Planned Parenthood Action Fund Statement on VP Debate
For Immediate Release: Jan. 27, 2013
Planned Parenthood Action Fund: Ryan Renews Romney/Ryan Commitment to Ending Safe and Legal Abortion
Praises Vice President Biden for Stating that Politicians Should Not Interfere in a Woman’s Personal Health Care Decisions
WASHINGTON — Planned Parenthood Action Fund Executive Vice President Dawn Laguens tonight released the following statement after the vice presidential debate during which Republican candidate Paul Ryan renewed the commitment of the Romney/Ryan ticket to ending safe and legal abortion and involving politicians in a woman’s personal medical decisions:
“Paul Ryan made crystal clear tonight exactly how dangerous a Romney/Ryan administration would be for women and their health — and made clear that they will overturn Roe v. Wade, ending access to safe and legal abortion.
“Let’s be clear — as president, Romney could very well have the power to overturn this landmark Supreme Court decision. If given the opportunity to appoint a new Supreme Court justice, Romney and Ryan would undoubtedly fulfill their promise to the extreme elements of the Republican Party and fill the seat with a judge committed to overturning Roe v. Wade.
“At Planned Parenthood Action Fund, we understand that abortion is a deeply personal and sometimes complex medical decision. But there’s one thing on which most Americans can agree: decisions about abortion should not be made by politicians. Vice President Biden made it clear that the Obama administration understands that every woman should be able to make her own personal health care decisions with the counsel of her family, faith, and health care provider.”
“But as dangerous and unpopular as Ryan’s promise to impose his personal beliefs about abortion on the entire country was, he got off easy since he didn’t have to answer for Romney’s renewed promise to end funding for the preventive health care services like cancer screenings and birth control provided by Planned Parenthood health centers or why he wants women’s bosses to decide if they can have access to birth control.”
Mitt Romney has clearly said in his own words multiple times that he wants Roe v. Wade overturned — ending access to safe and legal abortion.
- In response to a question at a 2012 Republican presidential debate in New Hampshire, Romney said, “Do I believe the Supreme Court should overturn Roe v. Wade? Yes, I do.” [ABC, New Hampshire GOP Presidential Debate, 1/7/12]
- On the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, Romney released a statement saying, “Today marks the 39th anniversary of one of the darkest moments in Supreme Court history, when the court in Roe v. Wade claimed authority over the fundamental question regarding the rights of the unborn.” [Life News, 1/22/12]
- Romney Believes Roe v. Wade is “Bad Law and Bad Medicine.” Romney: “I support the reversal of Roe v. Wade, because it is bad law and bad medicine. Roe was a misguided ruling that was a result of a small group of activist federal judges legislating from the bench.” [National Review, 6/18/11]
- When asked if the repeal of Roe v. Wade would be a good day for America, former Gov. Romney responded, "Absolutely." [MSNBC, Transcript of GOP Presidential Debate in California, 5/3/07]