In fact, the hands are many in the death of George Tiller, some more directly than others. Take Ann Coulter, for example. I watched her describe, to a church full of right-wing activists, abortion-clinic doctors and health care personnel who were murdered, as either having been shot, "...or, depending on your point of view, had a procedure performed on them with a rifle." And she's still out there today, spewing the same bile with violent force.
As you read this, the interweb is being scoured for clips of right-wing personalities to hang this on, all in service of...well, I'm not really sure. Are Coulter, O'Reilly, Terry, et al, supposed to begin weeping and preaching the pro-choice message of tolerance?
No, the implication here is stark, and not really an implication at all. Conservative pundits incited the murder of Dr. Tiller. It naturally follows, then, that they are guilty of criminal speech.
This is an argument of opportunity, and it reeks. If, for example, a similar fate had befallen then-President Bush, would Kos, et al, present themselves for summary arrest?
To be clear, I am not defending what O'Reilly and Coulter said, but rather their right to say it. Neither of them invented the "Abortion is murder" frame that is the bulwark of the "right to life" movement.
Coulter's remark, in particular, is an example of the kind of dark hyperbole that both sides routinely use to illustrate a point. A reasonable person could not conclude that she was diminishing the shooting of doctors, but rather illustrating how seriously some pro-lifers view abortions. To imply otherwise is dishonest.
While Kos and Co. similarly have the right to say what he wants, I don't think they're helping to cool the temperature of this conflict. Attempts to paint everyone who considers themselves "pro-life" as accessories to murder are necessarily counterproductive, especially when you consider how broad that segment really is.
I am unflinchingly pro-choice, and I believe that standing up for choice is crucial to being pro-woman. On the other hand, I grant others their differing point of view, and I'm glad we live in a country that allows women reproductive freedom.
Alienating people with relatively moderate positions on abortion does nothing to help keep it that way. Instead, we ought to realize that most people, on both sides of this question, argue passionately, but in good faith, and find the common ground that the President spoke of in denouncing and mourning this murder.
Firstly, before you go vilifying (too late it seems) a particular person, or, organisation, perhaps you should wait until they've actually been proven guilty of a crime, I'm sure each and every one of you would appreciate the same fair treatment if it was you who was arrested for allegedly committing a crime.
Secondly even if a particular person is found guilty, it doesn't mean that the organisation they belong to, (if any), condoned, or, even knew about the actions that the person was going to take. So again, you should wait to get the facts, instead of immediately defaming all the Pro-lifers.
Thirdly, anyone who knowingly commits premeditated murder, whether it is an unborn baby, a child, or a fully grown man or woman, has zero right to call themselves a Christian. The Bible is 100% clear that we are human from conception and science and medicine have well and truly proven beyond a speck of a doubt that this is true and that the foetus/baby is 100% a new and different person from that same moment. Anyone who denies this is uneducated or wilfully ignorant and just as culpable as whomever murdered Tiller or performs an abortions. Furthermore, anyone who has not studied exactly what is done to the Baby during the various forms of abortion, has no right to make a judgement call that it is not murder.
Fourthly, if someone is willing to murder unborn babies, then I say that they are just as likely to be willing to murder adult humans, so how convenient is it that the frontman for the pro-death, massively lucrative, abortion industry is killed, galvanising his zealots into renewed action? It seems very convenient to lay this crime at the feet of those who oppose murder in any form, which is the stance of a true Christian, Pro-lifer. Do you truly think that a genuine Christian, Pro-lifer would kill someone at Church, (or at anywhere for that matter)? No matter how far that so called "Church" has fallen from the true path? The very idea is ridiculous and abhorrent to a genuine Christian, Pro-Lifer.
Fifthly, for those why always cry about the rights of women/choice and try to back it up with "Democracy", etc.... Consider this; Of the hundreds of thousands of babies aborted each year, imagine that somehow they were actually allowed to live and grow up... and that they one day they learnt that they were supposed to have been aborted, but were somehow saved... imagine that as adults they read about and watch what the process was that would have ended their life before it could really start... do you honestly think that they would not all right now democratically voting the abortion process out of existence in a heartbeat?
