Ann Romney won't explain her views on marriage equality and birth control to 'you people' - VIDEO
Posted on Sunday, September 09, 2012 at 10:09 AM
Larger Text
Print
E-mail
77 Comments
RSS 
Recent Posts
- Daily Mail unloads on 'drunken young' Paddys with booze-baiting rant - British tabloid continues its anti Irish attitude
- Marco Rubio: 'If immigration bill gives Cubans immigration rights, it kills the bill. I'm done' - VIDEO
- Diaspora should work both ways - time for global Irish to vote
- Ireland needs a new James Joyce - new voice of the Irish people is on the way
- Fox News Lou Dobbs panel: selfish working mothers are destroying the natural order and America
Archives
 |
| Republican's Mitt Romney's wife Ann Romney |
Ann Romney was asked her position on marriage equality and birth control on Friday but declined, multiple times, in the most dismissive tones, to give an answer.
Gay people and their legal rights aren't important to America, they not worth discussing apparently. Neither are any women's reproductive rights. You would think with the controversies surrounding Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan's stance on abortion and an ongoing perception about the eroding of the rights of women that she might have engaged.
But no, Ann Romney knows what this election is about and she won't be distracted by 'hot-button' issues that don't interest her. Like most conservatives, she seems to believe that issues that don't personally affect her are non-issues.
Interviewed on Iowan television station KWQC on Friday Romney faced questions from anchor David Nelson.
David Nelson: 'Here in Iowa, as you know, same-sex marriage is legal. Do you believe a lesbian mother should be allowed to marry her partner?'
Ann Romney: 'You know, I'm not going to talk about the specific issues. I'm going to let my husband speak on issues. I'm here to really just talk about my husband and what kind of husband and father he is and, you know, those are hot-button issues that distract from what the real voting issue is going to be at this election. That, it's going to be about the economy and jobs…'
Nelson: 'Do you believe that employer-provided health insurance should be required to cover birth control?'
Ann Romney: 'Again, you're asking me questions that are not about what this election is going to be about. This election is going to be about the economy and jobs.'
David Nelson: 'Well, a Pew Research poll shows those issues are very important to women, ranking them either "important" or "very important.'
Click here for more news on Election2012
Ann Romney: 'You know, but I personally believe, and this is what I'm hearing from women all across the country that they are going to look for the guy that's going to pull them out of the weeds and get them job security and a brighter future for their children…'
David Nelson: 'You just told a reporter who was questioning you in Cleveland that you want women to have a secure and stable future. I asked you about marriage and whether lesbian mothers should be allowed to marry. Isn't marriage a part of creating a stable future?'
Ann Romney: 'You know, again, I'm going to talk to you about the economy and about job creation...'
It was so scripted and robotic that it was a masterclass in staying on message, even when it is blatantly obvious that you're dodging issues important to millions. But she came off as a high handed and patronizing, as though she were telling the press what the election was about and only taking questions that were convenient.
The sharp contrast between Romney's dodging and Michelle Obama's transparency on the issues stands in high relief. This election, there really is a choice between the candidates, their spouses, and what they stand (or won't stand) for.
77 comments
Mairin67 | Sep 10, 2012, 11:50 AM EDT
ha ha...wise woman...she's not sayin' cuz she doesn't want to look the fool when her husband comes out with the exact opposite when he flip flops on yet another issue. She KNOWS how he is..
Report abuse
eiriamach | Sep 10, 2012, 11:00 AM EDT
In November, women voters will send a resounding message to Ann and her hubby and buddy Ryan. R&R have supported legislation that has shut down women's health clinics, and they would, if elected, cut off access to reproductive health care for millions of working women, along with the right to privacy of family life for LGBTs. The stability of American families-- moral, social, and economic stability-- is at stake. Those who think that such matters are of concern only to a handful of us will have a huge surprise. Sexism and homophobia-- the Romney team, Ann included-- that's NOT who we are, so, unfortunately, the election must be about restoring our rights. A vote for R&R is a vote against the equality of women and gays; it's a vote against MY equality! A businessman running the economy--are you insane? Businessmen, driven by the great American profit motive (a.k.a. "greed") and heedless of consequences for families, brought our economy to the brink of ruin.
Report abuse
OldMariner | Sep 10, 2012, 10:29 AM EDT
If Ann Romney was married to the Democratic candidate, you, Cahir, would not be writing this article. Ann Romney is entitled to privately hold her beliefs/opinions just like Michelle Obama; who, by the way, was never asked to explain her anti-white diatribe in her thesis paper she wrote at Princeton. Where, by the way, she was on scholarship. I try not generally to be a conspiracy nut - but, so help me, there is bias amongst the "progressives"; it hits you in the arse constantly.
