A few weeks ago, President Obama and his campaign team made it clear they have the advantage on hot-button, culture-war issues by launching a new ad, slamming Mitt Romney over his opposition to abortion rights. The spot was apparently successful enough to spur a sequel.
In this ad, viewers see a voter named Jenni arguing, "I've never felt this way before, but it's just a scary time to be a woman. Mitt Romney is so out of touch." A narrator walks through the Republican's policy positions, including opposition to contraception coverage as part of preventive care and support for overturning Roe v. Wade.
The spot also includes a controversial claim: "Romney backed a bill that outlaws all abortion, even in cases of rape and incest." It's the part of the ad that's generating the most pushback, and by way of a defense, the Obama campaign cites Romney comment from a debate in November, when he said he would be "delighted" to sign a bill returning abortion rights to the states if the Supreme Court struck down Roe.
It seems to me Romney's endorsement of a "Personhood" amendment would be more compelling proof, but so far, the president's team isn't making it.
While the facts obviously matter, and the Obama campaign has to be able to defend its arguments, it's nevertheless fair to say the differences between the candidates on reproductive rights is enormous, and I'm fascinated by the significance the president's team is placing on this. The campaign wouldn't put a spot like this together unless it knew the American mainstream agrees with the president's larger position.
Will the 2012 race be defined by the culture war? Almost certainly not. But there are still plenty of voters who care deeply about social issues, and who were outraged by the "war on women" agenda pushed by GOP officials for much of the year. Obama and his team clearly believe they have the upper hand on reproductive rights this year, and the fact that Democrats are on the offensive speaks volumes about the efficacy (or lack thereof) of the right's anti-choice, anti-contraception, anti-Planned Parenthood agenda of late.
Regardless, the ad started airing late last week in Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia. It will start running in Colorado today.
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These are the issues that should be aired. The republicans have made these issues a big deal in every state and national campaign. It stands to reason that Obama wants to let people know where they and his administration stand. The right has been using the "family values" line for a long time thus showing their preference for using the government as a morality enforcer and a religious sect.
While the "culture wars" have been started by the right, it's about time that the President and democrats in general start standing up for what is right for WE the PEOPLE! Rawmoney and the rest of the GOTP have been attacking the hard won rights of women over the last 2 years, and if Rawmoney gets the Presidency women will be in grave danger of being thrust backward into the 19th century!
The American people have the right to know where the candidates stand on the issues, and as women are a voting bloc, every woman needs to know exactly which side their candidate is on - the side of women, or the side that's trying to oppress women, again!
For one thing the Dems and the President don't speak for all of "WE the PEOPLE" If you think they do then refer to the 2010 mid term elections. So now you (the Dems) are going to tell the people what is what and impose your POV? Nah.
Thanks again David, for the daily demonstration of wingnut ignorance. You seem to think the 2010 election had something to do with your "majority" being an actual majority. What we have to realize is that the 25% of all voters who think like you can become a "majority" any time we of the real majority don't all get out and vote. But you will never be a "real" majority.
How's that snake-handling going, boy? Careful you don't get bit.
Sure! the 2010 elections! Great! 2010 elections were based upon "where are the jobs, Mr. President?"
Since then the House GOP has done:
Non-Job Creation Legislation of 2011
(1) Attempted curtailing of abortion rights.
(2) Attempted defunding of Planned Parenthood.
(3) Attempted defunding of NPR.
(4) Investigating Muslims.
(5) Declaring English as America's Official Language.
(6) Reaffirming "In God We Trust". Yawn.
(7) 3-28-2011: Challenging AARP's tax-exempt status.
(8) 4-1-2011: Approved defunct funding for failed religious schools.
(9) 4-6-2011: Attempt to destroy Medicaid.
(10) 4-8-2011: Attempt to destroy Planned Parenthood.
(11) 4-11-2011: Planning on shutting down the government
(12) 4-13-2011: Attempt to destroy the EPA.
(13) 4-15-2011: Attempting to eliminate financial counseling.
(14) 4-18-2011: Passed a House budget that gives $4 trillion in tax cuts to the rich.
(15) 4-20-2011: Spent $500,000 to discriminate against gays.
(16) 4-22-2011: Continued toadying for the rich.
(17) 4-25-2011: Pretending the deficit is to blame for slow job growth.
(18) 4-27-2011: De-funded SETI. (ARGH!!!!!!!)
(19) 4-29-2011: Tried to kill Chrysler two years ago... which is now going to pay back all its government loans.
(20) 5-2-2011: The Judicial Branch of the GOP, the Supreme Court, votes 5-4 to deny consumer class-action suits.
(21) 5-4-2011: Redefining rape. Yes, redefining rape.
(22) 5-6-2011: Pushing for spending caps tied to GDP. (That's a really, really REALLY bad idea.)
(23) 5-9-2011: Claimed credit for dropping oil prices because they passed a bill.
(24) 5-11-2011: Refuse to reduce oil subsidies.
(25) 5-13-2011: Stood helplessly and watched as Senator John Ensign made Bill Clinton look like a Carmelite nun.
(26) 5-16-2011: Attempt to retool Rep. Paul Ryan's Medicare-killing bill.
(27) 5-17-2011: Prevented the raising of the federal debt limit. Let the catastrophic job loss begin.