...and before anyone starts vilifying my comments, I'll make it clear (in case you're too blind to see it)... I don't condone Tiller's murder, he will have to answer to God, and would have eventually without being murdered, nor do I condone the murder of anyone else, particuarly the unborn, who cannot defend themselves, which is what we should be doing, but within the law.
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Larry
12:27AM Jun 1st 2009
G - Believe anything you want. I don't care. You think the Bible means something. Good for you I will never stop you from your Bible studies or going to your Church I do not care. Now I think the Bible is a good substitute for toilet paper. I think religion is for simple minded fools. I do not want you trying to push your religious view of the universe on me. That's the difference between us. I will let you alone to believe anything you want but people like you will not let me alone. After you Jesus nuts killed this guy in front of his kids if it comes down to guns bring it on bunghole bring it on. I will stick your cross up your arse.
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Patrice022697
1:50AM Jun 1st 2009
I agree with most of your comments Larry, just not the one about using the bible for toilet paper. I am sick and tired of these right wing wackos saying that Dr. Tiller got what he deserved. That is one of the most unchristian statements anyone can say. I am pro choice, always have been and always will be. When I was a young girl, before Roe V Wade, my parents had this friend and she got pregnant, while in her 7th month, the baby died inside of her. She was forced to carry that baby (I don't remember for how long) finally, they did a c section. I don't know what ever happened to her, and I don't even remember her name,but if this happened to her today,she never would have gone through the hell she did all of those years ago. My aunt tried and tried to have a child but she misscarried everytime. One time she acually made it to 6 months, however she started bleeding and she was rushed to the hospital (which happened to be a Catholic hospital) The doctor said that he had to take the baby or the mom would die, the nuns would hear nothing of the kind. Her doctor risked his liescene and his freedom to save my aunts life, so don't you wackos say that most late term abortions are done for no reason. What makes no sense to me is how you bible thumpers are so stupid. Why would a woman carry a baby for 7 or 8 months and them just decide to have an abortion??? The coward who murdered Dr. Tiller today is not someone to idolize like a lot of you do, he needs to spend the rest of his life in prison. What kind of nut would murder a man in front of his family in a church?? And my biggest question to you anti choice nuts, where in the fvck was your God today? Certainly not in your place of worship. You sick bible thumpers make me want to puke. All this should be about is to offer our condolences to Dr. Tillers family and friends, but you so called "Christians" Have to glorify this sick MF"er who murdered a doctor, a fellow human being. You all sound like followers of the famous Rev Phelps... I also know that people like this Ann Coulter, and the other nut Bill O reilly along with The Phil Kline who tried to have Dr Tiller brought up on false charges have a lot of blame in all of this. Your I just hope the "Christian" who killed Dr. Tiller is in a cell with a big guy named Bubba.I would love to see what happenes when he drops his soap in the shower...He is now going to be someones bitch.....Now that is justice
Why is it that someone who thinks aboution is automatically considered a right wing Jesus nut? If that is the case, then i guess all you big government socialist euro-loving pieces of garbage are happy with the government takeover of GM, Chrysler, bailing out all the big banks, and running up an 11 TRILLION dollar deficit. Socialized medicine is next, WOOHOO....waiting lines and crappy medicine for all!!!!! I hate the DMV, can't wait for Obama medicine.
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giles chauvin
1:47AM Jun 1st 2009
I think aboution all the time and I'm not a right wing nut.
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G
1:51AM Jun 1st 2009
Larry, I almost wasn't going to reply to your spite-filled rubbish since you obviously didn't bother to read and actually absorb what I said, but then I thought I'd reply simply to point out sheer stupidity of your diatribe.
Firstly; If you didn't care, you wouldn't have posted a reply at all and you certainly wouldn't have used such unfounded vitriol to condemn my comments either.
Secondly; You have zero proof that anyone of so-called "faith" killed this man. You fail to grasp the signifcance of my argument, that anyone who claims to be a Christian and then murders someone is definitely NOT a Christian. People can call themselves all kinds of things, but it's their actions which define them. Followers of Jesus are specifically told not to kill, so for you to decry someone as a "Jesus nut", when they are obviously NOT following his teachings is just plain uneducated hatred and bigotry on your part, and shows that your agenda is anti-Christian from the start, rather than your so-called "don't care" attitude.
