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Romney Attended Planned Parenthood Event

By Jennifer Rubin on 12.18.07 @ 10:54AM

Mitt Romney was fully aware of a $150 donation to Planned Parenthood made by check in his wife's name and indeed himself attended the Massachusetts Planned Parenthood fundraising event in 1994 in connection with the donation, according to former Massachusetts Planned Parenthood President Nicki Nicholas Gamble. This contradicts previous statements by the Romney campaign.

In April of this year ABC news reported that Romney's wife Ann had made a $150 donation to Planned Parenthood in 1994. The story reported that Romney spokesman Kevin Madden contended that " an internal review of Romney's personal records has not turned up any instances in which Romney, a Massachusetts Republican, himself sent money to groups that supported expanded abortion rights." Madden also said that "he did not know whether the former governor was aware of the donation, but he noted that Romney had been publicly committed to upholding a woman's right to an abortion until late 2004." In August ABC reported that Mrs. Romney said "I don't even remember writing the check."

In fact Romney personally attended the Planned Parenthood event in question on June 12, 1994. Gamble, the President of Massachsuetts Planned Parenthood in 1994, also attended the event at the home of a Republican, Eleanor Bleakie, the sister-in-law of a Planned Parenthood Board member. Both Romney and Michael Kennedy, who appeared on behalf of nephew of Ted Kennedy, attended the event. Ms. Gamble says that it would have be routine to invite pro-choice candidates currently seeking office. Checks were solicited both on the invitation and at the event. Romney and his wife both attended and the check written in Mrs. Romney's name was one of those donations made in response to the fundraising appeal. At the afternoon event, Romney discussed with Ms. Gamble his then pro-choice views and commitment to Roe v. Wade. Ms. Gamble says that she and others understand that politicians do change views on abortion but says: "What's disturbing in Mitt Romney's case is that he makes the switch at exactly the most politically opportune time. That is what is worrisome."

Messages to Romney spokesmen seeking comment were not immediately returned.

UPDATE: Romney Spokesman Kevin Madden responds that Romney when asked earlier in the year had no recollection of the check or the event and still does not. He indicated that since Romney was pro-choice in 1994 it would have been logical for him to attend such an event but even with the photo does not recall his attendance at this particular gathering. View photo

topics:
Abortion, Law