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How Romney Became Pro-Life

By Joseph Lawler on 11.30.11 @ 2:19PM

Kathleen Parker's column yesterday included an interesting passage about the beginning of Mitt Romney's conversion from pro-choice to pro-life:

The politically expedient choice was obvious, but Romney took a more thoughtful approach and sought to educate himself before staking out a position. Enter William Hurlbut, a physician and professor of biomedical ethics at Stanford University Medical School. For several hours, Hurlbut and Romney met in the governor's office and went through the dynamics of conception, embryonic development and the repercussions of research that targets nascent human life. It was not a light lunch.

The result of that conversation and others was a pro-life Romney, who kept his campaign promise to honor the state's democratically asserted preference for abortion choice but also began a personal path that happened to serve him well, at least theoretically, among social conservatives. Was his conversion sincere? No one can know another's heart, but Hurlbut is convinced that it was.

"Several things about our conversation still stand out strongly in my mind," Hurlbut told me. "First, he clearly recognized the significance of the issue, not just as a current controversy but as a matter that would define the character of our culture way into the future.

"Second, it was obvious that he had put in a real effort to understand both the scientific prospects and the broader social implications. Finally, I was impressed by both his clarity of mind and sincerity of heart. . . . He recognized that this was not a matter of purely abstract theory or merely pragmatic governance, but a crucial moment in how we are to regard nascent human life and the broader meaning of medicine in the service of life."

Whether one agrees with Hurlbut's appraisal or Romney's conclusions, this was at least a flip-flop of a higher order. Would that all our politics were so painstakingly crafted.

Talking to one bioethicist does not count as "painstakingly crafted," in my book. Nevertheless, consulting with experts and considering all available information is what you would want from officials.

View all comments (17) | Leave a comment

Al Adab| 11.30.11 @ 2:36PM

Apparently he never took his religious scruples seriously when hunting votes if there was a time he was pro-abortion. If pragmatism trumps principle what good is he?

W| 11.30.11 @ 5:16PM

Al Adab,
The politics of abortion is not pretty.
Reagan and Bush 1 were pro-abortion then changed. Algore, TeddyK, and JeseeJackson were pro-life then went pro abortion. Who knows what is in the heart of Reagan, Bush, and now Romney. We should not criticize Romney for finally getting it right provided he stays right.

The abortion issue is relevant mostly on the selection of Supreme Court justices. Even though Reagan and Bush 1 were pro life they appointed pro abortion justices (Souter, O'Connor).

Cain was incoherent on the abortion question. I don't know Newt's history on abortion.

The most qualified and consistent conservative is Santorum but he just hasn't connected according to the polls. Maybe he will do better in the actual voting in the primaries.

Simon Templar| 11.30.11 @ 2:53PM

Other than his involvement in healthcare legislation in his state what do we know about him? Odd how both conservative and MSM are ignoring this history. Coincidence?

Lawler, how about an article summarizing his positions on a host of issues over his political career?

Joseph Lawler| 11.30.11 @ 3:11PM

Simon Templar --

I don't think we've ignored his history. Google through our archives to see what we've written. Jim Antle and Philip Klein, especially, have written much about Romney, most of it critical.

JP| 11.30.11 @ 3:05PM

He implemented hsi own version of cap-n-trade while govenor.

Mitt was never enamoured of gun owners.

He governed as a Pro Choice Republican

He built the blue print for ObamaCare

Enuf said

BJ| 11.30.11 @ 3:54PM

See how easy this is ... we'll take Newt as an example:

Newt voted for the Brady hand gun ban in 1996.

He supported and contributed to the Heritage Foundations individual mandate healthcare proposal (long before Romney took up similar legislation in MA).

He stood shoulder to shoulder with Nancy Pelosi warning us about the evils of GW.

It's so incredibly easy to do this with ANY candidate that has a history. To pretend that Mitt is a flip flopper and that Newt has remained consistent is just absurd. Newt has flipped and flopped just as often and just as severe as Mitt. Couple that with the baggage from Newt's personal life and I just don't get it.

In any event, I like the guy. He would be a huge improvement over Obama. Unfortunately, he shares all of the weaknesses of a Romney but lacks much the upside. He's my #2 vote but far behind Romney.

