)This will hurt him - it was out there a few months ago and really was glossed over by the media - and heck - even his opponents.
EC
(12,287 posts)It was already known.
On edit: Their assertion that Obama is going to use it though I think is wrong. This is a personal tragedy and I don't think Obama will even mention it.
Lasher
(27,536 posts)He doesn't need to mention this tragedy in order to do it.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)can hear Romney say it now.)
the takeaway for me is....how can someone who lost someone want the world to go back
to back alley abortions. Might be hard to get that across - would have to let others say it.
I think the flip flop might be hard too. Because he is going from a looser attitude toward
a more conservative one. In other words, some people may view this as "I saw the light,
it is wrong". This is hard to criticize. Especially since most Americans are against abortion now.
Lasher
(27,536 posts)If respondents are asked if they are Pro-life, they are inclined to say that they are. After all, who could be against life?
A recent Gallup poll phrased the question a different way: "Do you think abortions should be legal under any circumstances, legal only under certain circumstances, or illegal in all circumstances?" 77% said abortions should be either always or sometimes legal.
http://pollingreport.com/abortion.htm
EC
(12,287 posts)abortion one way or another. Those that are strictly pro life will not vote for him anyway, so why waste the time on it?
Lasher
(27,536 posts)Maybe some of the anti-choice people will stay home if they realize he can't be believed.
Ian David
(69,059 posts)Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)Ian David
(69,059 posts)PADemD
(4,482 posts)longship
(40,416 posts)Only the Enquirer would think this was a game changer.
FSogol
(45,446 posts)liberal N proud
(60,332 posts)Pro Life is Pro Backstreet Abortion
enough
(13,255 posts)This story has been around for quite a while, and it doesn't have anything to do with any action or participation on his part.
rustydog
(9,186 posts)Yes, this will completely sink Romney! Every 16 year old male has a say in whether your sisters, best friends second cousin has an abortion or not!
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)people who lived thru this - would never want to go back to back alley abortions.
But, he's not most people. don't think his meter goes toward the "people" side
WI_DEM
(33,497 posts)this will be the big game changer then we really are in trouble.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)Except where making abortion illegal can kill women. This is what the Democrats should be emphasizing. The fact that illegal abortions are deadly and that women will get them, just as sure as women get pregnant no matter how many laws there are against getting pregnant if they're not married.
No decent Democrat would use this against Romney.
bluestateguy
(44,173 posts)I know a dead end when I see one.
But go ahead and have fun reading about it on obscure websites .
Mass
(27,315 posts)olegramps
(8,200 posts)Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)now for political reasons, to appease the rabid right-wingers, he has flip-flopped. Why shouldn't he be asked about it?
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)for mitt, Pres Obama shouldn't touch this story. No reason to bring the personal into it - just he was pro-choice when running in MA and now not running for Pres. The man will do/say anything to get elected.
DesertDiamond
(1,616 posts)via close personal tragedy exactly what the outlawing of abortion will do -- and to do it for the sake of power! Shame on him! Shame!!
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)or maybe Wellstone'd
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)pro-women.
I do not trust this story, not one bit. Romney, in the presidency, will have to answer to the extreme right-wing of his party. What he thought or did prior to taking office would have no effect on what he thinks will please his right flank should he (horrors!) become president. He will be a tool of the corporate and right-wing fanatics that support him.
It's bad enough with Obama because he answers far too much too Wall Street and big business. But Romney? This story is a campaign ploy to distract from Romney's anti-women positions.