Political positions of Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney has campaigned on his plan to restore jobs in America, while he emphasizes his private sector experience. Romney is pro-life, a position that developed in 2005, having formerly favored legalized abortion during his runs for the Massachusetts Senate and governorship. Romney opposes mandatory carbon caps known as Cap and Trade, favors increased domestic energy production and oil drilling, supported government-backed loan guarantees through a managed bankruptcy for the American automobile industry, favors getting tougher with China on trade issues, and favors a repeal and replace approach to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act informally referred to as Obamacare.

Economic policy

Jobs plan

Romney claims that on average, 15,000 jobs were created each year when he was governor of Massachusetts. He has offered an economic plan that has been described as "far-reaching" The plan "relies heavily on the premise that reviving the economy depends on getting the government out of the way of corporations." Features of Romney's plan include overhauling federal tax, regulatory, trade and energy policies. The intent is "to create the conditions that allow the private sector and entrepreneurs to create jobs and to grow our economy," according to Romney.

Stimulus

In January 2009, Romney said:

I think there is need for economic stimulus. Americans have lost about $11 trillion in net worth. That translates into about $400 billion a year less spending that they'll be doing, and that's net of additional government programs like Medicaid and unemployment insurance. And government can help make that up in a very difficult time. And that's one of the reasons why I think a stimulus program is needed.

Romney said, however, that he did not support the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Soon after the Republican victory in the 2012 Wisconsin gubernatorial recall election, Romney criticized Obama's stimulus policy, saying that Obama "wants another stimulus, he wants to hire more government workers. He says we need more fireman, more policeman, more teachers. Did he not get the message of Wisconsin? The American people did. It's time for us to cut back on government and help the American people."

Housing market

In 2011, Romney said that

"As to what to do for the housing industry specifically, and are there things you can do to encourage housing? One is, don't try and stop the foreclosure process. Let it run its course and hit the bottom. Allow investors to buy homes, put renters in them, fix the homes up, and let it turn around and come back up. The Obama administration has slow walked the foreclosure processes that have long existed, and as a result we still have a foreclosure overhang. Number two, the credit (that) was given to first time homebuyers was insufficient and inadequate to turn around the housing market. I think it was an ineffective idea. It was a little bit like the cash-for-clunkers program, throwing government money at something which was not market oriented, did not staunch the decline in home values anymore than it encouraged the auto industry to take off. I think the idea of helping people refinance homes to stay in them is one that's worth further consideration. But I'm not signing on until I find out who's going to pay and who's going to get bailed out, and that's not something which we know all the answers to."

U.S. automotive industry

Mitt Romney supported government backed loan guarantees to private sector investors rather than direct government loans, preferring the corporations go through a managed bankruptcy process. Mitt Romney wrote an op-ed in the New York Times on November 18, 2008 entitled "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt" where he argues against government intervention in the auto industry. In it he wrote, "If General Motors, Ford and Chrysler get the bailout that their chief executives asked for yesterday, you can kiss the American automotive industry goodbye."

Romney has criticized the Obama administration for holding onto GM's stock and for excessive regulations on the auto industry. Romney stated that he would sell the government's stock holdings in GM quickly and seek alternatives to excessive CAFE regulations on the auto industry.

Deficit

Romney opposed the Budget Control Act of 2011 during the United States debt-ceiling crisis. Romney (like several other Republican candidates) signed the "cut, cap and balance" pledge, under which an increase in the federal debt ceiling would be contingent on major cuts in spending, caps on spending, and a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution. He opposed the debt ceiling deal struck by President Obama and congressional leaders, leading journalist Jonathan Cohn to ponder whether Romney, "a seasoned businessman who was a model of moderation as governor of Massachusetts, sincerely believes the country would be better off defaulting on its debts."

Labor unions

Romney has been critical of former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) and the United Auto Workers (UAW) labor union. During a campaign speech in Michigan on June 9th, 2011, he was quoted as saying "They're out there working very hard for their friend, Barack Obama," he added. "I think the union folks basically bought and paid for his last campaign, so he's taking care of them and they're taking care of him."

Romney opposes the Employee Free Choice Act, a bill that would add penalties for labor violations and would allow union recognition based on signed requests from a majority of the workers. He has called for "cutting off funding" for the National Labor Relations Board.

Campaign finance

In 2007 Romney began criticizing the McCain-Feingold Law, saying "We step into dangerous territory when politicians start eviscerating our fundamental freedoms in the name of amorphous principles, like campaign finance reform." In his 2002 gubernatorial campaign, Romney proposed taxing private political contributions in order to finance publicly funded campaigns. In his 1994 Senate campaign, Romney advocated spending limits on congressional campaigns and suggested abolishing political action committees. Romney has not given up on campaign finance, but says that McCain-Feingold does not work. He said; "The original intent of McCain-Feingold was to reduce the role of money and special interests in our political system. But on this too it has been a failure. Political spending has been driven into secret corners and more power and influence has been handed to hidden special interests. What is really needed is greater transparency, and disclosure, of campaign contributions – not more restrictions on political speech."

Trade

Romney has campaigned in support of free and fair trade and has said that America must act quickly to ensure trade and commerce, which will further strengthen and grow its own economy. He states that if America fails to act quickly, their economy will be eclipsed by these growing nations.

Romney supports getting tougher with China on trade issues and has pushed to renegotiate trade deals with China to help eliminate the Trade Deficit. Romney opposes currency manipulation by China and is willing to impose tariffs when necessary. Romney was against imposing sanctions on China for trade abuses in 2011 and for doing so in 2012.

Minimum wage

Governor Romney has stated that “There’s probably not a need to raise the minimum wage” on CNBC in March. Governor Romney favors "moderate, predictable changes" in the minimum wage linked to other indicators of growth in the economy. "I don't like the big jumps from time to time."

Unemployment insurance

In 2010, Romney said that

"A decent and humane society must have a strong safety net for the unemployed. I served for 15 years as a lay pastor in my church and saw the heartbreak of joblessness up close; a shattering loss of faith in oneself is but only one of many forms the suffering can take. Nonetheless, the vital necessity of providing for those without work should not be used as an excuse to ignore the very real problems of our unemployment system. In this, as in so many other arenas of government policy, unemployment insurance has many unintended effects.
The indisputable fact is that unemployment benefits, despite a web of regulations, actually serve to discourage some individuals from taking jobs, especially when the benefits extend across years.
The system is also not designed for a flexible economy like ours in which some employees move from job to job for short periods, and are therefore ineligible for unemployment compensation when they are faced with a protracted spell without work."

Romney instead offered two possible replacement systems, one involving individual unemployment savings accounts that employees would withdraw from when they lose their jobs, the other keyed on instituting financial incentives for businesses and other employers to hire and train those who had been unemployed for a long time.

Taxation

As Governor of Massachusetts, Romney opposed an increase in federal gas taxes and supported the second round of Bush tax cuts. In 2007, Romney said that he had supported the Bush tax cuts overall.

