Just exactly where does Roy Cooper stand on abortion?

I was hopeful when I saw in the N&O that he sent out a fundraising letter about Gov McCrory’s decision to sign the 72 hour waiting period into law. But this is what the letter says: “Last Friday evening, Gov McCrory signed another bill restricting access to healthcare for NC women - breaking a campaign promise, again ... I’m not going to stay silent while he misleads NC women and hurts teachers and …”

He can’t even bring himself to say the word abortion and talk how bad this bill is. Instead it’s about McCrory misleading women. Which of course, he did.

People assume Cooper is pro-choice, but what’s his record? Does he have one? And when will he come out clearly and say what he really thinks? This is the attorney general who went to court to support the legislature’s ban on funding for Planned Parenthood. He argued in support of the Choose LIfe License plate.

Worst of all, in my book, he appealed a conservative court’s decision that the so-called Woman’s Right to Know bill was unconstitutional! This was the bill that instituted (1) the 24 hour waiting period; (2) a state-mandated script that health care providers have to read to women who have decided to have an abortion; and (3) one of the worst ultrasound bills in the country.

Let me say that again: A conservative court said the bill was unconstitutional. Roy Cooper appealed that decision.

The thing is, support for a woman’s right to make her own deeply personal decisions about pregnancy - including the option of abortion - is the right thing to do. It’s also a courageous thing to do. Politicians who will take a stand on abortion show guts on most other progressive issues. And, it’s also the politically savvy thing to do. Most people, including most North Carolinians, support Planned Parenthood and a woman’s right to safe and legal abortion.

So, exactly why is Roy Cooper mincing his words on abortion? And where does he really stand?