years, for convention after convention, no exception. this has become mainstream for republicans, to the point where they were prepared to send the federal government and its credit rating over the edge, because of abortion and that debate. so they ve made this a priority, at a time of economic hardship, at a time of historically high unemployment, at a time when they had got power in the house by saying they were going to concentrate on jobs. they ve had abortion votes. they ve tried to go after what was left of federal funding for abortion. and as a result, because of this crazy obsession, they ve had to try to redefine rape, and weaken protection for minors. and it s just caught up with them. finally, we re paying attention. but it was going to catch up with them some time or other. let s listen to paul ryan in 2000, when he was trying to earn his stripes, as it were, in the house of representatives, as a hard-core abortion opponent. let s listen to what he had to say then, about
wade decision that made most abortions legal. now, but a year later, ryan was on the house floor, railing against the exception for the health of the mother. the health exception is a loophole wide enough to drive a mac truck through it. the health exception would render this ban virtually meaningless. republicans are holding paul ryan up as a man of very strong convictions, but he refuses to give direct and consistent answers about his anti-choice record. should abortions be available to women who are raped? well, look, i ve i m proud of my pro-life record. and i stand by my pro-life record in congress. it s something i m proud of. but mitt romney is the top of the ticket, and mitt romney will be president, and he will set the policy of the romney administration. what s happening here? ryan has taken cover behind mitt romney. but, wait a minute, mitt romney s record on abortion, that s got a few holes in it
the health exception is a loophole wide enough to drive a mac truck through it. the health exception would render this ban virtually meaningless. republicans are holding paul ryan up as a man of very strong convictions, but he refuses to give direct and consistent answers about his anti-choice record. should abortions be available to women who are raped? well, look, i ve i m proud of my pro-life record. and i stand by my pro-life record in congress. it s something i m proud of. but mitt romney is the top of the ticket, and mitt romney will be president, and he will set the policy of the romney administration. what s happening here? ryan has taken cover behind mitt romney. but, wait a minute, mitt romney s record on abortion, that s got a few holes in it too. ryan might as well take cover behind a chain-link fence if he s going to be hanging around romney. ryan told reporters that mitt romney s position on abortion will win out in the end.
exception for abortion. the health exception is a loophole wide enough to drive a mac truck through it. the health exception would render this ban virtually meaningless. michelle goldberg, that kind of talk has been on the house floor for many years. i don t think mitt romney understood, when he chose paul ryan, that he would be bringing it right into this presidential campaign. and to be fair, he probably couldn t have predicted it, because this talk has been so prevalent, it s been in the platform, you know, year after year, or cycle after cycle. and usually people don t pay that much attention. i mean, that was in certain ways the favor that todd akin did all of us, was by really highlighting what it is that the modern republican party stands for. you know, the party has gotten used to being able to speak with two voices, or it s gotten used to being able to kind of play this double game, where it says one thing to its base and says another thing to the general public, and it
credit rating over the edge, because of abortion and that debate. so they ve made this a priority, at a time of economic hardship, at a time of historically high unemployment, at a time when they had got power in the house by saying they were going to concentrate on jobs. they ve had abortion votes. they ve tried to go after what was left of federal funding for abortion. and as a result, because of this crazy obsession, they ve had to try to redefine rape, and weaken protection for minors. and it s just caught up with them. finally, we re paying attention. but it was going to catch up with them some time or other. let s listen to paul ryan in 2000, when he was trying to earn his stripes, as it were, in the house of representatives, as a hard-core abortion opponent. let s listen to what he had to say then, about the health exception for abortion. the health exception is a loophole wide enough to drive a mac truck through it. the health exception would