Romney has supported tax relief for all Americans and has advocated eliminating the capital gains tax for all those who earn less than $200,000 per year. Romney has also supported eliminating the estate tax, known by opponents as the Death Tax. In 2007, Romney signed the anti-tax pledge put forth by Americans for Tax Reform, pledging no new taxes or increases of existing taxes. (In 2002, Romney refused to sign an anti-tax pledge because he considered them "government by gimmickry.")

According to an analysis of his tax reform proposal by the Brookings Institution and the Tax Policy Center, Romney's plan would charge parents earning minimum wage about $1,000 more per year, while affording those earning over $1 million per year about half of his proposed $600 billion per year tax cuts. However as part of his pivot towards the general election, he later announced plans to increase taxes on people who own multiple homes. His adviser Glenn Hubbard has said that Romney would tackle the deficit by increasing taxes on, and reducing benefits for, the wealthy, in a manner similar to Obama's policies.

Romney opposed the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, the compromise tax package between President Obama and the Republicans Congressional leadership that centered around a two-year extension of the Bush tax cuts. He said, "But because the extension is only temporary, a large portion of the investment and job growth that characteristically accompanies low taxes will be lost. [And] It will also add to the deficit."

Energy

Romney concedes that high gasoline prices "are probably here to stay," and he favors policies to cut demand. Romney wants the U.S. to reduce dependence on foreign oil through conservation and efficiency, increased development of domestic resources, and by developing alternatives such as biodiesel, ethanol, nuclear, and clean coal. He has vowed that if elected, he will approve construction of the Keystone Pipeline during his first day in office.

"We're using too much oil," Romney said. "We have an answer. We can use alternative sources of energy -- biodiesel, ethanol, nuclear power -- and we can drill for more oil here. We can be more energy independent and we can be far more efficient in the use of that energy."

Romney has observed that U.S. oil refineries are old, and he wants the oil industry to invest in capital equipment. He also proposes an increase in government spending on energy-related research and development from $4 billion to $20 billion annually.

Environment

See also: Governorship of Mitt Romney § Environment

In 2003, Romney as Governor of Massachusetts, said in a press release "If the choice is between dirty power plants or protecting the health of the people of Massachusetts . . . I will always come down on the side of public health." Insisting that a coal power plant meet tough emissions standards even at the cost of losing jobs, Romney announced "I will not protect jobs that kill people. And that plant kills people."

Romney opposes Cap and Trade and opposes regulating carbon emissions. In July 2011, while speaking in Derry, New Hampshire, Romney stated that he mostly supports the Environmental Protection Agency's mission, but he does not think it should regulate carbon emissions. Romney said "We have made a mistake...in saying that the EPA should regulate carbon emissions" and "I don’t think carbon is a pollutant in the sense of harming our bodies".

Romney, as Governor of Massachusetts, initially supported regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, primarily through voluntary measures, but eventually rejected it. He issued a 72-point Climate Protection Plan. His staffers spent more than $500,000 negotiating the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI—pronounced "Reggie"), which Romney praised in November 2005, saying "I'm convinced it is good business." As plan details were being worked out, Romney began pushing for a cap on fees charged to businesses who exceed emission limits, citing concerns of increased consumer energy costs. He stated: "New England has the highest energy rates in the country, and RGGI would cost us more." This ongoing disagreement eventually led Romney, in December 2005, to pull out of RGGI.

In his March 2010 book, No Apology: The Case for American Greatness, Romney wrote, "I believe that climate change is occurring. [...] I also believe that human activity is a contributing factor. I am uncertain how much of the warming, however, is attributable to man and how much is attributable to factors out of our control."

In June 2011, Romney stated in New Hampshire he did, "I don't speak for the scientific community, of course, but I believe the world's getting warmer. I can't prove that, but I believe based on what I read that the world is getting warmer. And number two, I believe that humans contribute to that. I don't know how much our contribution is to that, because I know that there have been periods of greater heat and warmth in the past but I believe we contribute to that. And so I think it's important for us to reduce our emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases that may well be significant contributors to the climate change and the global warming that you're seeing." (In response, Rush Limbaugh announced over the air, "Bye bye nomination.") In the same month, Romney said that "[the U.S. should] reduce our emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases that may be significant contributors."

In August 2011, Romney said, "I think the earth is getting warmer . . . I think humans contribute to that. I don't know by how much. It could be a little. It could be a lot."

Speaking at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh in October 2011, Romney said, "My view is that we don't know what's causing climate change on this planet. And the idea of spending trillions and trillions of dollars to try to reduce CO2 emissions is not the right course for us."

Questioned in that month about these series of written and spoken words, a Romney spokesperson said that "Governor Romney has been consistent in his statements on global warming."

Romney has further elucidated that U.S. action on climate change must be seen in a global context: "By the way, they do not call it America warming, they call it global warming. [U.S. action] loses jobs for Americans and ultimately it won't be successful, because industries that are energy intensive will just get up and go somewhere else."

In 2003, Romney appointed environmental advocate Douglas I. Foy (former president of the Conservation Law Foundation) to head the state development office. Foy resigned in February 2006 after Romney announced he would not seek re-election.

In 2006, Romney opposed the Cape Wind offshore Cape Cod wind farm proposal because of its visual detriment to Nantucket, saying that Nantucket "is a critical location for the state, and placing wind turbines there would be detrimental." Romney also supports drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

European debt crisis

In November 2011, when Italy was at the forefront of the European debt crisis, Romney said that Congress and the Federal Reserve should not consider plans to bail out Italy in the event its debt crisis deteriorate.

Healthcare

See also: Governorship of Mitt Romney § Health care, and Massachusetts 2006 Health Reform Statute

During his 1994 run for the United States Senate, Romney indicated he would support a bill which included a federal health insurance mandate, asserting that he was "willing to vote for things that [he was] not wild with".

In 2006, Romney proposed and signed into law a private, market-based reform that ensures every Massachusetts citizen will have health insurance, without a government takeover and without raising taxes. Legislation, effective on July 1, 2007, requires health insurance for all state residents, provided a plan is available to the individual that is deemed affordable according to state standards. Employers with eleven or more employees are mandated to offer approved insurance plans for employees.

Romney had vetoed eight sections of the health care legislation, including a $295 per person fee on businesses with eleven employees or more that do not provide health insurance. Romney also vetoed provisions providing dental and eyeglass benefits to low income residents on the Medicaid program, and providing health coverage to senior and disabled legal immigrants not eligible for federal Medicaid. However, the state legislature overrode all of the vetoes.

On August 22, 2007, Romney announced the formation of a committee of health care advisors that will help him define his health care plan. The advisory council is led by co-chairmen Tom Price, Georgia congressman, and Tim Murphy, currently president of Beacon Health Strategies and formally Romney's secretary of health and humane services in Massachusetts. The four other members are Georgia Congressman Phil Gingrey, domestic policy expert John Cogan, Columbia Business School Dean Glenn Hubbard, and Romney aide Cindy Gillespie.

