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Mitt Romney Makes Reporter Agree Not To Ask About Todd Akin Or Abortion

vauge said:
If I had a nickel for every time those words have been spoken throughout history - I'd be rich. Of course, you are spot on right.

However, to remove Abortion off the table is kind of disingenuous. But, the reporter has to keep in good spirits in case Romney gets in so it is politics on a different level.
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A candidate's view on abortion is an important issue. The far right wants to ban abortion with no exceptions. Akin made a statement that women can not get pregnant from rape. Romney and Ryan have supported Akins legislation on this issue in the past. It is important to know where they stand. They have either flip flopped, again, or they still support this view on banning abortions with no exceptions and are telling lies.
 
tessaesque said:
Pretty sure the outrage has been consistent in both cases. Obama has limited press access and while he may not have requested that certain topics be avoided, he's flat out refused to answer questions before.
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There is a difference in flat out refusing to answer a question and telling reporters they can't ask them.

I wouldn't have a problem with Romney not answering a question (that's his right), but I do think telling reporters they can't even ask the question is a bit over the top.

tessaesque said:
The press don't have a right to an answer to every question they ask.
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I believe they do, however, I wouldn't have a problem with the person being asked the question refuse to answer it.
 
tessaesque said:
It's only nonsense because we, the electorate, buy into it. I called the BC crap out for what it was when it was happening. Just because it happened before doesn't mean it needs to keep happening. Maybe if more people stopped shrugging their shoulders and saying, "Oh well, distractions are just part of the process" and started instead saying, "Hey, assholes, focus on what matters. Hey, media, **** off and ask real questions."...well maybe we'd actually move forward.

But justifying it because it's the "norm"? That's just sad.
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You knew the Birther stuff was crap, but tell that to Joe Arpaio and his "investigators." For all of us that say, focus on real issues, you also get this
http://www.debatepolitics.com/conspiracy-theories/125543-should-romney-drop-odinga-bomb-w-28-a.html wondering why Romney and the press are giving Obama a free pass on this conspiracy theory nonsense.
 
TheNextEra said:
There is a difference in flat out refusing to answer a question and telling reporters they can't ask them.

I wouldn't have a problem with Romney not answering a question (that's his right), but I do think telling reporters they can't even ask the question is a bit over the top.



I believe they do, however, I wouldn't have a problem with the person being asked the question refuse to answer it.
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So if a reporter asked you what size your genitals are, you believe they have a right to the answer?
 
rocket88 said:
To me, though, it's bothersome when a man who wants to be President wants to avoid the tough questions. Is that what he's going to tell Putin "Don't ask me any questions about missile defense, Vladimirovich."

The tough questions that you don't want to answer come with the job. Akin's comments are an easy one compared to what he'd face as President.
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I agree. Romney runs from the easy questions. He wants to be elected without telling the people anything about how he would run this country.
 
rocket88 said:
You knew the Birther stuff was crap, but tell that to Joe Arpaio and his "investigators." For all of us that say, focus on real issues, you also get this
http://www.debatepolitics.com/conspiracy-theories/125543-should-romney-drop-odinga-bomb-w-28-a.html wondering why Romney and the press are giving Obama a free pass on this conspiracy theory nonsense.
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I do speak out against a lack of focus on true issues. Honestly, I don't understand your point. I've already said it's stupid and should stop. I've already said that we need to focus on real issues. I'm not excluding anybody from that expectation just because I'm not mentioning them. Your examples don't change my opinion or diminish my point. They're just wasted space that furthers my point, truthfully.
 
tessaesque said:
So if a reporter asked you what size your genitals are, you believe they have a right to the answer?
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No they don't have a right to the answer. As I said before they have every right NOT to answer that question. However, I don't think a person should be able to say what questions they can't ask. Just my opinion though on that.
 
Hairytic said:
A candidate's view on abortion is an important issue. The far right wants to ban abortion with no exceptions. Akin made a statement that women can not get pregnant from rape. Romney and Ryan have supported Akins legislation on this issue in the past. It is important to know where they stand. They have either flip flopped, again, or they still support this view on banning abortions with no exceptions and are telling lies.
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Neither Romney nor Ryan support the complete banning of abortion (if you believe otherwise, prove it). Romney already told Akin to step down (even though he had no business speaking for Akin's constituents). Obsessing over stupidity is stupid.
 
