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
- Florida legislature passes bill allowing carry of concealed weapons without a permit
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- Untitled
- Manhattan DA's office again slams House GOP's efforts to investigate Trump probe, says approx. $5k federal funds used
- Can Trump still run for president? Your top indictment questions, answered
- Donald Trump has been indicted. Here's what we know
Many of you just don't think. You believe there is a 'correct' answer on abortion. There isn't. Have you ever read descriptions of the soldiers of some countries who kill women and children, even killing a baby by bashing its head against a tree? What is the feeling you get when get the image of a baby's head being caved in? That's the same revulsion, right or wrong, that many get when you talk about abortion. It's a visceral, repulsion. Would you seek to defend that baby who's about to be swung against a tree? I hope so.
You get your kicks calling them names, deriding them, etc., but there's really little difference between your feelings and theirs. You hold your emotions in abeyance until a baby is actually born; they don't.
This argument is not about reproductive rights. People have every means imaginable to avoid reproducing, from abstenance to contraceptives for men and women. This is a fight about what is permissable AFTER
ROE v Wade Was based On a big fat Lie
The issue these women care about is keeping federal funding for killing our children? Really? What moral vaccuity! No one has said they will outlaw abortion – just federal funding for it. It is bad enough that a mother would want to kill her child because it is 'inconvenient' (not talking about medical issues here) but at least don't make me and my wife pay for it. Here's to adoptive children and adoptive parents! Maybe these stars should take up that issue instead.
"Howard
These actresses use, and advocate abortion as birth control ... so that an inconvenience, like a baby's life, doesn't get in the way of their career."
Howard, do you know that? And by the way, having a curmudgeonly from a guy name Howard, actually proves their point. So, thanks.
It doesn't surprise me, or anyone for that matter, that these vapid celebrities (whose only focus is on themselves, anyway) would be up in arms over the GOP's stance on Abortion issues. All they care about is themselves – where's the concern for an unborn child's rights? Laughable.
Talk about missing the forest for the trees – I think these brain-dead thespians have been playing pretend far too long. They've lost touch with reality and with what really matters.
Actresses? These are women without moral values – jumping + sleeping from one men after the other, then marrying then divorcing. Of course they are pro-abortion because they are prone to abortion sleeping with so many men. What moral values these actresses represent for women like me? None.
Obama/Biden 2012!
Romney disavowed Akin immediately. It's downright sleazy to clump them together. It's also sleazy to ignore Obama's war on women: under Obama, 40% of women now live paycheck-to-paycheck. Women in Obama's administration make less than the men. And Obama's health panel, against the recommendation of the AMA an ACS, made mammogram coverage more difficult.
If you believe that life starts at conception, does that mean a woman should be charged with infanticide should the fertilized egg fail to implant?
Malory Archer
Mark
Who cares what these women think? Like they are really relevant?
Better start caring, this election is more about jobs, the jobs will come. Its about rights. The Rep are trying to change our rights as we know them. Its about your girls, it about rights. Go ahead and vote for Romney , but he will take us back to the 50's. They have a bigger agenda People .....
If US women voted for the right to control their own body
Romney and Ryan would take away your right to vote!
WOW is the USA turning into a dictatorship?
It's about time women get fired up!
So if they believe the fetus is alive, they should just be quite to what they think is murder?
Either way, Presidents can not overturn Roe vs. Wade. Only Judges can. You would have to assume that the appointed judges would over turn it. I doubt that will happen no matter what two judges they would appoint.
Some of the Republican party believes in banning abortions, not all or the majoity.
Can we go back to what Presidents really take care of and that JOBS and the ECONOMY?
American Mom
Laughable not one person said overturn Roe vs Wade, this people think just because they are on the screen their voice really matters. What was really said? That the government should not be paying for peoples abortions!! I totally agree with that view. First let me say no man should be discussing a woman's health because unless they are a Doctor they have no clue. Secondly if a woman decides to have an abortion that is her right and between her, the babies father and God. But if she does want an abortion she should be willing to pay for it.
October 15, 2012 12:04 pm at 12:04 pm |
*********************************************************************************************************************************
Mitt Romney himself has stated that he favors the repeal of Roe vs. Wade and that he would appoint Supreme Court Justices that hold that view. If you really feel that abortion should be available to those that want it then you should not vote for Mitt Romney.
You are also aware that $0 of federal money go towards providing abortions. That law is already in place. It seems that your view is that Mitt just wants to defund planned parenthood so that government will not pay for abortions but in actuality:
Government does not fund abortions, this is already law
Mitt Romney does want to repeal Roe vs. Wade
You have been misinformed from some source. Try looking into my claims and see if they are true.
Romney is just confusing. Seriously. Romney is constantly changing of adjusting positions. Why?
Keep the Government OUT of women's bodies. If you don't believe in abortion, don't have one. It is YOUR choice.
I support romney because i am more worried about the economy than abortions
"Like anyone really cares what these irrelevant, out-of-touch hollywood dimbulbs of questionable education think?"
--
Such as Clint Eastwood, the Furniture Whisperer?
Dan J is just parroting absurd talking points he heard on Fox News. Conservatives throw independent thinking out the window and just mimmick their extremist right wing heroes.
Father of 8 (4 adopted)
The issue these women care about is keeping federal funding for killing our children?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I agree – we need to stop sending our children to die in needless, senseless wars.
Oh – were you talking about abortion? Then you have no clue what you're talking about as the government hasn't funded abortions since the Carter administratin, and no matter how many times you repeat "federal funding for killing our children", the term will never apply to abortion in America.
Abortion is a personal issue and one that is decided by most people based on their religious beliefs. It's a personal decision between a woman, her husand or significant other, and her doctor. If you don't want to have an abortion, don't have one.
You Republicans say you believe that government should stay out of people's lives. Is that what you really believe? Or are you all for government intervention when it fits your religious agenda? When you let the government intervene in personal decisions, you open the door for the government to intervene in more ways that you might have imagined.
Would you want to live in a country where the government FORCED you to abort a child or put limits on rearing children? Let your government write laws that interfere with freedom of choice, and you've opened that door.
I think there are distortions of this abortion debate. Let me ask scarlett and the democratic crew do you really beleive its ok to have abortion to any term in any case and even paid for by the government? What about the taxpayers that dont beleive in this? What about if the pregnant girl is so young she dsnt know the repercusions,? What about the unborn baby who has been brought into this world and has a soul at the moment of conception? Romney knows this is a tough subject but atleast he is trying to adress these listed issues and not just let the democrats have no restraint on this.
Not taking a womens right to get an abortion. Go right ahead, BUT DON'T TELL ME I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT......
It called personal responsibility. For rape /incest, yes government should step in. But the woman involved MUST testify against the man in court.....
If you don't want an abortion don't have one, but don't try to take away women's ability to make their own decisions. People need to be able to do what is right for themselves – not what someone else thinks is right or wrong. Ryan said in the debate that he would shove his religious beliefs down everyone throat. No thanks.
Obama/Biden 2012
if you don't have control of your own body what do you have? when you can get pregnant then come talk to me, until then mind your own business. it is a womans health issue between her and her doctor. not you. if you don't want to have an abortion, don't. no one is forcing anyone to do something that they are against but you will take that right away from a woman who does want that option. shame on you. it is not a baby until it can live outside my body, until then it is in my body and its my choice.