On August 24, 2007, Romney unveiled his national health care plan. His plan allowed the states to choose individual health care plans.

He opposes efforts to provide non-emergency health coverage for Illegal Immigrants, and supports the Hyde Amendment to ban government funding for elective abortion.

As of 2009, Romney supports increased health insurance portability, coverage of pre-existing medical conditions, a cap on malpractice lawsuits, the implementation of a streamlined electronic medical records system, an emphasis on preventative care, loosening restrictions on importation of prescription drugs, and tax benefits aimed at making health insurance more affordable for the uninsured and targeted to promote universal access. Romney opposes a federal government run, single-payer system, but supports state efforts to reduce the uninsured population.

Romney opposed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known by "Obamacare" and similar names. Immediately following the March 2010 passage of it and it being signed by President Barack Obama, Romney attacked the landmark legislation as "an unconscionable abuse of power". He said, "The act should be repealed. That campaign begins today." The new federal law was in many ways similar to the Massachusetts health care reform passed during Romney's term, and Romney said that "some of the best features" of the Obama plan were like those in the Massachusetts law, including the "individual responsibility for getting insurance." During the 2009 debate on the bill he publicly suggested to Obama that using tax penalties or credits was an effective way to induce people to carry insurance. While acknowledging that his plan was not perfect and still was a work in progress, Romney did not dissociate himself from the plan; he focused on its having had bipartisan support in the state legislature, while the Obama plan received no Republican support at all in Congress.

In 2011, the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives passed a Republican alternative budget proposed by Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), with no Democrats voting for it. One controversial aspect of the proposal concerned Medicare; it would replace government-provided health care with partial subsidies for the cost of private medical insurance. Romney said that, as President, he would sign such a plan if it reached his desk, but that he would be putting forward his own plan before debating Obama. In addition Romney would also raise the minimum age for Medicare eligibility, to minimize government expenditures for health care.

In June 2012, Romney pledged to enact a system to replace Obama’s Affordable Care Act, but did not release the details of how it would be paid for. Romney's plan includes expanding health savings accounts to pay for premiums, increased competition and consumer choice, and lawsuit reform.

Technology

Romney believes the government should invest more in technologies that will help the United States, such as power generation, fuel cells, nanotechnology, and materials science.

"In technology, we as a country already invest an enormous amount--for instance, in defense technology, space technology, health--but we also need to invest in some of the emerging technologies that are important at a basic science level such as fuel cell technology, power generation, materials science, automotive technology. We have to recognize that where we invest as a nation, both from a government standpoint but also from a private standpoint, those are the areas we've been most successful."

During his 2007 Iowa Republican Straw Poll speech, Romney advocated that all home computers provide a means for parents to block objectionable Internet content from being shown to children.

". . . I want to clean up the dirty water in which a lot of our kids are swimming, and by that I'm not just talking about pollution, I'm talking about moral pollution. I'm talking about what they see on TV and on the Internet. I'm concerned about the drug culture, I'm concerned about the pornography, the violence, the sex, the perversions that they see day in and day out. I want to make sure that every computer that goes into a home in the future, has a button there, or a place for the citizen, the parent, to be able to block all of that pornography from their kids Internet screen."

In his 2010 book, No Apology: The Case for American Greatness, Romney states that one of government's useful roles is in fostering innovation.

Agriculture

In his 1994 Senate campaign, Romney called for the "virtual elimination" of the federal Department of Agriculture and for reductions in farm subsidies. In 2007, when questioned about these views, a Romney for President Iowa campaign spokesman responded: "Governor Romney believes that investing in agriculture is key to our economy and families."

Regulation of financial industry

Romney has called for repeal of the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which was enacted in 2010. The Act implemented Wall Street reform with goals that included "improving accountability and transparency in the financial system" and protecting consumers. Romney criticized the Act as being "overwhelming" in length, but he said that one provision, distinguishing between home mortgages and high-risk securities in terms of the capital requirements, "does make sense."

Space exploration

Romney said before committing to a particular space program, he will take advice from experts in the field. He expressed doubts of a moonbase if the costs are on the order of $500 billion. He received the endorsement of Michael D. Griffin and Eric C. Anderson, among others.

Foreign policy

U.S. place in the world

Romney's 2010 book, No Apology: The Case for American Greatness, expresses Romney's belief in American exceptionalism.

On the other hand, The Economist found that, aside from rhetoric, Romney's stated foreign policy positions offer in many instances broad continuity with those of the Obama administration, and that Obama's policies have closely followed the path set by the Bush administration.

Romney believes China should provide direct humanitarian aid instead of indirect aid through the United States via loans.

Romney criticized at the time Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama for saying that in his first year as president, he would meet with the leaders of several nations hostile to the government of the United States, including Syria, North Korea, Cuba, and Iran. Stating an opposing viewpoint Romney said, "Having the president meet with the authoritarian tyrants of the world is remarkably poor judgment." Romney has recently charged that President Obama "went around the Middle East and apologized for America."

National defense and military spending levels

Romney has proposed to increase the size of the military by at least 100,000 troops. Romney has expressed concern over the growing suppression of democracy in Russia. He has supported dialogue and efforts to establish cooperation with the Muslim world to fight the war on terror. Romney has proposed a non-confrontational peaceful effort to welcome democracy into the Middle East.

Romney has called for spending priorities that include an expanded Naval armada estimated at $40 billion. But he has not specified how he would pay for this spending under the current tight Federal budget. He has singled out the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey as a program that will require "very careful inspection", despite reliability improvements under Obama.

Romney has opposed ratification of New START, a bilateral nuclear arms reduction treaty between the United States and the Russian Federation, in part because he wishes to deploy defensive missiles on submarines

Romney has written that the idea of the abolition of nuclear weapons first put forward by Ronald Reagan may not be realistic.

Romney has said that he wishes to increase defense spending to a spending "floor" of 4% of GDP For FY 2010, Department of Defense spending amounted to 4.7% of GDP. And even Romney insiders have admitted that further increases are unlikely, given the current budget situation.

War Powers

In the 2008 presidential debates, Romney left open whether it was always necessary for the US Congress to issue a declaration of war before engaging in military actions. Romney stated that if he were president he would consult with his lawyers before he came to a conclusive interpretation of the War Powers Clause in the US Constitution. In June 2012 during a Face the Nation interview Romney stated regarding military action against Iran: "I don’t believe at this stage, therefore, if I’m president that we need to have a war powers approval or special authorization for military force."

France

An internal Romney campaign document released in 2007 by the media suggested that Romney criticized France and attempted to convey the message "Hillary = France." Governor Romney has said he "loves" France, where he served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for two years. When a New Hampshire voter asked Romney why he kept "bashing" France on the campaign trail, Romney announced, "My kids are on vacation there right now. I love France. I speak French, lived in France. I have nothing but respect for the French people." Romney has said that the next president must re-engage France, and called French president Nicolas Sarkozy a potential "blood brother."

