today is joining mayors from around the country for a summit to discuss reproductive health issues for urban women. The event is hosted by the National Institute for Reproductive Health, an abortion-rights advocacy group.Accompanied yesterday by mayors Gavin Newsom of San Francisco, Sheila Dixon of Baltimore, and Mark Begich of Anchorage, Alaska, as well as the City Council speaker, Christine Quinn, Mr. Bloomberg said the event would "draw attention to the progress cities are making in improving reproductive health for millions of women and families." Mr. Bloomberg cited the launch of an official city condom brand in February, NYC Condom, as an example of the city's dedication to reproductive issues.
"I don't think there's anything partisan about women's reproductive health," Mr. Bloomberg said yesterday. "These are not partisan things, these are doing what's right versus not doing anything or doing what's wrong."
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Senator McCain, delivered a speech this week in which he pledged to nominate conservative judges to the Supreme Court. Some believe Mr. McCain's choice of words were meant to indicate that these judges would attempt to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Mr. Bloomberg said that while reporters would have to ask Mr. McCain to elaborate on what he meant in his speech, Mr. McCain "is only one person in one party" and "he doesn't speak for everybody in that party."
Political observers have discussed Mr. Bloomberg as a possible running mate for Mr. McCain, an opponent of legalized abortion, and the summit today could draw attention to their policy differences on abortion. Mr. Bloomberg reiterated his stance on reproductive rights yesterday: "The fundamental principles of our constitution are you should be in charge of yourself as long as you don't hurt anybody else," he said. "I believe that a woman's right to choose is consistent with that, and I always have and always will."