Lastly; your final ridiculous and unsavoury comments about guns and violently inserting crosses in uncomfortable places reveals your true colours - you are a liar and a proponent of the very violence you claim to despise.
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sandsnnydz
9:34AM Jun 1st 2009
..... well said!!!
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addiestan
1:59AM Jun 1st 2009
As the author of the piece on Ann Coulter that Tommy Christopher references, I can assure you that I am neither unreasonable nor dishonest. Coulter's remark did indeed "diminish the shooting of doctors"; she went to great lengths to explain that it took 20 years of getting nowhere in the legal system before so-called "pro-lifers" killed "the first abortion doctor." The implication was clear; she was acting as an apologist for the murderers of doctors. While she didn't exactly condone it, Coulter said she understood why it happened. --Adele Stan www.addiestan.blogspot.com
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Patrice022697
2:00AM Jun 1st 2009
Fourthly, if someone is willing to murder unborn babies, then I say that they are just as likely to be willing to murder adult humans,
That G is the craziest thing I have heard today. I had this wonderful OB-GYN, he performed abortions, but he delivered 10x as many babies. His office was burned down, protesters were in front of his office, thankfully the cops got rid of them bevause the jigh school was rught across the street. He decied to leave his own City so he could keep him and his kids safe.
Patrice022697
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Susan
2:13AM Jun 1st 2009
I am 98% pro-life - I do feel there are certain circumstances where abortion should be allowed. Like the raping of a child who becomes pregnant. I am a conservative, but I do not agree with those who would call for the death of those who choose to perform abortions. If we call ourselves Americans, and we are Judeo-Christians who live by the word of God, then we are morally obligated to love one another. More is done by trying to change laws than by killing those who we disagree with. The person who did this is crazy nuts and has snapped. I don't believe that a normal person would be influenced to kill another by the words of a television personality, just as I don't believe that most sane people listen to movie stars to decide on who they will vote for in the next election. Only mentally, emotionally imbalanced people who are spiritually bankrupt would do such a thing. Ann and Bill may have been a little harsh, and I would bet that they choose their words more carefully in the future, but they do make a good point, and they do have freedom of the press and the right to free speech.
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G
2:44AM Jun 1st 2009
Let me examine your ill-informed rant in detail Patrice;
RE: "right wing wackos" - so, when you have no real argument, just simply imply that everyone with an opposing viewpoint is insane? Pathetic.
RE: 'deserved death" - I said nothing about Tiller getting what he deserved by being shot, I made it obvious that anyone saying that he got what he deserved was in no way espousing genuine Christian or Pro-Life values. Anyone with half a brain can see that the position of Christian/Pro-lifer and the position of a murderer are mutually exclusive and diametrically opposed.
RE: The baby dying inside of her - what a load of garbage - if the baby died inside her and they knew it was dead, there is no way they would have let her carry it to term.. and even if "they" did.."they" would be doctors. If the baby is already dead it can hardly be called an abortion can it? It would simply be a C-Section. What the hell has any of this got to do with the point at hand? You don't even remember the details, let her alone her name... shows how much you really care about her, if it even happened.
RE: The baby or the mother - In genuine cases where the mother will die, then yes, performing an abortion, although no-less terrible is something that has to be decided by the mother and father together at the time. Furthermore, there have been plenty of cases where doctors have said the baby will not be healthy or the mother is in danger and they have been proven wrong when the parents went ahead successfully despite them.
RE: late term - You cite one instance of what may possibly be a justifiable abortion under extreme circumstances, and you use that as your entire argument? Ridiculous - No, most late term abortions aren't performed for no reason: check the statistics, very few are actually performed because the mother is in danger, most of them are because the baby. "might"...and I stress this; might, have health complications. People are giving up killing their babys in the pursuit of the preservation of their current lifestyle - "it might be too hard on them to look after baby if the baby might have some health issue"... so it is an abortion of convenience in most cases.
RE: What makes no sense to me is how you bible thumpers are so stupid. - What makes no sense to me is the blind hatred of your kind. Do you hate babies so much that you take enjoyment from killing them when they are defenceless? You must otherwise why allow it to happen.