TheNextEra said:
No they don't have a right to the answer. As I said before they have every right NOT to answer that question. However, I don't think a person should be able to say what questions they can't ask. Just my opinion though on that.
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I don't see how "Don't ask questions about Akin" and "I'm not going to answer questions about Akin" are at all different, honestly. It's a different means to the same end.
 
tessaesque said:
I don't see how "Don't ask questions about Akin" and "I'm not going to answer questions about Akin" are at all different, honestly. It's a different means to the same end.
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One is an order, the other is a statement. Again, there is a difference.
 
Hairytic said:
I agree. Romney runs from the easy questions. He wants to be elected without telling the people anything about how he would run this country.
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I personally think that it is not about discussing the issues. I think it is how does one get elected as easily and smoothly as possible? The best way is to shutup, look pretty and be careful around sensitive issues.
There is a negative spin for every statement. This is the same reason many law professors tell us not to say anything to a police officer - they will get you for something.
 
tessaesque said:
Neither Romney nor Ryan support the complete banning of abortion (if you believe otherwise, prove it). Romney already told Akin to step down (even though he had no business speaking for Akin's constituents). Obsessing over stupidity is stupid.
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Ryan co-sponsered anti-abortion legistlation with Akin throughout the years. Most of those involved banning abortion without exception. Take a look at Ryan's record on amortion. Romney has made statements in the past that he supports Akins work on anti-abortion legislation. I think you should do more research.
 
vauge said:
I personally think that it is not about discussing the issues. I think it is how does one get elected as easily and smoothly as possible? The best way is to shutup, look pretty and be careful around sensitive issues.
There is a negative spin for every statement. This is the same reason many law professors tell us not to say anything to a police officer - they will get you for something.
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I agree that politicians will do what it takes to get elected. However, people need to discuss the issues and be able to have questions asked of candidates so we can make a more informed choice. This is why they hold debates and such. The media is supposed to be a watch dog on the issues. It doesn't always work that way.
 
tessaesque said:
I do speak out against a lack of focus on true issues. Honestly, I don't understand your point. I've already said it's stupid and should stop. I've already said that we need to focus on real issues. I'm not excluding anybody from that expectation just because I'm not mentioning them. Your examples don't change my opinion or diminish my point. They're just wasted space that furthers my point, truthfully.
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My point is that while sensible people like you want to focus on real issues, there's more than enough non-sensible people who want to keep bringing it up, and demand that the media stop giving people a free pass.
 
I hate to interrupt a perfectly good mudslingfest with actual facts, but Romney didn't "make" the reporter agree to not discuss abortion. Just Akin.

Romney spoke to a hostile member of Obama's propaganda machine under the condition that he not be made to answer for Akin's comments. Romney isn't Akin, as much as the media would like to believe otherwise, and Romney doesn't share Akin's opinion. The attempts by the lamestream media to equate the two are shameless and laughable to thinking people, unfortunately the majority of Americans aren't thinking people.

I understand that Romney disagreed with Akin, asked Akin to step down, and that Romney and Akin have never even actually met, so Romney's request was rational. He shouldn't be made to answer for someone else's opinion.

Obama, otoh, has never been made to answer for the opinions of radical anti-American douchecanoes like Jeremiah Wright, Louis Farrakhan, Frank Davis, Bill Ayers, etcetera ad nauseum, even though he's good friends with (and/or a willing pupil of) all of them.

Obama never even gave an interview with FoxNews, the right-wing equivalent of all the other left-wing "news" outlets, but if he had I'm sure he would have set conditions as well.

Pardon the interruption, we now return you to your regularly-scheduled hyperbole.

Romney Speaks With CBS4, But Not About Akin « CBS Denver
 
Romany and Ryan have supported legislation sponsored by Akin in the past. Ryan cosponsored 38 anti-abortion legislation, which causes people to wonder why they changed their position now. It really doesn't take much thought to know that Ryan and Romney are running from their own previous positions on this subject. That is the point.
 
Hairytic said:
Ryan co-sponsered anti-abortion legistlation with Akin throughout the years. Most of those involved banning abortion without exception. Take a look at Ryan's record on amortion. Romney has made statements in the past that he supports Akins work on anti-abortion legislation. I think you should do more research.
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On Romney:
In a 1994 debate with Senator Ted Kennedy, Romney said: "One of the great things about our nation ... is that we're each entitled to have strong personal beliefs, and we encourage other people to do the same. But as a nation, we recognize the right of all people to believe as they want and not to impose our beliefs on other people. I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country."
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During the 2002 governor's race, Romney's platform stated, "As Governor, Mitt Romney would protect the current pro-choice status quo in Massachusetts. No law would change."
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The Boston Globe on July 26, 2005 quoted Romney saying, "I am pro-life. I believe that abortion is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother. I wish the people of America agreed, and that the laws of our nation could reflect that view. But while the nation remains so divided over abortion, I believe that the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate."
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In statements since leaving the governorship, Romney has expressed his opposition to "partial birth" abortion
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In 2011, Romney declined to sign a pro-life pledge sponsored by the Susan B. Anthony List to support 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."
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During the 2012 presidential campaign, Romney promised to nominate Supreme Court justices who would help overturn Roe v. Wade, allowing states to individually decide on the legality of abortion.
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About Ryan:
Voted YES on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions.
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Voted YES on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother’s life.
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Congress shall protect life beginning with fertilization.