In his February 7, 2008 appearance at the Conservative Political Action Committee, during which he withdrew from the Presidential race, Romney mentioned France in less flattering terms. "[U]nless America changes course," he said, "we will become the France of the 21st century — still a great nation, but no longer the leader of the world, no longer the superpower."

Russia

In 2012 Romney called Russia "our geopolitical enemy number one." "Russia, this is, without question, our number one geopolitical foe. They - they fight every cause for the world's worst actors," said Romney. Romney wants to "deter Russian ambitions" to its south by enhancing diplomatic ties, increasing military training and assistance, and negotiating trade pacts and educational exchanges with Central Asian states."

China

Romney has accused China of “cheating” and "stealing American jobs". He warned China that if he is elected to the White House, there will be consequences for unfair trade, saying: “Unless China changes its ways, on day one of my presidency I will designate it a currency manipulator and take appropriate counteraction.” and “A trade war with China is the last thing I want, but I cannot tolerate our current trade surrender.”

War on Terror

Guantanamo Bay

During the debate in South Carolina held May 15, 2007 Romney stated that in his view "We ought to double" the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. He then went on to say, in reference to combatants captured in Iraq, "I want them in Guantanamo where they don't get the access to lawyers they get when they're on our soil. I don't want them in our prisons. I want them there."

In Romney's speech at the 2007 Iowa Republican Straw Poll, he praised the US military for not allowing prisoners to have judicial review of their cases.

Interrogation techniques

Romney opposes the use of torture; however, he supports the limited use of enhanced interrogation techniques to stop an imminent wide-scale terrorist attack. During the second Presidential debate, Romney supported the use of enhanced interrogation techniques in handling suspects at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, saying, ". . . enhanced interrogation techniques have to be used -- not torture but enhanced interrogation techniques, yes." When asked directly whether waterboarding was torture, Romney stated, "[A]s a presidential candidate, I don't think it's wise for us to describe specifically which measures we would and would not use. [...] And I get that advice from Cofer Black, who is a person who was responsible for counterterrorism in the CIA for some 35 years. I get that advice by talking to former generals in our military." According to Blackwater expert Jeremy Scahill, Romney advisor Cofer Black has been, "a key figure in the extraordinary rendition program, the government-sanctioned kidnap-and-torture program, where prisoners like Maher Arar are sent to third-country hellholes to be tortured."

Special Partnership Force

That made reference to his June 21, 2007, statement that as president he would establish a Special Partnership Force to battle terrorism.

"I believe America must establish a Special Partnership Force, with a core leadership drawn from Army Special Forces personnel training in working with civilian governments and Intelligence personnel. This force would work hand-in-glove with local host governments. Together, in partnership, they would seek to target and separate terrorists from the local population, and to disrupt and defeat them. They would have the authority to call in all elements of civil assistance and humanitarian aid. And, where they felt it was necessary, they could call in Delta and SEAL resources. Their goal is to build national institutions of stability and freedom, and to promote the rule of law and human rights."

Iran

In a June 2007 Republican debate, Romney was asked about "the use of tactical nuclear weapons" to stop Iran from developing a nuclear bomb and responded that "You don't take options off the table, but what you do is stand back and say, 'What's going on here?' You see what's happening in Sudan and Afghanistan, in Iraq and Iran." In 2007 he also stated he would use "blockade, bombardment and surgical military strikes" against Iran if necessary. In September of that year he protested Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaking at the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, stating that the invitation should be revoked and he should instead be greeted with an indictment under the Genocide Convention for threats against Israel. He stated that failure to act should lead the United States to reconsider its level of support and funding for the United Nations.

In 2011, Romney advocated both overt and covert means to get Iran to stop its nuclear weapons development program. He said that “Ultimately, regime change is what’s going to be necessary.” In 2012 he called on President Obama “to impose crippling economic sanctions on the Iranian regime, support the Iranian dissidents, and convey through actions – not just words – that the military option is very real and very credible.”

Iraq War

Romney supported the invasion of Iraq and the "troop surge". He however has criticized mismanagement of Iraq post invasion. He has stated that both diplomatic and military efforts should be used to achieve success in the region. Upon hearing the testimony of David Petraeus, Romney reemphasized his agreement with current policy in Iraq and has called for a "Surge of Support" for the military. Romney has expressed support for an eventual reduction in military presence in Iraq but has strongly opposed a timetable for withdrawal.

In his speech announcing that he would run for president, Romney said, "so long as there is a reasonable prospect of success, our wisest course is to seek stability in Iraq, with additional troops endeavoring to secure the civilian population." He argued that instability in Iraq could lead to civil war and that "Iraq's Sunni region could become a base for al-Qaeda; that its Shia region could be seized by Iran; that Kurd tension could destabilize Turkey; and even that the broader Middle East could be drawn into conflict." He says that this "could mean a future with far more military involvement and far more loss of American life." Romney said that he was willing to break with the Bush administration's policy on Iraq as other Republicans have now done, presumably if the troop surge did not prove successful, though he said it is still too early to gauge its success.

In the June 5 Republican presidential debate, Romney said that the war could have been avoided if Saddam Hussein had allowed IAEA inspectors into the country. However, Media Matters pointed out that Hussein did in fact allow UN weapons inspectors into Iraq, and they found "no evidence or plausible indication of the revival of a nuclear weapons programme in Iraq."

CNN analyst Paul Begala said Romney's misstatement would disqualify him if it had occurred in a general election debate, and it was akin to saying "the Mexicans bombed Pearl Harbor." Romney's full statement was:

"Well, the question is kind of a non sequitur, if you will. And what I mean by that -- or a null set -- and that is that if you're saying, let's turn back the clock and Saddam Hussein had opened up his country to IAEA inspectors and they'd come in and they'd found that there were no weapons of mass destruction -- had Saddam Hussein therefore not violated United Nations resolutions -- we wouldn't be in the conflict we're in. But he didn't do those things, and we knew what we knew at the point we made the decision to get in." In other words, Saddam Hussein did not follow U.N. regulations by making the inspectors wait hours outside a site they wished to inspect before finally letting them in. This was suspicious behavior and one of the reasons President Bush chose to send troops to Iraq.

In October 2011, Romney criticized the Obama administration's announcement that all American combat troops had been withdrawn from Iraq.

War in Afghanistan

Romney multiple policy stances on the Afghanistan war have been called "unclear and confusing".

Romney supported the War in Afghanistan. When asked if he agreed with the Bush doctrine regarding Afghanistan, Romney responded:

The president is not arrogant. The president is not subject to a bunker mentality. The president has acted out of his desire to keep America safe. And we owe him a debt of gratitude for keeping this country safe over the last six years. He did the right thing in responding and reacting to the fact that we got attacked. And people now recognize: You attack America and there is a response. But we're going to have to move our strategy from simply being a response to military threat with military action, to an effort that says we're going to use our military and nonmilitary resources, combined with other nations who are our friends, to help move the world of Islam toward modernity and moderation. The new mission for NATO is to help provide the rule of law, education that's not through madrassas, so the Muslims are able to reject the extreme and the terrorists.

