GOP rallies behind McInnis for Colorado governor
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Copyright 1994 Boston Herald Inc.
The Boston Herald
October 26, 1994 Wednesday SECOND EDITION
LENGTH: 460 words
HEADLINE: THE GREAT DEBATES; Romney: Family tragedy led to change of stance on abortion
BYLINE: By JOE BATTENFELD
BODY:
Republican Senate challenger Mitt Romney disclosed last night that he became committed to legalized abortion after a relative died during an illegal abortion.
The Romney campaign later said that the relative was the sister-in-law of Romney’s sister, who died in the late 1960s as a result of the botched abortion.
The disclosure came after Romney, who said he is personally opposed to abortion, was asked to reconcile his personal beliefs with his political support for abortion rights.
“It is since that time that 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 that matter,” Romney said.
After the debate, Romney confirmed the death of the relative but declined to name her.
He said the abortion made him see “that regardless of one’s beliefs about choice that you would hope it would be safe and legal.”
Romney’s mother, who waged an unsuccessful Senate race in Michigan, also became an abortion-rights supporter after the relative’s death, aides said.
Romney has been criticized by Kennedy and some abortion-rights leaders who claim he is not firmly committed to supporting legal abortion for all women.
Romney has said repeatedly he believes abortion should be kept legal but said he believes states should be allowed to decide issues of parental consent and Medicaid funding.
Kennedy last night derided Romney’s position as “multiple choice” instead of pro-choice.
“You will not see me wavering on that or be multiple choice,” Romney countered.
In another Romney surprise last night, the Belmont businessman claimed that the Kennedy-owned Merchandise Mart of Chicago does not offer health care coverage to part-time workers.
Romney made the claim to blunt Kennedy’s charges that some firms Romney has invested in, such as office-supply giant Staples, don’t offer health care to thousands of their part-time workers.
“In my view that attack is the height of hypocrisy,” Romney said.
The Romney campaign produced an affadavit from a woman who said she applied for a part-time position at the Mercantile Mart last week and was told by a supervisor she would not qualify for health care.
Kennedy countered: “There is a very big, major difference. You don’t even afford access to your part-time workers.
“We at least provide the access and many of those part-time workers take it,” Kennedy said.
The Kennedy campaign, however, did not produce evidence that any part-time workers get health care at the Mercantile Mart.
The campaign put out a statement saying that while the seven part-time workers at the Mercantile Mart aren’t covered through the Mart, they are covered by their full-time employers, family members’ plans or through Medicare.