2012 Republican Presidential Candidates and Adoption Issues

Brief Introduction:

Mitt Romney was the Governor of Massachusetts, serving from 2003 through 2007.

Willard Mitt Romney was born March 12, 1947, in Detroit, Michigan. He and his wife, Ann Romney, were married March 21, 1969. The two met in elementary school, and started dating as teens. The couple has five sons and sixteen grandchildren.

Mitt Romney on Gay Adoption:

According to various statements, Mitt Romney believes that gay adoption may not be an ideal situation for a child, but is not against the idea, nor will he try to stop gay adoptions from occurring. Romney believes that rulings regarding same sex adoptions should be decided on the state level, not the federal level.

Mitt Romney on Abortion:

"I am prolife. I believe that abortion is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother. I wish the people of America agreed, and that the laws of our nation could reflect that view. But while the nation remains so divided over abortion, I believe that the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate." ~ Mitt Romney, July 26, 2005, Boston Globe, Why I Vetoed Contraception Bill

Mitt Romney on Planned Parenthood:

Romney supports the Pence amendment which is aimed at eliminating all federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

SOURCES:
Romney Against Gay ‘Marriage’ But OK With ‘Domestic Partnerships,’ Gay Adoption, Gays in Military
The Defunding Planned Parenthood Litmus Test?
MSNBC Candidate Profiles

Brief Introduction:

Newt Gingrich was the Speaker of the House, serving from 1995 through 1999. He was also a United States representative from 1979 through 1999.

Newton Leroy Gingrich was born June 17, 1943, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania as Newton Leroy McPherson. Born to two teen parents into a marriage that lasted only three days, Newt was raised by his young, single mom until she met Bob Gingrich. Newt's birth father gave up his parental rights, allowing Gingrich to adopt his son.

Newt and his wife, Callista Gingrich, were married March 4, 1966 in Whitehall, Wisconsin. This is Gingrich's third marriage. Gingrich has two daughters and two grandchildren from his first marriage.

Newt Gingrich on Gay Adoption:

He does not believe that homosexuals should be allowed to adopt.

Newt Gingrich on Abortion:

Gingrich believes that abortion should be illegal at the federal level and that people should choose adoption over abortion.

Newt Gingrich on Planned Parenthood:

Newt Gingrich has promised that if elected President of the United States that he would defund Planned Parenthood and move those funds toward adoption services.

“I want to take all of that money and put it directly into adoption services to give young women the choice of life, not the culture of death.” ~ Newt Gingrich, Faith and Freedom Coalition speech, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, January 2012.

SOURCES:
The Defunding Planned Parenthood Litmus Test?
Exclusive “American View” Interview: Newt Gingrich On Abortion, Homosexuality, Biblical Government; Rejects “Narrow” View Of Our Founders
Gingrich: Defund Planned Parenthood and Give the Money to Adoption Services
MSNBC Candidate Profiles

Brief Introduction:

Rick Santorum is a former Republican United States Representative serving from 1991 through 1995 and a United States Senator serving two terms from 1995 through 2007 from Pennsylvania.

Richard John Santorum was born on May 10, 1958, in Winchester, Virginia. Rick Santorum and his wife, Karen Santorum, were married in 1990. They have four sons and three daughters.

Rick Santorum on Gay Adoption:

Santorum believes that gay adoption is a state issue, not a federal issue and should be handled on a state by state basis. He believes that marriage should be defined on the federal level and would seek a federal law defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

Rick Santorum on Abortion:

Rick Santorum is very against abortion, even in the case of rape and is a strong supporter of pro-life. Santorum does make an exception for pregnancies where the mother's life is at risk. He also supports a federal ban on abortions. While serving in the U.S. Senate, he authored two pro-life bills that were signed into law by President George W. Bush: the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act and the Born Alive Infants Protection Act.

Rick Santorum on Planned Parenthood:

Santorum is for the defunding of Planned Parenthood as he believes they have a hidden agenda.

SOURCES:
The Defunding Planned Parenthood Litmus Test?
Rick Santorum on Families & Children
MSNBC Candidate Profiles

Brief Introduction:

Ron Paul is a United States Representative serving three different times from 1976 through 1977, 1979 through 1985, and 1997 until the present. He is planning on retiring at the end of this term. This is also the third time he has run for the presidential nomination.

Ronald Ernest "Ron" Paul was born August 20, 1935, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He married Carolyn Paul on February 1, 1957 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. The couple met in high school and had their first date on Carolyn's 16th birthday party when she asked Ron to be her escort for the Sadie Hawkins party. The couple has three sons, two daughters, eighteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Ron Paul on Gay Adoption:

Paul has a history of voting against gay adoption. In 1999, he voted to support a ban of gay adoptions in Washington, DC.

Ron Paul on Abortion:

Paul identifies himself as pro-life and believes that abortion should be decided at the state level.

"Paul has said he would look to "effectively repeal" the Supreme Court ruling Roe v. Wade, and pass legislation defining life as beginning at conception." ~ According to the MSNBC Candidates profile for Ron Paul.

Ron Paul on Planned Parenthood:

Paul voted in favor of the Pence Amendment which would ban all federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

SOURCES:
The Defunding Planned Parenthood Litmus Test?
Ron Paul on Civil Rights
MSNBC Candidate Profiles