Clint| 11.30.11 @ 3:45PM

" A Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips wrote a scathing attack on Romney’s record last week, touching on the issue that has most Tea Party supporters worried– Mitt Romney’s principles, or apparent lack thereof:

‘Romney is a flip-flop. He could have written the line for John Kerry, “I was before it before I was against it.” He has flip-flopped on abortion, gay rights and socialist healthcare, just to name a few. Looking back at the 1994 debate between him and Senator Ted Kennedy, when Romney was trying to defeat Kennedy for reelection, it is hard to tell who is the more liberal.’

And in a recent interview with The Daily Caller, Matt Kibbe, President of leading Tea Party group, FreedomWorks, said that the Tea Party may sit out the general election if Mitt Romney or “another John McCain” is nominated, saying:

‘I believe in redemption, but at some point, you sort of give up, and we’ve given up on Mitt Romney."

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.

C Bowen| 11.30.11 @ 4:44PM

"Nevertheless, consulting with experts and considering all available information is what you would want from officials."

In light of the state of...everything, from finance to phony war after phony war, you still maintain faith in the technocracy?

Strange.

Joseph Lawler| 11.30.11 @ 5:03PM

C Bowen --

I did not suggest "maintaining faith in the technocracy." Not sure where you read that. I said that you would want officials to consult experts and consider all available information. That seems self-evidently true.

C Bowen| 11.30.11 @ 8:52PM

Mr. Lawler;

Of course I was just baiting, but only because you missed the metapolitics of what Mitt is doing.

Mitt wants to be thought of a wise technocrat--he figures that is the best characterization of his political "style."

I am just trying to show you, clearly a capable writer, a better avenue of analysis as it looks like Mitt's scripted presentation had some effect with you, no?

Paul McGrath| 11.30.11 @ 5:35PM

We can yammer about abortion all day. We can yammer about Newt's and Mitt's positions on it and how there may have been changes over the years.

But we do know one thing: if abortion is all you're interested in, you can be sure that Obama is in favor of it. And if Obama wins again, your positon on it and your nitpicking and little snide comments about Romney and Newt will be irrelevant. God. I am tired of this backstabbing bullshit among Republicans.

Paul McGrath| 11.30.11 @ 5:41PM

"How Romney Became Pro-Life." I am still quite angry about this. You know what? He IS pro-life. He says he is. He maybe wasn't before. But he says he is now.

And you know what else, ass? Obama definitely isn't. So if you want to play these little gotcha games, go ahead.

I must stop now, before I say something I will regret.

teflon93| 12.1.11 @ 9:37AM

Oh, don't bother regretting it---just say something diametrically opposed the next day and all will be forgiven----just like Mitt.

Paul McGrath| 11.30.11 @ 5:50PM

Oh yes, you're a nice little journalist and your profession is to seek out those discrepancies and nuances as they pertain to all candidates, Republican or Democrat. Here one said this, and here one said that, and my, aren't they all little hypocrites! What a nice little journalist you are!

Pbbbbsssssttsssxxxxxxxxthbthbthbsssss. With spit.

If it is your intent to demoralize the base, well, good job.

Dixie Pixie| 11.30.11 @ 6:19PM

Mittens Romney Daily Planner entry.

2:00 – 4:00....Meeting with pro-life professor of biomedical ethics William Hurlbut to be briefed on the Pro-Life concepts and positions.
4:04 – 4:05....Have a miraculous conversion from Pro-Choice to the Pro-Life political position.
4:05 – 5:00....Rewrite standard stump speech to reflect change to the Pro-Life polities.

8:00 – 9:00....Give the revised stump speech to the New Republicans conference.
9:00 – 9:30.....Gage reaction to revised stump speech to further refine the new Pro-Life political position.

Jane| 11.30.11 @ 7:28PM

Romney is coming across as a cute, cuddly curmudgeon with his graying hair, storytelling, white lies and grandkiddies. He is so adorable but I'm voting for someone else.

teflon93| 12.1.11 @ 9:36AM

He took a poll.

Given Mormons are very pro-life, one presumes that if he were much of a Mormon he wouldn't have had to look so hard to find somebody who could provide a pro-life argument.