RE: Why would a woman carry a baby for 7 or 8 months and them just decide to have an abortion??? Why don't you ask some who have done this? Some of the ones who deeply regret what they did and if they could go back would never have done it.
RE: The coward - I actually agree with you here.
RE: what kind of nut... - the question should be; "What kind of nut would murder anyone? - especially a defenceless unborn child."
RE: anti-choice - You all have the choice to use a condom or not have sex, you also still havve a choice even afterwards - the choice to not kill. When it's all said and done, if you do get pregnant, then it's only nine months of certain aspects of your lifestyle that you might have to give up - Is your lifestyle so important to you that you'd happily murder someone else to keep it? - Why don't you adopt the baby out - there are plenty of people who can't have children who would be more than happy to take your unwanted child.
Re: Where was God? - Watching and grieving over EVERY death that he sees his children perpetrate upon one another. It's convenient that you try to pass the responsibility on to God instead of standing up and taking some of it upon yourself. Every person who condones abortion or the death of Tiller has blood on their hands and will be accountable to God in the end. You sick baby murderers make me want to vomit as well. Have you ever seen a D & X procedure performed? Look at this if you dare; http://www.ppl.org/PBA.html If you can't see that this sn unconscionable murder and it doesn't make the bile rise in your throat, then you are sick in the head.
Re: condolences and glorifying - I do offer my condolences to Tiller's family, yet I still denounce his practices. With regards the glorification thing - you are blind - I vilify the act of murder and the murderers - no matter why they did it. There is no justification for murder.
With regards the rest of your comments, I won't diginfy that venom with further replies. I have already made it clear to those with eyes to read and the brain to understand that no true Christian would say they wanted someone killed or honour the murderers no matter who they are or what they are doing.
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ramenra55
5:17AM Jun 1st 2009
I don't want to hurt your swollen grey matter but they do not have the right to say anything they want, nor do you. We have got to that point more after the Reagan years. If we had followed the law Pat Robertson would have been arrested when he talked about having someone kill Chavez. Clearly an illegal utterance on national TV. In other words, we have liberated the far right to say or do anything they want as long as they at sometime backtrack or say they are sorry for it. I want the law to be enforced just as strongly for the far right and rich as much as it is for the poor that say things like that.
You, are just as Bill and Sarah, just what I pick up on the bottom of my shoe.
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Butch Whitmon
6:20AM Jun 1st 2009
Religion strikes again!! Murder in the name of God; Nevermind that the believers of this superstitious nonsense are commanded by their God, "THOU SHALT NOT KILL".
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Laraine Yoss
8:08AM Jun 1st 2009
Who benefits most from the murder of Dr. Tiller? You all just assume it's some "right wing nut case."
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cetaami
9:10AM Jun 1st 2009
Why do we call them "pro-life?" Isn't everyone "pro-life?" I am "pro-life" but also believe in a women's right to choose. We need to call them anti-abortion, which is what they really are. Maybe if we call it what it is, ant-abortionists wouldn't get such illusions of granduer thinking they can save lives by killing doctors.
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cetaami
9:13AM Jun 1st 2009
Religious zealots that distort the bible and kill doctors who perform abortions are exactly the same as Muslim terrorists that distort the meaning of the Koran.
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RIChris
9:33AM Jun 1st 2009
For several years the mainstream media overwhelmingly demeaned, dehumanized and demonized George W. Bush and his administration, inciting a hatred that would otherwise not existed. Would it naturally follow that they, too, are guilty of criminal speech?
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dlpfrench
10:17AM Jun 1st 2009
I think you miss ann coulters 'schtick' which is all it is. She thinks she is cutting edge, funny, satirical and a great writer. She is none of the above. She just wants to be famous and will push all the buttons she can to remain in print. O'Reilly was very similar until not long ago and has changed is 'marketing plan' since O'bama got elected and toned down his right wing slamming of people. Now he says he is 'neutral' and going after anyone who is untruthful to the public. Limbaugh has not changed and is now the best comedy show on Radio!
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giles chauvin
10:50AM Jun 1st 2009
richris, so what you're saying is that saddam attacked on 9-11 because he had wmd's.