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| Paul Ryan's abortion remarks at debate worry pro-choice groups | Paul Ryan's abortion remarks at debate worry pro-choice groups |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Pro-choice jitters over what a Romney administration would do to the reproductive rights of American women have intensified after Paul Ryan indicated in the debate that a Republican White House would overturn Roe v Wade and return control over abortion to individual states. | Pro-choice jitters over what a Romney administration would do to the reproductive rights of American women have intensified after Paul Ryan indicated in the debate that a Republican White House would overturn Roe v Wade and return control over abortion to individual states. |
| Ryan, the Republican vice-presidential candidate and Romney's running mate, was asked bluntly by the debate moderator, Martha Raddatz, whether pro-abortionists should to be worried by a Romney-Ryan ticket. Ryan replied: "We don't think that unelected judges should make this decision … people, through their elected representatives and reaching a consensus in society through the democratic process, should make this determination." | Ryan, the Republican vice-presidential candidate and Romney's running mate, was asked bluntly by the debate moderator, Martha Raddatz, whether pro-abortionists should to be worried by a Romney-Ryan ticket. Ryan replied: "We don't think that unelected judges should make this decision … people, through their elected representatives and reaching a consensus in society through the democratic process, should make this determination." |
| Earlier, Ryan stated that a Romney administration would be opposed to abortion in all cases other than rape, incest and where the life of the mother was in danger. | Earlier, Ryan stated that a Romney administration would be opposed to abortion in all cases other than rape, incest and where the life of the mother was in danger. |
| Reproductive rights groups said that Ryan's comments underlined the threat of a Republican victory next month. Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America said that the debate had reminded voters why elections matter. | Reproductive rights groups said that Ryan's comments underlined the threat of a Republican victory next month. Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America said that the debate had reminded voters why elections matter. |
| "The Romney-Ryan ticket is extremely dangerous to women's health, and Americans should be very concerned about the future of women's health and rights if Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan win on November 6," she said. | "The Romney-Ryan ticket is extremely dangerous to women's health, and Americans should be very concerned about the future of women's health and rights if Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan win on November 6," she said. |
| Lynn Paltrow, head of National Advocates for Pregnant Women, pointed out that Ryan was a co-sponsor – alongside the controversial Missouri politician Todd Akin – of the sanctity of life bill, that would give fetuses full legal rights from conception. "If that act was ever passed it would immediately provide the basis for states to start arresting women who have abortions and charging them as murderers." | Lynn Paltrow, head of National Advocates for Pregnant Women, pointed out that Ryan was a co-sponsor – alongside the controversial Missouri politician Todd Akin – of the sanctity of life bill, that would give fetuses full legal rights from conception. "If that act was ever passed it would immediately provide the basis for states to start arresting women who have abortions and charging them as murderers." |
| The Romney campaign has been struggling this week to give a clear message over its stance on abortion. Earlier this week, in an interview with the Des Moines Register, Romney appeared to be signaling that he would take a moderate position in office, saying that there was "no legislation with regards to abortion that I'm familiar with that would become part of my agenda". | The Romney campaign has been struggling this week to give a clear message over its stance on abortion. Earlier this week, in an interview with the Des Moines Register, Romney appeared to be signaling that he would take a moderate position in office, saying that there was "no legislation with regards to abortion that I'm familiar with that would become part of my agenda". |
| Hours later, Romney aides reversed that statement with assurances to social conservatives that the Republican ticket was committed to rolling back abortion rights. | Hours later, Romney aides reversed that statement with assurances to social conservatives that the Republican ticket was committed to rolling back abortion rights. |
| In the wake of that wobble, anti-abortion groups reacted enthusiastically to Ryan's debate performance. The Susan B Anthony List, a group that opposes abortion, said that Ryan had "explained the pro-life position with clarity and candor. The Romney-Ryan ticket is clearly committed to protecting American women and unborn children." | In the wake of that wobble, anti-abortion groups reacted enthusiastically to Ryan's debate performance. The Susan B Anthony List, a group that opposes abortion, said that Ryan had "explained the pro-life position with clarity and candor. The Romney-Ryan ticket is clearly committed to protecting American women and unborn children." |
| Paradoxically, the easiest way that a Romney presidency could neutralise the grip of "unelected judges" on the country's abortion policy would be to change the balance of the US supreme court – in other words, to appoint new "unelected judges" who would take a different view to the current crop of nine. Over the next four years there is likely to be at least one and maybe more vacancies on the panel, with speculation that Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 79, who is firmly in the pro-choice wing of the court, might retire. | Paradoxically, the easiest way that a Romney presidency could neutralise the grip of "unelected judges" on the country's abortion policy would be to change the balance of the US supreme court – in other words, to appoint new "unelected judges" who would take a different view to the current crop of nine. Over the next four years there is likely to be at least one and maybe more vacancies on the panel, with speculation that Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 79, who is firmly in the pro-choice wing of the court, might retire. |
| Joe Biden raised the question of supreme court appointments during the debate, predicting that as president Romney would select "far right" justices dedicated to outlawing abortion. The vice-president exhorted voters to "keep an eye on the supreme court", arguing that President Obama's two picks – Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan – were both "open-minded" and "good justices". | Joe Biden raised the question of supreme court appointments during the debate, predicting that as president Romney would select "far right" justices dedicated to outlawing abortion. The vice-president exhorted voters to "keep an eye on the supreme court", arguing that President Obama's two picks – Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan – were both "open-minded" and "good justices". |
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