Report abuse
Padraig8 | Sep 10, 2012, 10:26 AM EDT
And as for the sneering homophobia of the poster below I can assure you that gay rights and equality are an issue that concern every decent citizen too.
This comment from Hollabac Gurl
shows she does NOT READ ,i was
pointing out what Ann Romney thinks not MY Opinion,Read my Post again please
NOT Homophobic at all
Report abuse
rgray222 | Sep 10, 2012, 10:02 AM EDT
This article misses the entire point and put a typical media slant on the issues. Gay people represent less then 2% of the people in American. To 98% of the population it is not a relevant issue. There are much bigger issues effecting many more Americans.
Woman's reproductive rights, there is only one issue here and that is should the taxpayers pay for birth control. That's is like asking taxpayers to pay for cosmetic surgery. If that is what you want to do that's fine but pay for it yourself!
Report abuse
rpbrown | Sep 10, 2012, 09:57 AM EDT
Wow, someone finally gets the point of gay rights issues and women's rights issues: it's no one's business but their own. A woman's right to control her uterus is her own and no one else's and the right for people of the same sex to marry is there own issue and no one else. ANN IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, THESE ISSUES ARE NOT IMPORTANT TO ANYONE BUT THE PERSON THEY PERTAIN TO, SO IF THEY'RE NOT IMPORTANT, DON'T WASTE TIME TAKING AWAY THESE RIGHTS. GRANT THEM, LEAVE US ALONE AND TAKE CARE OF WHAT'S IMPORTANT.
Report abuse
eiriamach | Sep 10, 2012, 09:53 AM EDT
"You people" includes me! Romney and Ryan have campaigned relentlessly on social issues. Both men oppose the Ledbetter fair-pay act. There is no more "economic" issue for women than fair pay! Both advocate stripping gay rights with nothing less than a constitutional amendment that would permanently stigmatize LGBT citizens! By recent estimates, states have passed 85 laws restricting women's access to reproductive health care (some including contraception). The states passed 60 such laws in 2011. Anyone who thinks that this nuclear attack on equal rights is not about pushing women out of the job market into minimum wage work--even into prisons under abortion-criminalizing laws--and relegating single mothers to abysmal poverty has lost all contact with reality. With GOP plans to cut Medicaid, 12 million women will have no health care. The "pro-lifers" who wage this war against women have assassinated eight women's clinic workers in less than 20 years. It's clear they care only about destroying our economic lives, not at all about "right to life" or the "sanctity of marriage." As a result of these assaults, there is now a humiliating stigma attached to being female or gay; we must fight for our human rights, and the battle of Nov. 6 is not one we can afford to lose!
Report abuse
CelticQueenUSA | Sep 10, 2012, 09:08 AM EDT
GOP wrong for America this time around. Just look at the smirk on her face in this picture. I see Disgust, contempt and a general look of better than all "you people" planted right on her kisser!!
Report abuse
seanomelb | Sep 10, 2012, 06:49 AM EDT
You've finally worked out who you are cillowen well done. Put a gold star on your forehead and move to the penultimate rear row
Report abuse
olovely | Sep 10, 2012, 12:27 AM EDT
You can walk and chew gum I take it MegK311? It is not a 'Got YA' trap to face hard questions from journalists - it's your job description. If you can't face it you should not apply. And please don't imagine you or anyone can decide America's priorities - we ALL do that, not just you or Ann, m'kay?
Report abuse
MegK311 | Sep 09, 2012, 11:07 PM EDT
Olovely, My point is that gay issues are not the most important issue that this country needs to deal with right now. Jobs and the economy is important to men and women regardless of their sexual. preference. Lets get our priorities straight. Ann Romney defers to her husband because he is the one running for office. You and I know they were trying to get her to say something with "GOT YA" questions. She did well standing up to them. There are times when a woman should defer to her husband and there are times when a husband should defer to his wife.
Report abuse
StRoibard | Sep 09, 2012, 11:05 PM EDT
Seriously? you're attacking a candidate's wife for nondisclosure? Obama (the president, not his wife) has spent over $1 million to keep all his past secret and hidden from his employers (US citizens) and you're concerned about Romney's WIFE's transparency? Glad you're not voting here!
Report abuse
olovely | Sep 09, 2012, 09:24 PM EDT
I'm a woman and I am sad to see Ann Romney defers to her husband when she's asked for her opinion. The only way you can believe women's rights are not threatened by Romney/Ryan is if you are completely ignorant of their positions on women's issues MegK311. Gay marriage rights are of major concern to millions of heterosexuals as well as homosexuals and I find it deeply patronizing to hear Romney and her supporters say they are not.
Report abuse
cillowen | Sep 09, 2012, 09:17 PM EDT
i'm a dingbat - case closed - she's has chutzpah beyond belief.
Report abuse
Report abuse