(28) 5-18-2011: Watches Rome burn with their Wall Street pals.
(29) 5-19-2011: Filibustered bill to repeal oil subsidies.
(30) 5-20-2011: Rejected Goodwin Liu for judge simply because Mr. Obama nominated him.
(31) 5-23-2011: Abortion. Abortion. Abortion. As in "restrictions".
(32) 5-27-2011: Spent five hours debating NPR, five minutes debating Afghanistan.
(33) 5-27-2011: GOP releases their jobs plan. Hilarity ensues.
(34) 5-30-2011: Continue to hold the debt limit hostage in order to make more money for billionaires.
(35) 6-1-2011: Brought to the House floor a bill specifically blaming President Obama's 2012 budget for raising the statutory debt limit by $2.4 trillion dollars, a budget the very same Republican-led Congress earlier passed.
(36) 6-6-2011: Pulled from the floor a Democratic resolution to remove soldiers from Libya, because it just might have passed.
(37) 6-3-2011: Conceived a plan to replace three federal employees with just one federal employee. Yes, they're now actually reducing jobs.
http://www.republicanjobcreation.com/
Where are the jobs GOP?!!!
It sure seems like your troll POV sucks, and is creating absolutely no jobs, but is doing a great job at trying to control women and their right to choose.
@David Re: #3
Regarding your statement:
Well - if by POV you are referring to the point of view that people have the right to decide certain PRIVATE things for themselves, then I guess the answer is "H*LL YES!"
President Obama when running for office said effectively that he would fix the economy. He did not say elect me president and if the republicans cooperate then I will fix the economy. The real facts are that no president- republican or democrat has the tools to fix a recession. Momentary policy is controlled by the fed and fiscal policy by the congress. Even those tools can only take you so far. The problem is that President Obama just like prior presidents and just like M. Romney- all make promises they can not keep, they claim credit when things are good and blame someone else when things are bad.
Donna, that's an amazing list, I'll be using that (with credit to you, of course!).
David,
I am sure the "fake 25% majority" in Wisconsin is the same lame excuse this guy will use to explain yet another embarrassing defeat. Yup, you tell 'em "cailliu'nai'", you are the majority. Cry like the Wisconsin loser on CNN whining about the "end of amerika" as we know it all over again. "Democracy died tonight". Boo hoo hooooo
And yes, the 2010 mid terms were all about lazy dems not getting out to vote. Poor voter "cry baby crap" turn out. "We are the real, real, majority" Really, is that why Pelosi is now MINORITY leader.
"Auid Sod" is a the real majority Irish by a 66% to 33% margin. Why not join some Sinead O'Conner rebel group and turn out your 33% fake Irish loonies for an Occupy Irish America" cry baby fake majority fest and whine for the revolution to end all "Auid Sod" domination of your looney leftist fake majority movement. You can tear up pictures of the pope and shout obsenities. (droch-chailliu"nai')
back in the days of the IRA, they'd have a term for that ....... here we'll just say, you've been exposed (droch-chailliu"nai'). Looks like your the one who's "snake bit"
Thanks for the post David. Keep the truth coming!
Irish dude,
You have got to stop drinking and get help for your problem. Really you do.
Every time the Romney camp "squeals like a pig" getting boinked (a la "Deliverance"), you can tell they got nailed and they know it.
Keep it up Obama Campaign. Kicking Republicans is fun!
The Obama campaign shouldn't need to offer proof of Romney's position - the press should just ask Romney outright to refute it. He's so beholden to his Tea Party masters that he wouldn't dare disagree with the position. If his party isn't complaining, then why should the press.
I've heard the same excuse used by Ron Paul supporters. They want to claim he's not totally against abortion access, but when it comes down to it, he is since he will do nothing to support such access, allowing states to do his dirty work. I have no problem accepting that Romney would be totally against abortion for victims of rape and incest; he's too dishonest, like Ron Paul, to admit it.
Looneytarians aren't even close to being as good on social issues as they pretend they are.
he sat there with HUCKABEE and said he supported the PERSONHOOD AMENDMENT.
that's what Willard said...so, I take him at his word.
Something that the GOP doesn't seem to remember is that people were fed up with their harsh moralizing back in the H.W. Bush presidency. That's why we got that evil, evil decade of prosperity that we call the 1990's.
Not that President Clinton, and even moreso that randroid Alan Greenspan, weren't responsible for some of the mess we're currently in, but it was still investment in technology that made the 90's boom, and people weren't interested (and aren't interested) in culture war issues.
Once the debates happen, Romney is toast. Biden may have a reputation for being kind of a putz (an undeserved reputation, in my opinion), but I wouldn't want to have to go up against him or President Obama in a debate. No way. Obama is going to make Romney look like the clueless horses ass that most of us already know he is.
Plus, the president has all of the dumb culture war, austerity, and intransigence of the GOP controlled house and senate to run against. Of course, the democrats have a majority of the senate, but it's still essentially controlled by the asinine GOP minority who filibuster everything important like a bunch of petulant children.
I think Mittens fell into an Obama trap whining about this. This elevates an issues that is not good for Mittens.
It reminds folks of all his flip-flops on abortion.
The religious right will be pissed off because he now appears to support an exception for rape and incest.
Pro choice folks will be even more motivated to vote for Obama
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