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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And while we're asking the questions folks, ask yourself why is it that the most vocal of the right wing anti-abortion crowd are aging/old wealthy white men?? They are not pro-life either. They are REALLY pro-BIRTH!
Once you are born, you become more cannon fodder for the military-industrial complex they own/support!
For the moron republicans who can't get 4 from 2 Plus 2 – It's about womens rights /mens rights and we the people's rights- not your ideologistic brain farts
These people are women first with any opinion or concerns about their lifes and wellbeing just like everyone that thinks its wrong to speak out. Not just about abortion.
Some real quality endorsements here! If you care about hollywood "air-head" endorsements you need to "re-grip" life.
It is NOT enough to just vote Obama, we all have to eliminate all the Tea Nuts in congress also. A do nothing, obstructionist congress will not help anyone. Anyone that signed the Norquist pledge has to be eliminated, as they are all TRAITORS.
I thank these WOMEN (who happen to have chosen the career of acting) for sharing their thoughts and concerns with the public. Remember they are Americans whose opinions are just as valuable as every single other American. I, for one, am voting for Barack Obama.
Who cares what these women think? Like they are really relevant?
Why do people care what the entertainment industry thinks of our politics? They aren't even part of our society. They are the wealthiest, most elite, most detached people in this nation. They are America's royalty, and I mean that in absolutely the most derogatory way. Whatever their cause, whoever they are pulling for in this election, their opinions deserve not one moment our attention.
This is Great Ad. Remember ladies, the republicans and against abortion even in the case of rapem incest and the life of the mother. That is what they stated at their convention. Remember that !!!!
Anothet one for republicans – you are so against abortion but not about useless unfunded wars that kill our young people for no reason – if you had any balls you push to just nuke whomever you don't like – at elast it wouldn't be our kids dying – bring back the draft and see how many wars we won't have
Until we know when exactly life begins, shouldn't the unborn be given the benefit of the doubt? That's what we do for the accused in this country. Shouldn't the innocent have at least that?
If you want a president who's five sons and 19 grandchildren avoided voluntary military service .
Vote for Romney .
Hollywood! It will be worse than sodom and Gomorrah when the time comes! the gates of sheoul are waiting for yah
@Deb Ed – what a thing to say. I'm guessing you're making an informed, moral judgment? Where are your morals in making a stupid comment like that?
This whole issue will not be decided by a vote nor will everyone agree with one interpretation or the other. The only way to solve this is to allow women control over her own body. What happens in a doctor's office should be determined by the patient and the doctor. We just need to respect each other and respect each person's right to decide. Give people the ability to determine their own destiny. When people understand reproductive issues they can decide whether to become celibate, to use condoms, or to use a method of birth control.
Those who are anti-abortion certainly are entitled to their beliefs just as those who are pro-choice. This whole issue needs to be removed from the political arena and allowed to morph into laws which allow both sides the right to exist but not the right to try to force any person to change his/her mind. At the same time treat Viagra and other male enhancement drugs as birth control items. They do give men certain abilities that they would otherwise lack. Certainly more sperm is available then.
Use a contraceptive, that way you can vote for Romney. Win going in and out.
There is one Republican who was trying to redefine rape and that had nothing to do with Mitt Romney. If Planned Parenthood offered all of their services except abortion, there wouldn't be a problem. Let's face it, this video is less about women's rights and more about keeping President Hollywood in office.
Notax-
And if you called yourself "Pro-life", you'd also be against Capital Punishment and war, and be for helping the poor, and for better healthcare.
Unfortunately for the GOP, being "pro-life" seems to end at birth.
Our economy reached the precipice of a Depression under a Republican president, and the answer for so many is to put another Republican in the White House? Yes, conservatives, George W. Bush did so much damage to America that he was not invited to the GOP convention. By the way, that first stimulus under President Obama pulled the country away from another Depression.
Hollywood??? Really– this town of drugs, sex and vapid are not to be listened to!! Really women don't wake up every day wondering about abortion! They want jobs, a stable economy and a future for their children. The democrats have done this scare tactic too many times along with the faux minority spittle.. If this makes anyone vote for Obama over Romney you are just showing a propaganda susceptablity flaw!
Wow. If the Hollywood actress are saying to vote for Obama, I must absolutely do so! After all, he promised to do everything to make abortion rare, right? Like increasing the Federal funding for Planned Parenthood , for abortion on demand internationally and basically for fighting with every state whenever possible to ensure no abortion restrictions are imposed eve. He said he would sign NOMA which would actually make it impossible for states to regulate abortion and he voted himself in the Senate to allow doctors to kill babies that would survive a bothced abortion. Let's vote for Obama: he never lies, always does what he promises and is driving the country into a much better direction where every child has the right to be killed until the moment they are to be born. Obama is a holy and great man.
Borderless-
Now apply what you said to the 125,000 richest families the GOP fawns over and gives endless, expensive tax breaks to and I think you'll see the problem.
Like anyone really cares what these irrelevant, out-of-touch hollywood dimbulbs of questionable education think? "Oh, I'm a (self-important, self-righteous) celebrity so automatically everyone cares about my opinion and will be influenced by what I say when I leverage my status to bloviate." NOT.
After the thousand laws Republican men in different states have passed against women's health it is a wonder to me that any woman would vote for the Republican taliban-According to their personhood amandment they want passed-if a woman was pregnant and went jogging and has a miscarriage-she would have committed murder-ladies this is a warning-these old white men will only feel safe when you are at home and wear a burka when you go out-this is just part of their demeaning and discounting of women in this country-they want 1050 all over again where you are concerned
@Mark
Who cares what these women think? Like they are really relevant?
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You mean "relevant" like Ted "Mr. Crappy Pants" Nugent? I suppose Ted's relevant due to his close connection with Mitt Romney – them both being draft dodgers and all. At least Mitt was able to hide in France rather than take the "self-defecation" route.