Actresses call out Romney on abortion in new ad
October 15th, 2012
11:22 AM ET
10 years ago

Actresses call out Romney on abortion in new ad

(CNN) – Hollywood actresses Scarlett Johansson, Eva Longoria and Kerry Washington are featured condemning Republicans for their stance on abortion in a new political ad from the liberal group MoveOn.org.

The spot, released Monday and directed by noted filmmaker Rob Reiner, will air nationally and in the battleground states of Colorado and Virginia, the group said, adding it would air during shows primarily viewed by women.

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"I want to talk to you about women," Johansson says at the beginning of the spot, followed by Washington saying, "And about Mitt Romney."

"Mitt Romney is for ending funding to Planned Parenthood," Longoria says, with Johansson chiming in, "Including cancer screenings."

The ad continues:

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

Johansson: "We have Republicans trying to redefine rape."

Longoria: "Trying to force women to undergo invasive ultrasounds."

Johansson: "If you think that this election won't affect you and your life, think again."

Washington: "Vote."

Longoria: "Vote."

Johansson: "Vote for Barack Obama."

In a statement, Reiner said Romney, and his running mate Paul Ryan, would "eviscerate women's rights" if they're elected in November.

"We'd be talking about getting rid of abortion, birth control, access to health care screenings. As a husband, son and father, I can't stand by and let this happen," Reiner continued.

"Misleading political attacks will not change President Obama's failed record," Romney campaign spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg wrote in response to the MoveOn.org ad. "His policies have made it harder for women across the country to start businesses, get good jobs, or see their children able to go to college and get started with their lives. Mitt Romney will lead us to a real recovery so that women – and all Americans – can succeed and live the American Dream."

Last week, Democrats pounced on Romney after he said in an interview with the Des Moines Register that he was not aware of any abortion legislation he would promote as part of his agenda as president.

Democrats claimed that was a reversal for the candidate, who maintained during the GOP primary season that he would support efforts to remove funding for Planned Parenthood, a women's health group that provides abortion services. Several House Republicans have introduced legislation that would strip funding from the group.

Romney reiterated that pledge later in the week, and on Sunday a top adviser to Romney's campaign said the GOP nominee was a "pro-life candidate" and would serve as a "pro-life president."

Ed Gillespie, speaking to CNN chief political correspondent Candy Crowley on "State of the Union," said that was a long-standing position for the Republican candidate.

"What the governor has consistently said is that he thinks Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided and this is something that should be left to elected representatives, to the people through their elected representatives," Gillespie said, referring to the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision affirming a woman's right to have an abortion.

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Filed under: 2012 • Abortion • MoveOn
soundoff (538 Responses)
  1. Kateu

    I can't stand how so many of my fellow American females think it is their right to have the option of abortion. What kind of twisted, perverse logic makes you think you have the right to end the life of an innocent human being? I also can't stand the BS claim that people against abortion are against the well-being of women as a whole. That couldn't be further from the truth. Whether or not Romney would overturn Roe v Wade (I doubt he actually could even if he tried), there is no way I can cast my vote for an unashamed baby killer like Obama.

    October 15, 2012 03:00 pm at 3:00 pm |
  2. John Hinge

    All conservative issues like fighting crime, welfare, etc can be alleviated by keeping abortion legal, and for that matter why not make it more accessible as the demographics show the very people that the conservatives stand against are the ones having abortions!!

    Funny how the issue is twisted, liberals should be against abortion and conservatives for it if you stop and think about it

    October 15, 2012 03:00 pm at 3:00 pm |
  3. speakout77

    Ever argument for abortion is based on either denial, ignorance or lies. Beating hearts are stopped, brain waves are silenced. A baby is its own body, not the mothers.

    October 15, 2012 03:02 pm at 3:02 pm |
  4. JoshM

    From now on I will be taking my moral guidance from Scarlett Johansson, Eva Longoria and Kerry Washington. I was using Tom Cruise "Maverick" but think I will change.

    October 15, 2012 03:03 pm at 3:03 pm |
  5. obama is Out Of Touch with reality

    obamanites all talk the same, it is time for conservatives to join and start the boycotts off all items associated with these socialist and marxist zion hollywooders, down with them and their money, boycott them all.

    October 15, 2012 03:03 pm at 3:03 pm |
  6. "Mrs." M

    I wonder why all of those actresses aren't so concerned about the right's of the unborn babies they like to call "bumps" Yes, some women say they are carrying a bump like it's a pimple on their face. I do agree that women have the right to cut off their hands, feet, arms, or any other part of "their" bodies they want to. The problem is that a human baby is only relying on that woman to live and at some point to be born. So, as long as that woman doesn't actually "see" the baby inside of her body, I guess it's a pimple, cow, dog, cat, or anything else she can think of except a human being. Human women can only have human babies.

    October 15, 2012 03:03 pm at 3:03 pm |
  7. Tony

    In case you haven't heard, lots of people are unemployed or have stopped looking for work entirely. They could care less about abortion.

