Romney, abortion, and the 'health of the mother' exception

By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Aug 29, 2012

Pro-lifers take note: In a CBS television interview, Mitt Romney went further than any previous Republican presidential nominee has gone toward accepting legal abortion.

"My position has been clear throughout this campaign," Romney said. "I'm in favor of abortion being legal in the case of rape and incest, and the health and life of the mother." [emphasis added]

Take careful note of those words in bold. Other Republican presidents have expressed a willingness to accept abortion to save the life of the mother. Such cases are exceedingly rare; some would argue that they do not exist. But concerns about the health of the mother could justify abortion in virtually every case. Has there ever been a mother who didn’t endure some health problems associated with pregnancy?

If Romney’s language makes you nervous—and it should—brace yourself for this:

"Recognize this is the decision that will be made by the Supreme Court," he said. "The Democrats try and make this a political issue every four years, but this is a matter in the courts. It's been settled for some time in the courts."

The issue is settled, he says. Does that statement fill you with confidence that Romney would seize an opportunity to press the offensive against abortion? Does the GOP candidate sound anxious to appoint federal judges who would be likely to re-open a question that has already been settled?

Watch the whole interview (if you have the stomach), and see if you can detect any clue that a President Romney would fulfill the hopes of his pro-lifer supporters. I can’t. Barack Obama is an implacable foe of the pro-life cause. But Mitt Romney is at best an unreliable ally.

I am not suggesting that pro-lifers should not vote for Romney. I am, however, insisting that pro-lifers should not see Romney as the solution to the problem. Put not your faith in princes.