Romney also believes that the U.S. continued presence should be decided by the military’s top brass, cautions that we should not be making similar commitments in the future. He also stressed that the bulk of the responsibility lies with the Afghanis.

I want those troops to come home based upon not politics, not based upon economics, but instead based upon the conditions on the ground determined by the generals … But I also think we have learned that our troops should not go off and try to fight a war of independence for another nation. Only the Afghanis can win Afghanistan’s independence from the Taliban.

Romney also believes that U.S. policy in Afghanistan should not be based on the economic costs alone.

There will be some who argue it’s too expensive now, we’ve got to bring the troops home right now, or others will say, politically we need to make one decision or another … You don’t make a decision about our involvement in a conflict based on dollars and cents alone or certainly not with regards to politics.

In 2012, when Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta outlined a plan to withdraw U.S. combat troops by 2013 if possible, Romney criticized the announcement as "misguided" and "naive".

Syria

Romney released the following statement concerning Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, in August 2011:

It has taken President Obama far too long to speak out forcefully against Assad and his vicious crackdown in Syria. In the early stages of this crisis, the Obama Administration referred to Assad as a "reformer," which had the effect of emboldening Assad and discouraging the dissidents. America must show leadership on the world stage and work to move these developing nations toward modernity. This means using the bullhorn of the presidency and not remaining silent for too long while voices of freedom and dissent are under attack.

Romney would also provide arms for anti-government forces in Syria. Even though these groups include al-Qaida supporters.

Pakistan

On July 7, 2007, Romney said, "In places like Pakistan, America needs to work not just on a military front." He said he would send in his proposed "Special Partnership Force", a team of Central Intelligence Agency agents and Army special forces that would work with the local population to aid in military support, gun supplies, and "to help make sure that they have the rule of law, water projects, bridges built."

In 2007, Romney criticized then-candidate Barack Obama for stating that, as President, he would launch military strikes against "high-value terrorist targets" in Pakistan, even without the Pakistani government's approval. In 2011, after such a strike resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden, Romney said that, if he had been President, he would have done "exactly the same thing."

Libya

Concerning the involvement of the American military in the 2011 Libyan civil war, Romney initially said in March that Obama had waited too long before becoming involved, and he also criticized Obama for ruling out the use of United States ground forces. The next month, he said that he supported the "specific, limited mission" of enforcing a no-fly zone, but that Obama's support for the ouster of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi constituted "mission creep and mission muddle." In October, after Gaddafi's death, Romney said, "I think people across the world recognize that the world is a better place without Muammar Gaddafi."

Israel and the Arab-Israeli conflict

In October 2011, during his 2012 presidential campaign, Romney said, "I believe our relationship with Israel, a nation which shares our values and is our best friend in the Middle East, should be of support and confidence rather than criticism and blame." In December 2011, Romney said, “I will travel to Israel on my first foreign trip [as president]. I will reaffirm as a vital national interest Israel’s existence as a Jewish state. I want the world to know that the bonds between Israel and the United States are unshakable."

On the question of whether the U.S. Embassy in Israel in Tel Aviv should be moved to Jerusalem, Romney said in October 2011, "The actions that I will take will be actions recommended and supported by Israeli leaders. I don’t seek to take actions independent of what our allies think is best, and if Israel’s leaders thought that a move of that nature would be helpful to their efforts, then that’s something I’ll be inclined to do. But again, that’s a decision which I would look to the Israeli leadership to help guide. I don’t think America should play the role of the leader of the peace process, instead we should stand by our ally. Again, my inclination is to follow the guidance of our ally Israel, as to where our facilities and embassies would exist."

Regarding the Arab–Israeli conflict, in a January 2012 Republican debate, Romney said, "Well, the reason that there’s not peace between the Palestinians and Israel is because there is — in the leadership of the Palestinian people are Hamas and others who think like Hamas, who have as their intent the elimination of Israel. And whether it’s in school books that teach how to kill Jews, or whether it’s in the political discourse that is spoken either from Fatah or from Hamas, there is a belief that the Jewish people do not have a right to have a Jewish state." Romney added, "There are some people who say should we have a two state solution, and the Israelis would be happy to have a two state solution. It's the Palestinians who don't want a two state solution, they want to eliminate the state of Israel. And I believe America must say the best way to have peace in the Middle East is not for us to vacillate and appease, but it is to say we stand with our friend Israel. We are committed to a Jewish state in Israel. We will not have an inch of difference between ourselves and our ally Israel."

In response to President Obama's pledge to maintain Israel's "Qualitative Military Edge" over the other countries in the region, Romney has said he would do "the opposite from Obama".

Social policy

Civil liberties

Romney cites both Martin Luther King, Jr. and his father George Romney as role models, although his assertion that he saw the two men march together has been debunked. The senior Romney made headlines by walking out on 1964 Republican National Convention nominee Barry Goldwater because of Goldwater's opposition to federal civil rights legislation.

Romney has expressed support for decreasing barriers to entry into the workforce for women and minorities. He has expressed support for Muslims who face discrimination due to their religion. However, he has also said that he would not include Muslims in his Cabinet if elected President because of the small number of Muslim Americans.

Romney denounced the SOPA bill, agreeing to some extent with Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul, who oppose it also. Romney described the bill as "intrusive" and "too expensive".

Romney was against reviving the Fairness Doctrine, which required broadcasters to devote some of their airtime to discussing controversial matters of public interest, and to air contrasting views regarding those matters. Romney said, "I'd veto it if it ever got to my desk. And I would fight against it vehemently. The effort to try to impose the Fairness Doctrine on radio stations is, if you will, censorship Democrat style. It basically says we're not going to let you keep talking about the things you want to talk about and the market wants to hear."

Regarding protests, Mitt Romney has stated he favors growing the middle class but said blaming the Wall Street bankers is the wrong way to go.

Romney has criticized what he calls the "cesspool" of obscenity known as (pornography); however, in July 2007, Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, the president of the American Family Foundation, and Daniel Weiss, media analyst for James Dobson's Focus on the Family said Romney had not prevented Marriott Hotels from making pornography available in its hotel rooms when he served on the hotel chain's board from 1992 to 2001. In an Associated Press interview, Romney said he was unaware of how much revenue the hotels generated from pornography, although he had served on the board's financial audit committee.

Romney said, "I am not pursuing an effort to try and stop adults from being able to acquire or see things that I find objectionable—that's their right—but I do vehemently oppose practices or business procedures that will allow kids to be exposed to obscenity."

Crime and punishment

Romney supports sentencing under the three strikes law. Romney supports mandatory increases in sentencing for repeat drunk drivers and has supported a federal effort to curtail the drug trade in Colombia.

