Ryan's stand on women's issues source of worry

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Olivier Douliery / MCT archives Mitt Romney (left) and Paul Ryan hit the campaign trail together. (TRIBUNE MEDIA MCT)

WASHINGTON -- Paul Ryan's record on women's issues and abortion is coming into sharpened focus since Mitt Romney tapped him as his running mate -- in particular, the lawmaker's anti-abortion bill that puts him at odds with the eldest son of the Republican presidential hopeful.

Tagg Romney and his wife, Jen, announced the birth of twin boys in May with the help of a surrogate mother and in vitro fertilization -- a form of assisted reproductive technology that could be rendered illegal under the Sanctity of Human Life Act, co-sponsored by Ryan.

The bill states human life begins the moment an egg is fertilized. But in IVF, some embryos are destroyed or discarded in the process after being fertilized by sperm outside the body.

Typically, doctors fertilize several eggs; the ones that fail to thrive after being implanted in the womb are discarded. Leftover embryos that are not implanted are often frozen, used for medical research or destroyed.

Many right-to-life groups oppose IVF since it results in the destruction of human embryos.

Women's groups have been zeroing in on Ryan's anti-abortion record ever since he was unveiled as Romney's running mate over the weekend.

Romney, meanwhile, has a famously erratic record on abortion, stem cell research and even IVF.

The former Massachusetts governor attempted to explain away his wildly divergent public comments on IVF embryos as recently as May, when he was asked in an interview about his new twin grandsons.

"I believe that when a couple gets together and decides that they want to bring a child into the Earth, and they go to a fertility clinic to do so, and if they're going to be through that process a leftover embryo or two, that they should be able to decide whether to preserve that embryo for future use or to destroy it," he said, adding those embryos can be utilized for "research and experimentation."

"And so for me, that's where the line is drawn. Those surplus embryos from fertility clinics can be used for research."

Yet Romney has also said he had an "epiphany" in 2004, becoming pro-life during a discussion with an embryonic stem-cell researcher. A year later, however, Romney said he supported stem-cell research using IVF embryos.

Ryan, on the other hand, has been steady in his belief human life begins at fertilization throughout his seven terms as congressman from Wisconsin.

In a presidential election in which Democrats are attempting to portray Republicans as anti-women, Ryan's and Romney's apparently opposing viewpoints on IVF could cause headaches for them on the campaign trail.

"If Romney's sons have done something that the vice-presidential candidate thinks should be criminal, then that absolutely should and will become a campaign issue," Jo Freeman, a feminist writer and political scientist, said Tuesday.

"It's clear he approved of his son's actions, and now he has a running mate who would criminalize those actions. That's a problem."

As many as 60,000 babies are born in the U.S. every year thanks to IVF. A book written by Ron Scott, a distant cousin of the Republican presidential hopeful, claims three of Romney's five sons have used the procedure to produce some of his 18 grandchildren.

Romney and his children are practising Mormons. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints "strongly discourages" both surrogate mothers and IVF.

In messages on Facebook and Twitter in May, Tagg Romney made a point of thanking the surrogate after his twin boys were born.

It was the second time he and his wife had used the surrogate; she also carried their two-year-old son, Jonathan.

Mitt Romney's record on abortion rights has caused the Republican party's Christian evangelical base to view him with deep suspicion.

While running for governor of left-leaning Massachusetts just 10 years ago, Romney pledged "to protect a woman's right to choose."

Freeman said Romney's veering positions are sadly typical of those seeking public office in the U.S.

"He completely contradicts himself because he's seeking to appeal to whatever constituency he needs at the time, regardless of his personal beliefs."

Romney also attracted attention after appearing Monday evening at El Palacio de los Jugos, a Miami restaurant owned by Reinaldo Bermudez. Court records show Bermudez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine in 1999 and served three years in federal prison.

Media reports in November 1997 said Bermudez was one of 12 people accused in a Colombian drug-smuggling operation. Agents seized about 1,292.75 kilograms of cocaine at Florida ports.

As a convicted felon, Bermudez wouldn't be eligible to vote in Florida unless the governor and the cabinet restore his rights.

-- The Canadian Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 15, 2012 A8