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 we should beieve "hollywood" why? they are like congress. No clue what niddle class people really think about any ways.
Bob in Newfield
More rich Hollywood types trying to tell America what to do. I also don't understand their logic. If they have obamacare, then all of these tests and procedures should be covered. So why fund planned parenthood?
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You do realize Planned Parenthood is an organization and not an insurance policy, right? It doesn't FUND medical services – it PROVIDES them. It DOESN'T provide abortions. It DOES, however, provide medical screenings for women, and in some cases, is the only facility to provide live-saving diagnostic testing for hundreds of miles. Shutter Planned Parenthood and treatable medical conditions will compound exponentially.
These ppl actually think women are stupid – "Let's throw abortion in there so they will run and vote Democrat"....The man is destroying this country – people losing their jobs and homes and you think that all women can think about is that they "might" lose their right to an abortion? Give it a rest – wake up! There are REAL issues we need to worry about. Your right to an abortion is NOT going anywhere – HOWEVER, I find it offensive that my tax dollars would go to pay for some women who will now use abortion like the best form of birth control because they don't have to pay for it. Yes, there are MANY women who abuse abortion rights and will go hog wild if they don't have to pay for it – Its the same like the women who spit out all the kids from different men OR the same man so they can get their government check – YES, there are many women like that. I don't care what these women do with themselves, but I don't want to pay for it.
Take my tax money and help homeless people – real families that lost their homes because they lost a job – stop wasting tax money on ridiculous stuff like Saving the Spotted Owl or Whale or some ridiculous research that does not help the majority of people. Start making Congress pay Medicare and stop giving them salaries until the day they die when they have lost their position in Congress. Create jobs here – we need to protect our borders – train new hires to protect – We don't want any wars, but don't want to dissolve our military – then have them work on the borders to protect – what better individuals to protect our borders, than our service men and women. Liberal nutjobs: Stop diverting attention away from the REAL issues.
Yet another reason to love these talented and attractive actresses!
For those who believe that a recently formed zygote is the same as a baby: Is gathering eggs the same as chopping off the head of a struggling chicken at the block? If they're the same, would you ask your child to do both and feel they should experience the same emotions from picking up an egg to seeing the chicken running around pouring blood everywhere? Didn't think so.
Given all that Planned Parenthood really does with the federal funds...you know, seeing as how federal funds are NOT used for abortion (and if they were, the GOP would have used its House majority to hold hearings to prove it and kill the funding by now)...we are really glossing over a very important question here.
Why does the GOP hate boobies?
Please that pro choice is not automatically pro abortion.
Women should have the right to decide, according to their circumstances and beliefs, which action is the right action for her! Not someone removed from her reality.
If a person is anti-abortion then their option is obvious. If that same person sees the nee to have an abortion, the option should be available. She will decide HER choice.
We, as a society, should keep her options open and we should fully educate but not mandate.
The actresses should just state the truth about their agenda by saying, "We have the right to KILL our unborn children and we're not going to give it up. We will kill our babies whether you like it or not".
Louisiana
I am a Republican woman and I am pro-life all the way. The only way a woman should have a legal abortion is from rape, incest or the life of herself. If more women/teen girls would not use abortion as birth control we would not have this problem. So, you see its not only old wealthy white men. Just remember, if your mother would have had an abortion with you–you would not be here to start with. Just a thought........
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WHY is a child of rape or incest any different from any other "life"?? more hypocrisy with the picking and choosing.
p.s. I hope as a Republican woman who detests "those women" who use abortion for birth control (how do you really know?) I'm sure you were equally appalled at the GOP line on access to birth control for women. I mean if they're "prostitutes" for wanting birth control pills to avoid an unwanted pregnancy or endometriosis WELL the nerve of them. They should all just have aspirins to keep their legs closed.
dave
Obama, please don't make this election about abortion rights–you could lose my vote if you go much further down this road.
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President Obama isn't the one pushing the issue Dave. The challenger keeps getting caught up on the subject because he says one thing, then his handlers immediately come out and contradict his words. Honestly, he and his handlers are his campaign's own worst enemies!
@nadinesh. Comparing a fetus to a steak in your freezer is a completely false analogy. Try again.
You are just an actress...GOD has a plan and Romney will make it happen. What Romney is saying you are just an actress; most of us are just GOD'S people, who believe in the BIBLE. Maybe you should read it. Believe in GOD, that is the problem we are having in our country are people like you, who can not stand the truth. If you don't like Romney's plan move to another country and be an actress there. Retired military...
