Mitt Romney Attacked Over Birth Control And Planned Parenthood During Illinois Speech

Peoria, IL – Mitt Romney tried his hardest to keep his final Illinois primary speech focused on the economy just one day ahead of the Illinois primary but despite his best efforts questions about his plans to do away with paid birth control and ending Planned Parenthood still crept into the picture.

As Romney wrapped up his speech at Bradley University in Peoria, IL on Monday he asked the audience for questions and the first person showed that the campaign hadn’t pre-screened questions when she ask:

“So you’re all for like, yay, freedom, and all this stuff. And yay, like pursuit of happiness. You know what would make me happy? Free birth control.”

That remark drew both applause and boos from the cloud before Romney responded:

“You know, let me tell you, no no, look, look let me tell you something. If you’re looking for free stuff you don’t have to pay for? Vote for the other guy, that’s what he’s all about, okay? That’s not, that’s not what I’m about.”

The next question he received involved Mitt Romney planning to end federal funding for Planned Parenthood. When asked where “millions of women would go” if the organization closed he responded:

“Well they can go wherever they’d like to go. This is a free society. But here’s what I’d say, which is the federal government should not tax these people to pay for Planned Parenthood … The idea of the federal government funding Planned Parenthood I’m going to say no, we’re going to stop that.”

Romney failed to address the fact that Planned Parenthood is responsible for providing contraception and other preventative services to mostly impoverished women who normally couldn’t afford birth control and other tests, without their efforts tax payers and anyone stuck with a medical bill would likely be left with an even larger burden. At the same time the organization helps prevent unwanted children from being placed in expensive foster care systems while welfare programs are forced to pay out higher payments to larger families.

Do you think Mitt Romney is completely out of touch with the issues surrounding impoverished women in this country?

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