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Mitt Romney is trying to distance himself from Indiana's Republican candidate for US Senate, Richard Mourdock, after he said that pregnancies that result from rape are all part of God's plan. And that puts him in direct opposition to his party and John Cornyn.

The NRSC is standing by its candidate in Indiana, Richard Mourdock, after the Senate hopeful said that pregnancies resulting from rape are “something God intended to happen,” while Mitt Romney and other Republicans are distancing themselves from the Hoosier. “Richard and I, along with millions of Americans — including even Joe Donnelly — believe that life is a gift from God,” Texas Sen. John Cornyn, the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said in a statement Wednesday. “To try and construe his words as anything other than a restatement of that belief is irresponsible and ridiculous. In fact, rather than condemning him for his position, as some in his party have when it’s come to Republicans, I commend Congressman Donnelly for his support of life.”

Good for him.

I have to say, I find it incredibly cowardly for Romney to attack pro-lifers like Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock for actually saying what they -- and the clear majority of Republicans -- believe. Romney and other Republicans in moderate drag have been trying to have it both aways on abortion for three decades. They want to get credit for being "pro-life" without ever having to take a hard legal position on Roe, or without giving any detailed philosophical and moral discussion of abortion beyond meaningless bromides like "I believe life begins at conception." The whole "even in the cases of rape and incest" line is a distraction and a flimsy pose designed to make anti-choice Republicans appear "moderate."

But there's nothing at all "moderate" about overturning Roe: you either think abortion should be legal in this country, or you don't. It's already quite heavily regulated.

Anyway, someone should ask Romney to explain exactly how his position on abortion is different than John Cornyn and the NRSC's. Specifics, please.