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.
- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
- Check out the CNN Electoral Map and Calculator and game out your own strategy for November.
"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.
Also on the CNN Political Ticker
- Colbert says he can't tell differences between Romney and Obama
- All tied up ahead of second Obama-Romney showdown
- Obama ad makes case for economic policies
- Romney message this week: 'A clear choice on debt and deficits'
- Largely hidden away, Obama reports debate prep 'going great'
From CNN Politics
- Untitled
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- Supreme Court humors itself as it considers whether Jack Daniel's can stop a dog toy company from parodying its brand
- How Ginsburg's death and Kavanaugh's maneuvering shaped the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade and abortion rights
- Biden to highlight US-Canadian unity in first presidential trip to Ottawa
- House GOP faces long odds in effort to overturn Biden investment rule veto
There is no facts when it comes to R&R. They can change thier story at the drop of a hat.
ThinkAgain: I am not personally opposed to birth control. In addition, you are correct that people sometimes get pregnant in spite of control – that is something they need to recognize and accept as a consequence of being s e x ually active even with birth control. If you can't accept the consequences of your actions, then don't take the actions. Period.
Wow, it's hard to believe how many women would allow old white men in our goverment to tell you how you should run your life and what you can do with your own body. Seriously?? This is about more than abortion – it is stripping us of our ability to make our own decisions. If you don't believe in abortions, hopefully you will never be in a position where that decision may be a factor (like Sarah Palin said she CHOSE to have her son) but you can CHOOSE to have the baby. Get it women – it is our CHOICE that we want protected...we are NOT pro-abortion.
@Larry L
I was at a friend's house in the 60s (prior to Roe v. Wade) late one night where a 19 year old girl was visiting so she could get an illegal abortion. The person performing the abortion was a drugged-out freak who had ostensibly attended medical school for some period of time in Mexico. After the "physician" drove away with the girl's money she bled out and died. I can still remember the tremendous amount of blood on the bed where she died.
------------------------------------–
Unless it was rape or incest, if she did not want to take the chance of being pregnant, she should have kept her legs closed. Cold, but the truth.
@Bob
Who are these actresses and why does anyone actually care what these spoiled people think?
--–
Right Bob , why should we care what these pretend people think , they done have car elevators , dancing horses , overseas bank accounts , private jets , ten homes , children that avoid serving there country .
Why should we care what they think .
Bob , your right on !
It's very telling that Hollywood actresses would consider abortion to be the most important presidential issue facing women today. Ironically, the films those same actresses make typically degrade women more than any myoginist ever can. Here in the REAL world, pre-Depression employment levels, public debt, the economy, the Middle East, etc...are issues that affect the general public (and women) far more than it does in the Land of 1% Elitists, that is Hollywood. Those girls need to get out of their bubbles and experience the tough times like the rest of us! There are far more important things to worry about in this election and it's aftermath than abortion rights; it's a fluff issue that can be dealt with later.
"If you can't accept the consequences of your actions, then don't take the actions"
Precisely what the GOP/Teatrolls want to tell the portion of the population that receives the most abortions, i.e., minorities and the poor: "STOP REPRODUCING."
Lauren
...people sometimes get pregnant in spite of control – that is something they need to recognize and accept as a consequence of being s e x ually active even with birth control. If you can't accept the consequences of your actions, then don't take the actions. Period.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
What if a woman's husband has a different idea? Is she supposed to just lie back and let it happen and risk getting pregnant against her will, or tell her husband "no"?
I do not expect major changes in abortion laws no matter who is president. I do expect a better economic recovery and a foriegn policy that has US interests at the center with Romney. And I will take that for now.
close your legs ,ladies,..then you would;t need an abortion.
To the people who keep saying "my body, my choice, etc." That logic doesn't work, at least if you are trying to make an argument for abortion. Maybe we should legalize all drugs too? After all, it's your body and your choice if you want to do heroin, cocaine, etc. Actually, that logic would make plenty of laws seem irrational and unreasonable. Abortion is a cop-out, plain and simple.