As Governor of Massachusetts, Romney announced plans to file a death penalty bill in early 2005. The bill, filed April 28, 2005, sought to reinstate the death penalty in cases that include terrorism, the assassination of law enforcement officials and multiple killings. Romney's legislation required the presence of scientific evidence such as DNA to sentence someone to death and a tougher standard of "no doubt" of guilt for juries to sentence defendants. This differs from the "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard used in traditional criminal cases. The legislation called for a pool of certified capital case lawyers to ensure proper representation for the accused and allowed jurors who do not personally support the death penalty to serve in the guilt phase of the trial. The bill was defeated in the Massachusetts House of Representatives by a vote of 100-53.

Romney is an opponent of illegal drugs and does not favor legalizing medical cannabis. Romney answered a question on the subject from a man afflicted with muscular dystrophy who asked him about it on October 7, 2007. The man stated that he is medically dependent on medicinal marijuana, and asked if Romney would have him and his doctors arrested. Romney did not answer the question directly, but repeated his stance on medical marijuana, and walked away.

Immigration

See also: Governorship of Mitt Romney § Illegal immigration

Romney favors increased legal immigration to the United States—today, roughly 1 million people per year— and opposes illegal immigration, saying "I want to see more immigration in our country, but more legal immigration and less illegal immigration." In a speech to the Republican National Hispanic Assembly, Romney said, "I want to make sure we continue an open door in immigration." He supports the deportation of illegal immigrants, prioritizes a secure border as well as employer verification, and opposes granting amnesty to illegal immigrants. Romney supports giving "a biometrically-enabled and tamperproof card to non-citizens and . . . a national database for non-citizens" to reduce illegal immigration.

Romney is against amnesty for illegal immigrants, but also said, "I don't believe in rounding up 11 million people and forcing them at gunpoint from our country." He would like to see illegal immigrants register with the government, pay taxes, and apply for citizenship, but that they should not be given any priority or special treatment over immigrants who have applied for citizenship legally. While Governor, he opposed granting in-state tuition and driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. In his last month as Governor of Massachusetts, Romney signed an executive order that would have allowed state police officers to make arrests for immigration violations. The order was never implemented because governor-elect Deval Patrick, who had already expressed strong opposition to the order before it was signed, revoked it a month later when he was sworn in.

In a 29 March 2006 interview, Romney said that "We need to begin a process of registering those people, some being returned, and some beginning the process of applying for citizenship and establishing legal status".

The executive order pertaining to state police was consistent with Section 287(g) of federal immigration law. Section 287(g) is a program of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 that deputizes state and local law enforcement personnel to enforce immigration matters.

Romney opposed the 2007 Senate immigration bill. After it failed, Romney declared in a press release that "America will always welcome legal immigration, but as a nation we also insist on the rule of law." He has criticized what he called the sanctuary city policies of cities "like Newark, San Francisco and New York City . . ." He has called for cutting off federal funds to such cities.

Romney opposes the DREAM Act.He also supports using E-verify in the same manner it is applied by Arizona SB 1070 in Arizona. He proposes to deal with illegal immigrants currently in the country via "self-deportation," which he describes as a system where "people decide they can do better by going home because they can’t find work here because they don't have legal documentation to allow them to work here."

Romney's lawn care company allegedly had illegal aliens working at his private residence but Romney fired the company soon after the fact was revealed to him in 2007. Romney has stated that his dealings were with a company manager who is a legal resident of the United States.

Fellow Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain criticized Romney, saying "Maybe I should wait a couple of weeks and see if it [Romney's views on immigration] changes because it's changed in less than a year from his position before."

NumbersUSA rated Romney's public stands on immigration midway between the other candidates in the 2012 election-slightly more restrictive on immigration than what the organization rates the average member of congress. Romney has tended to donate to candidates with more liberal immigration stances than himself. .

After Congress once again failed to pass the DREAM Act, Romney responded to Obama's executive order on Immigration in 2012 by saying that he also would grant amnesty to immigrants who pursed their educations or served in the military, but that he would reveal his full policy on the subject at a later date.

Education

Romney supports increasing standards for education and quality based incentives for teachers. He proposes identifying failing schools, more efficient schools and accountability, school choice, and English immersion. He has supported reforming under-performing schools with charter schools. Romney has supported means-tested vouchers for public and private schools as Governor. He has opposed efforts to teach creationism in schools. He believes that there should be more of an emphasis on family values in the educational system. Romney has supported efforts to fund nanotechnology and materials science education.

Romney currently supports the federal government's involvement in education and supports No Child Left Behind. He said that he supports testing in schools and that testing "allows us to get better schools." Romney also approved efforts in Massachusetts to require parents in poorly performing schools to attend parental education classes and awarding four-year scholarships to the best students. He also said he "favors paying bonuses to teachers who successfully teach ." In his 1994 run for the Senate, Romney supported abolishing the Department of Education but has since renounced that. In the second presidential debate in South Carolina, he said,

I've taken a position where, once upon a time, I said I wanted to eliminate the Department of Education. That was my position when I ran for Senate in 1994. That's very popular with the base. As I've been a governor and seen the impact that the federal government can have holding down the interest of the teachers' unions and instead putting the interests of the kids and the parents and the teachers first, I see that the Department of Education can actually make a difference.

In 1994, Romney, as a candidate for U.S. Senate, pledged to vote to establish a means-tested school voucher program to allow students to attend the public or private school of their choice.

Romney has stated that superintendents and principals should be able to fire teachers without regard for seniority. He also has stated that he is in favor of standardized testing as a high school graduation requirement and alternative education options for parents and students. He has declared his support for charter schools, school vouchers and home schooling. Romney has said that good education is needed to compete in the global economy.

Romney has said that sex education has no place in kindergarten. According to Romney, "the amount of sex education which is appropriate in kindergarten is absolutely zero."

Romney has dismissed the drive for class-size reduction as a ploy by the teachers unions.

Romney believes that a proper role for government in encouraging economic growth is ensuring that students receive the best education possible.

Romney has declared his support for abstinence-only sex education in public schools. In his run for the Senate in 1994, he said one of the programs that should be taught in schools was "the importance of getting married before having children."

In the May 2007 South Carolina debate, Romney said he has always "fought for abstinence education."

In 1994, Romney said that he has been consistently against public schools endorsing one religion or faith that may alienate other students. He said that "local school districts should have complete control over the programs, but that they could not endorse specific religious beliefs or prayer in schools."

In 2006, he said, "We ought to allow ceremonies, graduation ceremonies and public events that we have the ability to recognize the Creator."

Evolution

Romney has expressed support for the theory of evolution with the statement that "evolution is most likely the process he used to create the human body". He has stated that he does not believe there is a conflict between his religion and science. One report states Romney believes in a "hybrid of evolution and creationism". He opposed the teaching of intelligent design in science classes as governor.

Family

Mitt Romney has said that strong families are one of his three pillars, along with military and economy, for a strong America.

Romney's 2008 campaign website featured his quote, "America cannot continue to lead the family of nations around the world if we suffer the collapse of the family here at home."

