The Old Switcheroo

Yesterday afternoon, Mitt Romney met with The Des Moines Register's editorial board, and, during the course of that interview, he said, if elected president, he would reinstate the global gag rule but that he did not envision any specific abortion legislation being part of his agenda.

Mitt Romney today said no abortion legislation is part of his agenda, but he would prohibit federally-funded international nonprofits from providing abortions in other countries.

"There's no legislation with regards to abortion that I'm familiar with that would become part of my agenda," the GOP presidential candidate told The Des Moines Register's editorial board during a meeting today before his campaign rally at a Van Meter farm.

But by executive order, not by legislation, he would reinstate the so-called Mexico City policy that bans U.S. foreign aid dollars from being used to do abortions, he said.

WELL, GEE, THAT DOESN'T SOUND SO BAD!—Low-Information Voters.

Later, Romney spokesperson Andrea Saul clarified for the AP:

"Gov. Romney would of course support legislation aimed at providing greater protections for life," spokeswoman Andrea Saul said, declining to elaborate.

HEY, WAIT A SECOND!—Low-Information Voters.

Ha ha just kidding. Low-Information Voters aren't even paying attention to this story anymore!

This is the game that Mitt Romney is playing: Moderate to get the big headlines; conservative clarifications to reassure his base he's still the man of their dreams (and our nightmares).

His strategy is to be an extraordinarily brazen liar. Meanwhile, his running mate is sent out to complain that the Democrats are calling them liars.