Why is it that everything that comes out of Hollywood and the mouths of actors and actresses is inflammatory. If you look through the news there is always something negative about someone. JiLo can't stay with a man but that is okay. Lindsey Lohan and Amanda Bynes keep getting arrested for driving under the influence but that's okay. The press can spin anything and make it look good or bad. I understand freedom of speech but sometimes there just isn't anything worth saying. If they disagree with anyone it hits the front pages. Trust me when I say they are not that news worthy.
So for all you pro-abortion women out there, I have a question. It took TWO people to make that baby. As Obama loves to say, "you did NOT make that on your own"! Why shouldn't the FATHER be able to take custody of the baby once it is born if he wishes to do so? What gives YOU the right to kill HIS son or daughter without his consent? Or do you pro-abortion women just want to be able to force men into paying for the children but not give him HIS parental rights?
You see, once there is a baby involved, there is MUCH more than the "rights" of the women involved.
All I know about this entire topic is that I am an educated adult female, who can make my own choices. No one should be able to tell me or my daughters what we can or cannot do with our own bodies. If men gave birth. there'd be an abortion clinic on every corner. If you want to cut down on the number of abortions, then contraceptives should be readily available. If women cannot use contraceptives, then men should not be able to use Viagra.
Travis, most aborttons are perfomed well before 20 weeks of development. The fetus is not a baby but is still dependent on it's mother. As someone who miscarried at 6 weeks and again at 22 weeks, I KNOW the pain of losing a wanted child. As a grandmother of a now healthy 2 1/2 year old – born five weeks early and in NICU for 3 1/2 weeks with liver issues, all people should realize that children born at less than 34 – 35 weeks often have lingering health and mental issues. I also have now 4 year old triplet great niece and nephews who were carried to 34 weeks and have daily therapy for some of the issues incurred from multiple and premature birth. I am also old enough to remember a couple of young women from my neighborhood as a child who had back room abortions – one died (as a child, I was told she 'moved') and the other had to have an emergency hysterectomy. Abortion must stay legal and available.
Dave, I haven't heard anything from the Obama campaign about expanding abortion regulations. We need safe available contraception in this country available to all and safe and legal abortions.
Wow..comments from Ol' Meathead and Hollywood women...the epitome of selfishmness, vanity and instability! Yeah, let's all listen and follow their wisdom!!
Any woman who votes for Romney whould have her head examined!
@ Canuck
"Pro-choice"... the softer gentler, way of saying "Pro-abortion" which is the softer, gentler way of saying "pro-convenience killing"
And we care about their opinions why?
tk ellis
You are just an actress...GOD has a plan and Romney will make it happen. What Romney is saying you are just an actress; most of us are just GOD'S people, who believe in the BIBLE. Maybe you should read it. Believe in GOD, that is the problem we are having in our country are people like you, who can not stand the truth. If you don't like Romney's plan move to another country and be an actress there. Retired military...
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In other words, you believe that those who don't share your ideology should be silenced. You must have been absent from boot camp the day they talked about how you're defending EVERYONE'S right to free speech – not just those with whom you agree.
I am wondering why at this age, women are still treated as a property, who has to listen orders from the owner. Men can not pretend to respect women, while ignoring them making their own decision.
Malory Archer - It doesn't FUND medical services – it PROVIDES them. It DOESN'T provide abortions.
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Total lie. It is the LARGEST abortion provider in the country.
It DOES, however, provide medical screenings for women, and in some cases, is the only facility to provide live-saving diagnostic testing for hundreds of miles.
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And nobody has an issue with this. They need to divest themselves from the abortion business as once hundreds of millions of our tax dollars are given to them, there is no way they can guarantee that money isn't being used to fund abortions or the facilities used to provide them.
Shutter Planned Parenthood and treatable medical conditions will compound exponentially.
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There are MANY other alternatives. And if Planned Parenthood REALLY believes in providing thes services, then they need to spin off their baby killing division an dget funding for it from all the Hollywood elite and not the taxpayers.
If abortion is not legal then women will get them in unsafe ways and women will die. How does that squeare with the pro-life agenda? Children will be born and a number of them will become abused, neglected children. Will you rescue them and take them into your homes?
And for all of you conservatives dismissing these silly, Hollywood actresses, I have two words for you – Ronald Reagan.
@Sarah
Chicken eggs that you eat aren't fertile. There is no contribution from a male and no embryo forming in the eggs you get at the grocery store. Also–and this is very important and probably difficult for you to grasp–chickens aren't human.