Romney won’t sign abortion pledge | Kajunman's Blog

Romney won't sign abortion pledge - Kendra Marr - POLITICO.com.

By: Kendra Marr

June 17, 2011 09:08 PM EDT

Five Republican presidential candidates have signed a pledge to advance the anti-abortion movement if elected to the White House, but the current front runner for the 2012 GOP nomination — Mitt Romney — isn’t one of them.

Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty and Rick Santorum each signed the pledge, sponsored by Susan B. Anthony List, vowing to nominate judges and appoint executive branch officials who are opposed to abortion. The pledge also commit signers to push legislation to end all taxpayer funding of abortion and to sign a law to “protect unborn children who are capable of feeling pain from abortion.”

Mitt Romney, who’s leading in national and early state opinion polls, declined to sign.

“Governor Romney pledged in the last campaign that he would be a pro-life president and of course he pledges it today,” said spokeswoman Andrea Saul in a statement. “However, this well-intentioned effort has some potentially unforeseen consequences and he does not feel he could in good conscience sign it.”

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Other than Romney, two other GOP presidential hopefuls — Herman Cain and Gary Johnson — also declined to sign the pledge, according to the group. The SBA List’s announcement did not say whether or not former Ambassador Jon Huntsman was asked to sign.

Cain has said he opposes abortion and that he supports cutting funds for Planned Parenthood. In a statement issued Saturday, Cain said his respect for the separation of powers prevented him from signing. “[T]he fourth requirement demands that I ‘advance’ the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. As president, I would sign it, but Congress must advance the legislation,” the statement said, adding that Cain remains “a consistent and unwavering champion of pro-life issues.”

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Here are the four (4) requirements of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act:

Susan B. Anthony List’s Presidential Pledge:

• * One, only nominate to the U.S. Supreme Court and federal bench judges who are committed to restraint and applying the original meaning of the Constitution, not legislating from the bench;
• * Two, select pro-life appointees for relevant Cabinet and Executive Branch positions, in particular the head of National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health & Human Services, and the Department of Justice;
• * Three, advance pro-life legislation to permanently end all taxpayer funding of abortion in all domestic and international spending programs, and defund Planned Parenthood and all other contractors and recipients of federal funds with affiliates that perform or fund abortions; and
• * Four, advance and sign into law a Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act to protect unborn children who are capable of feeling pain from abortion.

Mitt knows he's going to owe some 'favors' so he's not going to strap his self into something he can't uphold, such as this pledge. Sure he's against abortion, when it's what the people want to hear.

Gary Johnson isn't really anti-abortion. He takes the more liberal path which puts him on the Pro-choice side.

Herman Cain surprises me and he might just lose any support I have for him.

Mr. Cain says, "his respect for the separation of powers prevented him from signing. “[T]he fourth requirement demands that I ‘advance’ the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. As president, I would sign it, but Congress must advance the legislation,” . As President aren't you suppose to be 'leading' this Nation?? Isn't the 'job' of the President to have plans that he presents to the Speaker of both Houses and tries to get them to 'advance' it through Congress?? If elected President are you going to sit around and wait on Congress to make and pass all the bills and then you'll decide if you're going to sign them or not?? In all honesty Mr. Cain I think you may be copping out here and that doesn't look well. You will have the responsibility for getting things done and this will be one of those things. No one is asking you to write up a Presidential Executive Order.