Ryan co-sponsored Sanctity of Human Life Act
Declares that:
the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human and is the person's paramount and most fundamental right;
each human life begins with fertilization, cloning, or its functional equivalent, at which time every human has all legal and constitutional attributes and privileges of personhood; and
Congress, each state, and all U.S. territories have the authority to protect all human lives.
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From an article published yesterday:
"I'm proud of my pro-life record," Ryan said. "And I stand by my pro-life record in Congress."

"But Mitt Romney is the top of the ticket and Mitt Romney will be president and he will set the policy of the Romney administration," Ryan continued.
....
Moreover, it highlighted a key disconnect between Romney and Ryan on a social issue that carries significant weight, particularly with women voters
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Now it's your turn to defend your blatantly distorted version of reality. Where did Romney support Akin's anti abortion legislation?
 
tessaesque said:
Now it's your turn to defend your blatantly distorted version of reality. Where did Romney support Akin's anti abortion legislation?
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Romney is a flip flopper. There are videos with him supporting pro-choice and anti-abortion all over the internet. As for Ryan, he does support one exception and that is the risk of the mother. Howeve, according to Think Progress and video of the speech, "Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) opposed an exception to a so-called “partial birth abortion” ban when the procedure was necessary to save the mother’s life, according to a 2000 floor speech on the issue. Claiming the women’s health exception included in the bill was “wide enough to drive a mack truck through,” Ryan argued uncompromisingly for it to be removed."
 
Hairytic said:
Romney is a flip flopper. There are videos with him supporting pro-choice and anti-abortion all over the internet. As for Ryan, he does support one exception and that is the risk of the mother. Howeve, according to Think Progress and video of the speech, "Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) opposed an exception to a so-called “partial birth abortion” ban when the procedure was necessary to save the mother’s life, according to a 2000 floor speech on the issue. Claiming the women’s health exception included in the bill was “wide enough to drive a mack truck through,” Ryan argued uncompromisingly for it to be removed."
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I love the absolute lack of proof. I posted information from various websites to support my opinion. You're just posting your opinion. Forgive me if I find your efforts to convince me woefully inadequate.
 
tessaesque said:
I love the absolute lack of proof. I posted information from various websites to support my opinion. You're just posting your opinion. Forgive me if I find your efforts to convince me woefully inadequate.
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You ignoring the evidence that is all over the internet is not my fault. Do the research. The truth is, Ryan cosponsered 38 bills with Akin, many of which did not allow exceptions. Romney is a flip flopper. That's why they are being asked about Akin's comments. The big question is, did they change their stance on Akin's comments, or are they running away from the issue in an atempt to be elected?
 
Hairytic said:
You ignoring the evidence that is all over the internet is not my fault. Do the research. The truth is, Ryan cosponsered 38 bills with Akin, many of which did not allow exceptions. Romney is a flip flopper. That's why they are being asked about Akin's comments. The big question is, did they change their stance on Akin's comments, or are they running away from the issue in an atempt to be elected?
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I get it. Can't say I didn't try.

Have a lovely time here. I won't be responding to anymore of your nonsense.
 
tessaesque said:
I love the absolute lack of proof. I posted information from various websites to support my opinion. You're just posting your opinion. Forgive me if I find your efforts to convince me woefully inadequate.
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Before I go looking are you actually making the claim Romney has NEVER flip flopped on abortion?
 
TheNextEra said:
Before I go looking are you actually making the claim Romney has NEVER flip flopped on abortion?
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I'm not making any claims. I posted documented information on words straight from Romney's mouth regarding abortion. If I were arguing any idiotic point made it would be the claim that Romney specifically supported and/or endorsed Akin's specific stance on abortion.

If I were to make a claim I'd say his position has changed no more significantly than has Obama's position on gay marriage, based on words straight from Romney's mouth.
 
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