As Romney talked adoption yesterday, a rival campaign e-mailed this around:

Mitt Romney touted family values while unveiling an adoption reform plan today in SC, but in 1994 when he was asked if he would support gay adoption, Romney replied: “I would not oppose it.” Asked if he would support gay adoption, Romney said “I would not oppose it.” “Does he approve of gay adoption and homosexual indoctrination in the schools? He must have taken ballet as a child, so nimbly does he pirouette around sensitive issues. ‘I would leave it [gay adoption] up to the states. I would not oppose it or require it.’” (Don Feder, Op-ed, “Romney: A Thin-Gruel Republican,” Boston Herald, 10/20/94)

What the e-mail didn’t mention: In 2006, Governor Romney fought for the Catholic Church’s right to not place children in gay families. He was an articulate leader on the issue of religious freedom when he was faced with the problem as governor. The guy talks about moms and dads and the importance of the traditional family. I’d hit him on something else because I, for one, embraces candidates who are clear on such issues — and do it with the right tone, which Romney does.