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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At Dee: How does a baby survive abortion? Winner for the 'Dumbest' post of the day.
If romney can openly lie and can crowley shows bias how can we trust her.
If you are determined to terminate your baby, that is something for you to decide and live with the rest of your life. With the act legal in the USA, Most of us that are prolife are not going to be able to affect your actions. As far as birthcontrol, we don't care what you do or what method you use, we just don't want to pay for it.The Hollywood nutcases are not going to change any one's mind on any subject, but just expose their radical bias.
This issue has been deeply twisted away from facts by liberals. The base fact is that this issue is not dependent on women's rights, but rather on fetus' rights. If the fetus doesn't have human rights, what right does a woman need to get rid of it? If it does, then what right could a woman have to justify killing it? If the fetus is just tissue, then all the Republican arguments about this are ridiculous. If the fetus is a human being with human rights, then all the Democrat arguments about this are monstrous. THIS is the key issue.
Now, to talk about that key issue free from religious bias, let's look at science. Here, we can see that the liberals are the ones who have abandoned science on this topic. Science tells us without question that biological life starts at conception. From the moment the sperm and egg merge into a zygote, a new and unique creature of whatever species is created. For humans, that means a new and unique living human being.
As for brain activity, which the liberals often site as justification for the killing, I will confess that what most of us mean by 'human life' and 'human rights' is NOT biological life. When people argue about removing life support from a brain-dead patient, the argument is never about that patient's right to life. It is about whether or not the patient is really brain-dead, and whether or not there is any reasonable chance for recovery. This tells us quite clearly that what we really mean, by and large, is the POTENTIAL FOR SAPIENCE. If it is expected the patient will recover, little is spared in keeping the patient alive until he or she does. If not, we pull the plug. How does this translate to abortions? Every fetus who is progressing through pregnancy properly (i.e. no ectopic pregnancy or other major problems) has the potential for sapience. By this and this alone, regardless of what the current state may be, this is a human life with human rights.
And yes, I'm very sorry for those women who have been raped and now carry their rapist's child. It happens, though rarely, but it is just as horrible regardless of how rare it may be. Still, though, to kill the child because the father raped the mother is to punish the child for the crimes of the father. We, as Americans, don't do that. Yes, the mother may suffer, but she will LIVE. After birth, she never has to see the child again if she doesn't want to, but to kill it because of what it's father did is wrong.
"crowley shows bias how can we trust her."
You can't. Her claim to fame is fawning over Republicans on the Sunday morning talking point circuit, which is notoriously dominated in the MSM by GOPers/Teatrolls and conservative pundits.
It is astounding that so many people in this country can be so stupid and uninformed concerning Romney.
The man has not had two consistent statements on anything since he began this election attempt!
He will say and do anything in his effort to win which is hard to understand since he has nothing but contempt for half of the people in this country!
hippie power 69
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
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The government passes all kinds of laws that tell you what you can and cannot do to your body. And what gives you the "right" to kill another human being? Thanks to technology babies can be kept alive outside the human body WELL before 9 months. So you are OK with banning abortions after 4 or 5 months?
Women of America,
You make up 53% of the electorate. Republicans, especially Republican men, want to take away your constitutional right to abortion. Romney wants to defund Planned Parenthood, which is not just about abortion. If you let Romney and Republicans take away your rights, no one else can help you.
Democrat Party: Removes and booes God. Supports killing babies but not serial killers. Unbelieveable...
This from the women of the drug, sex and vapid capitol of the world- Makes one wonder
Is anyone paying attention out there? except for those already for Obama/Biden.
The republican agenda, as they have stated over and over again, is to remove women's rights as they concern their bodies, repeal Roe vs. Wade, strive to blur the lines between Church and State, and in general try to institute a Christian Conservative government in this nation. Outrageous, SCARY!!!. Wake up Republicans, at least those republicans who can think for themselves, and wake up those undecided voters, and whatever you do, don't vote for Romney/Ryan. Their election is too scary to even contemplate.
how about i abstain from watching any actor who stumps for any political candidate
Average Joe
Since when is Hollywood a good compass for anything, let alone how to vote?
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Since when is Clint Eastwood a good compass for anything, let alone how to vote?
p.s. wasn't Ronnie the GOP god among men an actor??
One more reason to vote for Romney.
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.
In a state with a candidate who would support criminalization of abortion there's not just womens issues at stake. What's at stake is governments ability to use idealogy to further legislation that puts someone IN JAIL for exercising thier basic civil and 16th amendment rights. It's communism being used against women.