    October 15, 2012 03:03 pm at 3:03 pm |
  8. Guero Donato

    Who really cares what these three think or say? Would you want your daughter modeling her life after any of them?

    October 15, 2012 03:04 pm at 3:04 pm |
  9. jerome

    If these 3 expect my tax dollars to fund their abortions, should they choose to have one of them, without me kicking up a fuss about it, why don't I have every right to expect them to come give me a little, without them kicking up a fuss, should I choose to have one of them?

    October 15, 2012 03:04 pm at 3:04 pm |
  10. Tony

    Abortion should be a state issue, not a federal issue. If the country is split on the issue, we shouldn't have a one-size-fits-all federal mandate.

    October 15, 2012 03:04 pm at 3:04 pm |
  11. riazzo

    Scarlet, did you show your support for the killing of babies just after doing a line of coke?

    October 15, 2012 03:05 pm at 3:05 pm |
  12. Zack

    If anyone takes advice, or makes up their mind, from people who memorize other peoples words for a living, then I think that says it all

    October 15, 2012 03:05 pm at 3:05 pm |
  13. a woman

    abortion is a convenience... not a right.

    October 15, 2012 03:06 pm at 3:06 pm |
  14. jerome

    If abortion is not wrong, I suppose any woman who choose to have one saw no reason to ever lie about it, correct?

    October 15, 2012 03:07 pm at 3:07 pm |
  15. Lauren

    Ugh. Nobody is talking about eradicating birth control – what they are talking about it is preventing the federal government from requiring religious organizations (and individuals) to provide free birth control. Furthermore, let's stop harping about abortion and let's start discussing the real issue here – personal responsibility. Instead of preaching that "women have a choice whether to keep their child," why don't you start preaching that "women have a choice whether to engage in s e x ual acts that could lead to pregnancy." Start educating from a proactive standpoint, instead of trying to "fix" the "problem" of unborn children after they are conceived.

    October 15, 2012 03:09 pm at 3:09 pm |
  16. Malory Archer

    Dave

    TO comment above. When women can procreate without men (or their seed) then tell me I don't have the right to express my opinion on the treatment of my children.

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    That's right Dave – nobody should infringe upon your right to treatment of YOUR CHILDREN . The other side of the coin is that YOU have no right to infringe upon the rights of any WOMAN, especially those who AREN'T carrying YOUR CHILD!

    October 15, 2012 03:10 pm at 3:10 pm |
  17. dave greenfield

    First the Abortion card, next week comes the race card. This is a reflection of the sorry state of the Obama campaign. In politics as in life, desperate times demand desperate measures.

    October 15, 2012 03:10 pm at 3:10 pm |
  18. Lauren

    I am so sick of the "women's right to choose." How about making the right CHOICES before your unborn child is conceived, and then you wouldn't have so much to worry about.

    October 15, 2012 03:11 pm at 3:11 pm |
  19. cashmeremafia

    Ryan wants to cut pell grant funding – would that make it easier to see their children go to college and get started with their lives, Ms. Henneberg?

    October 15, 2012 03:11 pm at 3:11 pm |
  20. Thomas

    @txtriathlete1967
    Everytime I see an actor/actress/singer start espousing their political views, I always think the same thing; "hey you with the high school education; I didn't pay my money to hear you talk politics, so dance monkey, dance!"

    ---

    I bet your favorite movie of all time is Alvin and the Chipmunks . I can tell you enjoy the more philosophical deep intalectual forms of film and entertainment . You might think of playing yourself in the new remake of " Lord of the Flies ".

    You sound like your knowledge and wisdom would be invaluable to other aspiring Dancing Monkeys .

    October 15, 2012 03:12 pm at 3:12 pm |
  21. 200 TON HAMMER

    wow romney thats sad you are not a woman mitt romney you are not fit to be president of the united states.

    October 15, 2012 03:12 pm at 3:12 pm |
  22. Sara

    OMGOSH, I wish everyone would shut up about this subject. If this is the biggest issue for women then they need to invest in condoms or birth control pills because abortion is completely avoidable!!! We have much more pressing issues in this country. If you think I would listen to such loser actresses like Scarlett (an atheist), Eva a has-been housewife or some chick named Kerry that I don't even know, you are highly mistaken. I am way too responsible to ever need an abortion. What about a commerical for that? Take responsibility for your actions ladies/gentlemen

    October 15, 2012 03:13 pm at 3:13 pm |
  23. Annirich

    Now I ask you, who in their right mind is going to listen to women whose entire existence depends on "pretending"?

    October 15, 2012 03:13 pm at 3:13 pm |
  24. Annirich

    Martha: that is just plain ignorant

    October 15, 2012 03:14 pm at 3:14 pm |
  25. roadrunner2

    The "Pro-Life" movement is simply pro-fetus, nothing else.

    October 15, 2012 03:16 pm at 3:16 pm |
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