What We're Reading This Morning -- January 17

Good morning everyone! While many Americans enjoyed a long weekend (and the Patriots enjoyed an easy advance to the AFC Championship), there was no rest for those who make us weary. Campaigning across South Carolina and debating last night in Myrtle Beach, the five remaining Republican presidential candidates once again tried to outdo one another in their competition to see who could be worse for women. Meanwhile, across the country anti-women’s choice groups were busy in New Hampshire, Virginia, and Ohio. Here’s what we’re reading this morning….

CBS News: “Romney contradicts past comments on abortion” — “Mitt Romney suggested during a Republican presidential debate Monday night that he has always personally opposed abortion rights. Asked to show he wouldn't change positions in the future, Romney responded: ‘You know, the issue where I change my mind, which obviously draws a lot of attention was that when I was running for governor, I said I would leave the law in place as it related to abortion. And I thought I could go in that narrow path between my personal belief and letting government stay out of the issue.’”

How fitting that last week Mitt released a radio ad set to air in South Carolina, which touts his pro-life credentials and says he “should be welcomed as a great success story for the pro-life movement.”

Concord Monitor: “GOP to take on Planned Parenthood” — “In October, a Republican-controlled House committee voted 12-5 to kill a bill that would bar government funding for Planned Parenthood. With a vote on the House floor scheduled for tomorrow, however, Republican leaders are urging their caucus to reject the committee's recommendation and pass the bill anyway.”

And make sure to check out this editorial by the Concord Monitor: “A half dozen bad bills on abortion” — “For all their rhetoric about reducing the size and scope of government, the Republicans in the New Hampshire Legislature seem to have no problem encouraging government to muck around in the personal lives of women and the professional lives of doctors, hospitals and other health-care providers.”

The Washington Post: “McDonnell proposes eliminating Virginia funding for teen pregnancy centers” — “McDonnell (R) wants to eliminate funding — $455,000 — for pregnancy prevention programs across the state that offer sex education and birth control to teenagers. The Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative funds programs at schools and clinics in seven health districts, including Alexandria, which have the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the state.”

And finally in Ohio…

CBS News Affiliate WTRF: “Many Ohio Senators Returning Anti-Abortion Bears” — “Bill supporters have given state senators bears that produce a heartbeat sound when squeezed. The bears were sent by many children in a push by Ohio Pro Life Action to get the bill through the Senate. Now, state senators who received the bears are planning to return them.”

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