We should all stand up for our rights. Take for example the little fourteen year old girl in Pakistan who was shot by the Taliban because she was speaking up for the rights of girls to have an education.The far right wing conservatives are trying to control the rights of women here in America. Planned Parenthood provides many much needed medical services to women. The rate of Abortions performed there is about 3% of the services provided. It is against Federal law for PP to use Federal funding for abortions. Anne Romney is a breast cancer suvivor and luckily for her, I am sure that she didn't have to rely on PP for her mammograms. I am happy for her that she beat that horrible illness. But all women should have the opportunity to receives these exams, especially if they cannot afford them. We can't stand by and watch that happen and not speak up.
And we care what hollywood actresses think because.....?
Chris
Can someone explain to me how 5 seconds before birth its called an abortion.. and 5 seconds after its called "Murder
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Read Roe v. Wade explains everything.
Borderless
1% of all abortions in the US are due to rape or incest
6% of all abortions in the US are due to health concerns of mother and/or child
93% of all abortions are convenience abortions
That's what these women are fighting for. 93% of women getting abortions are doing so because they had unprotected sex and these actresses feel that everyone should bear the financial responsibility. At a time when so many people are struggling to make ends meet, asking them to help pay for abortions is insulting. Not surprisingly, extremely wealthy people like the 1 percenters in this video find it easy to make such a demand. Romney would not overturn Roe v. Wade.
Funny, you don't appreciate them making noise over 3% of abortions, yet are all in favor of voting laws to "prevent" voting fraud that wouldn't be resolved by the proposed voter ID laws and have an even lower percentage of violations. Math is funny like that....
OH, and BTW, from Mitt's website:
Mitt believes that life begins at conception and wishes that the laws of our nation reflected that view. But while the nation remains so divided, he believes that the right next step is for the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade
"What the governor has consistently said is that he thinks Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided . . . " – Ed Gillespie
That simply isn't accurate. Romney was strongly pro-choice as governor. He has reversed his position on abortion, and seemingly every other issue since serving in Massachusetts.
Dee summed it up nicely – ‘…the right to choose occurred when the woman CHOSE to have s*x’.
Thanks for finally admitting what the argument is actually about – that women really should not be having intercourse unless it is to get pregnant. And if they use contraception and it fails too bad; they should be punished for having s*x for pleasure. I have yet to meet an anti-choice person that is not seething with envy that someone else is getting what they are not. Time for these folks to put their focus on the real problem (hint, it is in your mirror).
you go, girls!!!!!!!!
as a catholic – I agree with Joe Biden – the majority of democrats / independents / & even some republicans don't believe in abortions – but only in very rare cases – or in case of incest / rape / death of the mother – and similiar cases. We should Not impose our beliefs on others, period. Let God Take care of it, Let God Do HIS JOB. That's not up to US to decide whether or not whomever wants to do whatever to their OWN Bodies, ( that's stupid)
It's amazing to me – the republicans say it's okay to put our 18 to 22 year olds out on the Front Line – (all strong & Physical Healthy) to die for our Country- but it's NOT okay to 'abort' a baby that is born with some type of defect – or in a case of rape – incest / death of a Mother – & the list goes ON.
LOL – – well, I guess that's the republicans way of seeing things.
May the Best Man Win – 2012
Hillary – 2016
surplus – 2018
The pro-abortion movement to me is no different from religious extremism. Their doctrine is founded on manufactured principles. They have an entire lexicon designed, it would seem, to placate the opposition. It is not a baby, it is a fetus or an embryo. It is not killing a living thing, it is aborting a process. It is much easier for our collective conscience if we say that we are aborting a fetus rather than killing a human baby.
Late term abortions are routinely performed, where a human baby that would otherwise be able to survive with sufficient medical care, is killed in the last trimester. It seems the pro-abortion movement wants us to believe that something magical or otherworldly occurs when a baby is separated from its mother with the intent of having it live. That the object that moments before was just a thing growing in the woman, like a tumor, has magically transformed into a human with all the rights to life of every other human, whether by exposure to air or light or simply intent. It is a leap of faith they ask us to make. “Trust us, this wasn’t a human until just now.”
The thing that is being killed has a body and a brain. It forms thoughts, reacts to stimuli and has a heartbeat. Many vegans object to the killing of animals with less brain activity and emotion than those of a baby in its first trimester. Yet we as a society have authorized the wholesale killing of these young humans through Roe v. Wade, and for 93% of the abortions/killings performed, it is done for convenience.