@ANGIE -Do you pro choice people have any idea how dangerous abortion is??? It can cause scarring, PTSD, depression and so much more. Why are you advocating something that HURTS women?!?!? I became pregnant unexpectedly and didn't want to keep my baby, but just thinking about all the pain I would go through in the future...the pain of regret, the pain of killing my own child....all this made me keep my baby. And I'm glad I did because I am the happiest MOTHER in the world. Children are not a curse..they are a blessing. Liberals really need to READ and RESEARCH before forming these scary opinions.
____________________________
Happy to know you made the right CHOICE for yourself. Thank you for confirming that is was your choice to have the baby. Now, can you imagine that CHOICE being taken away from every woman?
I do not expect major changes in abortion laws no matter who is president. I do expect a better economic recovery and a foriegn policy that has US interests at the center with Romney. And I will take that for now.
As far as abortion goes, I do not know what is the answer, except that both extremes do not feel right.
Lauren, we tried that whole abstinence teaching thing some time ago. Right around the time "Just Say No" came about. Well, both of those were resounding successes.....
See, in a perfect world, it would be enough to just teach abstinence. But in the real world that we all live in, it is not enough. We all pay for things we don't like. I personally would not like to pay for wars that don't occur on US soil. Or for policing the world. However, it doesn't work that way.
How about the idea of choosing life like our mother's did – otherwise we would have been victims of abortion as well 🙁
I do not get it! The republicans say – "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," . So now they believe we do not ned the Supreme Court only if they can overturn Roe v. Wade or any other legislation they seem fit to go before the court. Otherwise the court should stay out!!! Just look at Florida where the republicans are trying to oust 3 justices on the supreme court for a verdict they handed down over 4 years ago so they can get the inept republican governor to stack the court! talk about abuse of power! The republicans want to control all aspects of our life! Period!!!!!
Seriously? Lets think this through...this is a group of people who can't hold a relationship down for more than a few years, can't budget their money, and are typically a selfish "society". You think we care that they want to continue to be selfish and hope the rest of the nation will allow them to dictate our moral beliefs because we like how they look in their pretend lives? Not even a little bit!
Abortion doesn't seem to be the issue. The issue is culture and the idea that the Gov't will help take care of you and your baby.How is it possible for African Americans to improve their situation when 72% of the children are born into single parent home of unwed mothers.
"The black community's 72 percent rate eclipses that of most other groups: 17 percent of Asians, 29 percent of whites, 53 percent of Hispanics and 66 percent of Native Americans were born to unwed mothers in 2008, the most recent year for which government figures are available."
GENTLEMEN:
If you don't want an abortion, DON'T HAVE ONE, but leave women and their bodies and rights alone.
This needs to become a non-issue in politics, along with many other lobbyist driven "interests"....I understand its a touchy subject for some personally, I wont say either side is right or wrong because there is a good argument for both sides but its completely based on an opinion. Most importantly, it has little to no effect on our economy or culture as a country. Seriously people, we wont get a reliable, intelligent and transparent candidate that truly reflects our COUNTRIES interests until we stop letting them hide behind issues like this in order to get votes..Why should they tell the truth or show you who they are when they know all you people will vote for them just because you share one opinion on a subject....now apply that to choosing between the democratic party and the republican party and hopefully you see a problem.
I will vote for Obama, am pro-choice, and I personally like all of the actresses featured, but I don't love the ad. I get being fired up and angry about Romney (oh, I get it big time), but something about the delivery of the lines is annoying.
More one-sided propaganda advocating holocaust against unborn humans.
Accusing Romney of getting rid of birth control and health screenings is lying. Many people agree with Mr. Romney on abortions and this ad will get them out to vote too.
Bet the Republicans have an ad featuring third trimester abortions as soon as this pro Obama ad starts to run.
More on-sided propa ganda advocating holo caust against un born humans
Lauren,
But what if your are in a committed relationship (marriage) and don't want children? There should still be options available. Plus, who is going to take care of all the unwanted kids? We or Republicans don't want to help anyone now let alone a surge in the population because birth control is unavailable. Married people are not going to want to use condoms. Moreover, talk about small goverenment...this takes the pie.