The need for the Family Dynamics is to initiate Equal Shared Parenting in the Family Courts.

Romey has called for increased state funding for child care so that the mothers of two year old children can "have the dignity of work".

Gambling

As Governor of Massachusetts, Romney proposed that the state seek $75 million in "blocking payments" from casinos in Connecticut, and that, if the payments were not made, Massachusetts legalize casinos within its own borders.

In October 2011, Romney told the Las Vegas Sun that he had not yet taken a serious look at the issue of legalizing online poker, but that he would do so and state a position "[b]efore the caucuses come along". Just before the Republican caucuses in Nevada, Romney announced his opposition to online gambling, citing the "social costs and people’s addictive gambling habits."

Gun ownership

See also: Governorship of Mitt Romney § Other issues

Romney has said "I support the right of individuals to keep and bear arms as guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution," though in past campaigns he has described himself as a proponent of gun control, and he fully supports a ban on assault weapons.

For Romney's 1994 US Senate campaign, he supported the Brady Bill, which imposed a five-day waiting period on gun sales, and a ban on particular semi-automatic rifles. In a 2002 debate during Romney's campaign for governor of Massachusetts, Romney said: "We do have tough gun laws in Massachusetts; I support them. I won't chip away at them; I believe they protect us and provide for our safety." As governor, Romney signed a 2004 measure instituting a permanent Massachusetts ban on military style assault weapons, to take the place of a Federal ban, which was then about to expire. The bill made Massachusetts the first state to enact its own such ban on specific semi-automatic weapons and some shotguns with specific accessories, and Romney supported the law with the comment: "These guns are not made for recreation or self-defense. They are instruments of destruction with the sole purpose of hunting down and killing people." As Governor, Romney extended the term of firearm licenses from four to six years, reinstated a 90-day grace period for citizens renewing their gun licenses, and signed a law providing free replacement licenses.

When he supported the Brady Bill in 1994, Romney said, "That's not going to make me the hero of the NRA. I don't line up with the NRA." Just before declaring his candidacy for the 2008 Republican nomination for president, Romney joined the National Rifle Association (NRA). In 2005, Romney declared the 31st anniversary of the Gun Owners' Action League "Right to Bear Arms Day".

Romney made several statements in his 2008 campaign regarding his proficiency with and support for firearms:

"I've hunted a number of times, of various types of small rodents."

"Shooting rabbits single shot 22 is pretty hard."

"I have a gun of my own. I go hunting myself. I'm a member of the NRA and believe firmly in the right to bear arms. In our state . . . there are a series of laws restricting gun ownership in various ways. Over the past four years, I've worked very closely with the Gun Owners' Action League here, which is an affiliate of the NRA, and we've made some changes which I think they feel have been positive steps. And so you are going to see that, I think, hopefully, in other states as well, as they make progress, perhaps further than Massachusetts has."

"So I'm a hunter and believe in Second Amendment rights, but I also believe that assault weapons are not needed in the public population."

Romney later clarified that he did not 'own' a gun and said that one of his sons keeps two guns at the family vacation home in Utah.

The Associated Press reported in April 2007 that Romney never sought a hunting license in any of the four states where he has resided. Romney replied by saying that he mainly hunts small game in Utah, which does not require a license.

LGBT rights

Prior to Romney's 2008 presidential campaign, he had a varied history regarding LGBT rights in the United States. During his 1994 senate campaign and 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial campaign, Romney said he would have a better policy providing for domestic partnerships than his Democratic opponents. In 1994, Romney sent a letter to the Log Cabin Republicans saying that he would be a stronger advocate for gay rights in the Senate than his opponent at the time, Senator Edward M. Kennedy. His letter included the phrase "We must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern." In 2002, Romney spoke regarding domestic partnership benefits, saying, "All citizens deserve equal rights, regardless of their sexual orientation." Romney said that domestic partnership status should be recognized in a way that includes the potential for health benefits and rights of survivorship.

In 1994, Romney supported the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, but by 2006 he had changed his mind and opposed it because it would "unfairly penalize employers at the hands of activist judges."

Romney supported Bill Clinton's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy in 1994, and continued to do so in 2007. Romney said in 2007 that he thinks that the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy is working and he would not change it, especially in the middle of a war, and that "we have much bigger issues as a nation that we ought to be talking about than that policy right now."

In December, 2011, however, Romney told the Des Moines Register that now that the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy has been repealed, "I’m not planning on reversing that at this stage. I was not comfortable making the change during a period of conflict, due to the complicating features of a new program in the middle of two wars going on, but those wars are winding down, and moving in that direction at this stage no longer presents that problem.”

Romney has stated his support for traditional marriage and opposition to both same-sex marriage and civil unions, though he supports some domestic partnership benefits and (at the state level) supports anti-discrimination laws to protect gays and lesbians in the workplace.

As a candidate for governor in 2002, Romney said: "Call me old fashioned, but I don't support gay marriage nor do I support civil union." During that 2002 campaign, he also supported hate crimes legislation and opposed other discrimination against gays, while supporting some partner benefits for gays.

Also in 2002, Romney opposed a Massachusetts constitutional amendment that would have banned same-sex marriage and domestic partnerships because the amendment, which was supported by the Democratic leader Tom Finneran, would have prohibited domestic partnership benefits for gays and lesbians.

Romney said,

"Basically I see the provision of basic civil rights and domestic partnership benefits [as] a campaign against Tom Finneran. I see Tom Finneran and the Democratic leadership as having opposed the application of domestic partnership benefits to gay and lesbian couples and I will support and endorse efforts to provide those domestic partnership benefits to gay and lesbian couples."

In November 2003, the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that the Massachusetts State Constitution requires that same-sex marriage be permitted under law; in response this time, Governor Romney supported a state constitutional amendment to forbid such marriages.

In 2006, Romney announced his support of the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would have federally defined marriage in the U.S. Constitution as the union of one man and one woman.

Romney said during his 2008 presidential campaign,

[M]y view on marriage has been entirely consistent over my political career. And that is that I oppose same-sex marriage. I also oppose civil unions . . . ever since [same-sex marriage] became a prominent [feature] in my state, with the decision of the Supreme Judicial Court, I have taken every action that I could conceive of within the bounds of the law to defend traditional marriage and to stop same-sex marriage . . . I've been to Washington to testify in favor of traditional marriage. I've written a letter to every U.S. senator on the topic . . . I believe that traditional marriage is right for the nurturing and development of children, but that I do not want to discriminate against gay people in employment or housing or other parts of their life.

In July 2011, Romney refused to sign a pledge opposing gay marriage, a pledge that was being circulated by "The Family Leader", a conservative Christian group in Iowa. On August 4, 2011, a month later, Romney signed the 2012 Presidential Pledge sponsored by the National Organization for Marriage. He has expressed support for gay adoption.

