Romney, Tancredo Call On Brownback To Apologize For Questioning Their Opposition To Abortion Rights

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Rep. Tom Tancredo (Colo.), who are running for the Republican presidential nomination, are calling on Sen. Sam Brownback (Kan.), who also is running for the Republican nomination, to apologize for questioning their opposition to abortion rights in automated phone calls to voters, the AP/Hays Daily News reports.

"Mitt Romney is telling Iowans he is firmly pro-life," the Brownback campaign's phone message says, adding, "Nothing could be further from the truth." The message also notes that Romney's wife, Ann, "has contributed money to Planned Parenthood." Romney spokesperson Tim Albrecht called the phone messages "despicable" and "negative," adding that the campaign "should apologize to Ann Romney and Governor Romney for this personal attack" (Glover, AP/Hays Daily News, 7/24).

In calls to abortion-rights opponents in Iowa, Brownback's campaign said Tancredo has accepted campaign donations from John Tanton, a physician who helped found the Northern Michigan Planned Parenthood Association, the Des Moines Register reports (Pulliam, Des Moines Register, 7/24). "Say no to Tom Tancredo and his Planned Parenthood friend and help end abortion in America," the message says, according to a script confirmed by Brownback's campaign, the AP/Daily News reports (AP/Hays Daily News, 7/24). Tancredo said that Tanton has supported him because of their mutual interest on immigration issues, and Tanton's support has nothing to do with Tancredo's abortion-rights position.

The phone message calls on Tancredo to donate the money from Tanton to antiabortion efforts in Iowa. Tancredo rejected the suggestion, saying such an action would indicate that the donations influenced his position on abortion rights. "What I do is more important than who gives me money," Tancredo said (Des Moines Register, 7/24). Tancredo also said Brownback "is well aware of my lifelong commitment to the unborn," adding, "I call on Sen. Brownback to cease with the maliciously misleading push calls intended to harm me and apologize."

Brownback's campaign defended both phone messages, the AP/Daily News reports. "We stand by the accuracy of our statement that Mrs. Romney financially supported Planned Parenthood," Brownback spokesperson John Rankin said. Rankin also said that Tancredo "says he is committed to being pro-life but has accepted thousands of dollars from the founder of a major Planned Parenthood network" (AP/Hays Daily News, 7/23).

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