What We're Reading -- April 17
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Good morning everyone! It’s a busy (and warm) day here in Washington, DC, but across the states things are heating up as well. Here’s what we’re reading this morning….
Mitt Romney continues to show he’s just like Rick Santorum, reaching out to conservative leaders and evangelists within hours of Santorum dropping out. “Romney Woos Conservative Leaders” — “Mitt Romney, while ramping up efforts to win swing voters who will play a large role in November's election, has remained personally involved in trying to persuade conservative leaders to back him and help drive Republican turnout this fall.… On April 10, hours after Mr. Santorum dropped out, Peter Flaherty, a former prosecutor who has been Mr. Romney's main conduit to the conservative community, called Gary Bauer, an evangelical Christian leader who had pushed social-issues conservatives to rally behind Mr. Santorum. ‘The outreach is sending a clear signal that they know this is going to be a close election…and they need every last conservative in the country to be on board,’ said Mr. Bauer, who would not comment on his call with the Romney adviser. Last week, the campaign invited Penny Nance, president of Concerned Women for America and a prominent Santorum supporter, to join a group of Romney supporters in talking to the press, even though she had not endorsed Mr. Romney.”
If Mitt Romney doesn’t think the continual attacks on women’s health are a problem, then maybe he should look to his neighboring Granite State. From the Nashua Telegraph: “Romney can’t deflect GOP war on women” — “It took quite a bit of chutzpah for Mitt Romney to declare on April 11 that ‘the real war on women is being waged by the president’s failed economic policies.’ To support his argument, he cited some specious statistics that on closer analysis proved ‘mostly false,’ according to the nonpartisan organization PolitiFact. Romney aspires to be the presidential candidate of a party that has engaged in a war on women for ideological reasons for months, if not years. For evidence, we have to look no further than our own New Hampshire House of Representatives.… Before accusing President Barack Obama of waging a war on women, Romney should reconsider his stated intention to ‘get rid of Planned Parenthood’ and face up to what his party is actually doing or has already done to women’s rights.”
A bad bill signed into law in the Magnolia State would further restrict women’s access to comprehensive reproductive care. “Miss. governor signs abortion law” — “Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant signed into law on Monday a bill that could shut down the only abortion clinic in the state, hailing it as an important step to ‘ensure that the lives of the born and unborn are protected in Mississippi.’ …The new law is one of many state measures across the country aimed at scaling back access to abortion, such as a Virginia law signed by Gov. Bob McDonnell in March that requires women to undergo an ultrasound prior to getting an abortion. Planned Parenthood was quick to condemn the new law. ‘Make no mistake, this law is based on a political agenda, not medical necessity,’ Cecile Richards, the group’s president, said in a statement. ‘In yet another shortsighted attempt to ban abortion in Mississippi, Governor Bryant and lawmakers are putting their ideology above the health and safety of Mississippi women. This law is bad policy and endangers women’s health.’”