Abortion and related issues

See also: Governorship of Mitt Romney

Romney was photographed attending a Planned Parenthood fundraiser in 1994, and his wife made a $150 contribution to the organization. When Romney ran against Senator Ted Kennedy in 1994, his advisor Charles Manning told the Boston Herald that there were only "tiny nuances" of difference between Kennedy's and Romney's views on abortion. In a 1994 debate with Senator Kennedy, Romney said that abortion should be legal, declaring that "regardless of one's beliefs about choice, you would hope it would be safe and legal." Romney said in a debate with Kennedy, in response to the question "If abortion is morally wrong, aren't you responsible for discouraging it?"

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. I have since the time that my mom took that position when she ran in 1970 as a US Senate candidate. I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years, that we should sustain and support it, and I sustain and support that law, and the right of a woman to make that choice, and my personal beliefs, like the personal beliefs of other people, should not be brought into a political campaign."

When Kennedy then accused him of being "multiple-choice," Romney replied:

"On the accusation of being 'multiple-choice', I have to respond. I have my own beliefs, and those beliefs are very dear to me. One of them is that I do not impose my beliefs on other people. Many, many years ago, I had a dear, close family relative that was very close to me who passed away from an illegal abortion. It is since that time my mother and my family have been committed to the belief that we can believe as we want, but we will not force our beliefs on others on that matter. And you will not see me wavering on that, or being multiple-choice, thank you very much."

The person Romney was referring to was a teenage girl engaged to marry a member of Romney's extended family. Romney's sister Jane has said that the girl's death changed the family's perspective on the legality of abortion.

When he was considering a run for office in Utah in 2002, Romney reportedly told a newspaper in Salt Lake City that he did not want to be classified as a "pro-choice" politician.

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. The choice to have an abortion is a deeply personal one. Women should be free to choose based on their own beliefs, not the government's." Romney promised to "preserve and protect a woman's right to choose" and declared "I will not change any provisions in Massachusetts' pro-choice laws." In that campaign for governor, Romney received the endorsement of Massachusetts Republican Pro-Choice Coalition. Romney sought the endorsement of the pro-choice Massachusetts NARAL affiliate, surprising its leaders by stating he would be a "good voice" and the most effective national Republican leader on abortion. The then executive director of Massachusetts NARAL, Melissa Kogut, stated that in her organization's endorsement interview with Romney, that Romney was "emphatic that the Republican Party was not doing themselves a service by being so vehemently anti-choice."

Romney opposes research using cloned embryos created by implanting human DNA into donated eggs. When he ran for governor in 2002, Romney strongly advocated stem-cell research in general terms, and he promised to lobby George W. Bush to embrace such research.

With regard to abortions done by intact dilation and extraction (called "partial birth abortion" by its opponents), Romney took no action to ban it while he was Governor of Massachusetts.

Romney has said his views on abortion were drastically altered while governor, on November 9, 2004 after discussing stem cell research with Douglas Melton, a stem cell researcher at Harvard University. The Harvard Stem Cell Institute was planning research that would have involved therapeutic cloning. According to Romney, Melton declared that the research "is not a moral issue because we kill the embryos at 14 days." "I looked over at Beth Myers, my chief of staff, and we both had exactly the same reaction, which is it just hit us hard," recalled Romney. "And as they walked out, I said, 'Beth, we have cheapened the sanctity of life by virtue of the Roe v. Wade mentality.'" Melton disputes Romney's account of the meeting, declaring "Governor Romney has mischaracterized my position; we didn't discuss killing or anything related to it . . . I explained my work to him, told him about my deeply held respect for life, and explained that my work focuses on improving the lives of those suffering from debilitating diseases."

In a press conference video in May 2005, Romney when asked about Massachusetts abortion laws said "I have indicated that as governor, I am absolutely committed to my promise to maintain the status quo with regards to laws relating to abortion and choice, and so far I've been able to successfully do that."

In a Carmen piece in The Boston Globe on July 26, 2005, Romney stated: "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."

During his 2007–2008 run for president, Romney declared that he thinks abortion should be illegal except in cases of rape, incest, and when the life of the mother is threatened. He criticized the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade. Romney's spokesperson has indicated that had Romney been the governor of South Dakota, he would have signed into law the controversial law banning abortion, but he would include exceptions for cases of incest or rape, which the South Dakota law excludes.

On January 29, 2007, in a visit to South Carolina, Romney stated, "Over the last multiple years, as you know, I have been effectively pro-choice, I never called myself that as a label but I was effectively pro-choice and that followed a personal experience in my extended family that led to that conclusion." Romney continued saying every decision he made as governor, "in a very liberal state has been on the side of favoring life, I am firmly pro-life."

Romney said in 2007 that research using human embryos created during fertility treatments is ethical but opposes using federal funds to support it. During his 2008 presidential campaign, Romney renounced his 2002 position and said that he now agrees with Bush's decision to ban federal funding for research on excess embryos.

Romney's stance in 2007, as described on his campaign Web site, effectively calls for a repeal of Roe v. Wade, saying that "the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate." Romney reasserted this stance at the May 2007 Republican Presidential debate in South Carolina, stating that "Roe v. Wade has gone to such an extent that we've cheapened the value of human life." He followed by saying "the people should make [the abortion] decision, not the court." Romney opposes criminal penalties against women who undergo abortion and believes that society's "hearts and minds" must be changed for policy implementation to be successful.

In statements since leaving the governorship, he has expressed his opposition to "partial birth" abortion.

In 2011, ABC News reported that Romney supports the pro-life plank of the GOP platform, which means he would support establishing legal personhood for all unborn children in all 50 states. He has not, however, stated his position on "personhood legislation", which would declare legal personhood to begin at fertilization and its opponents claim would ban some forms of contraception, such as the birth-control pill.

Romney declined to sign a pro-life pledge for 2012 presidential candidates sponsored by the Susan B. Anthony List by which signers pledge 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." The pledge also commits signers to nominate judges and appoint executive branch officials who are pro-life. Romney's spokeswoman said the pledge could have "unforeseen consequences" and that Romney could not "in good conscience sign it."

In a January 2012 debate, Romney stated that allowing contraception has worked for the states and he saw no reason to change that, but he has declined to state whether the states should have the power to ban it if they wish. The question arose from Romney's opposition to Roe v. Wade, because Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion and Griswold v. Connecticut, which legalized contraception, both invoked a right to privacy.

In February 2012, candidate Romney decried a national policy requiring Catholic hospitals to cover contraception that was similar to a state law that he was largely silent about as governor.

See also

• Republican Party presidential primaries, 2012
• Mitt Romney presidential campaign, 2012
• Political positions of Barack Obama

External links

• Issues at MittRomney.com (official campaign site)
• Research Collection at WhyRomney.com
• Issues at MittRomneyCentral.com
• Issues at On The Issues
• Issues at PoliticalJab.com
• Mitt Romney, Rising to a New Generation of Global Challenges, Foreign Affairs, July 1, 2007
• Mitt Romney's foreign policy issues at the Council on Foreign Relations
• Romney & environmental issues at the League of Conservation Voters, 2008