"Where else would you go when you have an ax to grind?"

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Culture of life, my ass

"We are shocked at this morning's disturbing news that Mr. Tiller was gunned down," anti-abortion group Operation Rescue said in a statement on its Web site. "Operation Rescue has worked for years through peaceful, legal means, and through the proper channels to see him brought to justice. We denounce vigilantism and the cowardly act that took place this morning. We pray for Mr. Tiller's family that they will find comfort and healing that can only be found in Jesus Christ."

Protesters blockaded Tiller's clinic during Operation Rescue's "Summer of Mercy" protests during the summer of 1991, and Tiller was shot by Rachelle Shannon at his clinic in 1993. Tiller was wounded in both arms, and Shannon remains in prison for the shooting.

The clinic was bombed in June 1986, and was severely vandalized earlier this month. According to the Associated Press, his lawyer said wires to security cameras and outdoor lights were cut and that the vandals also cut through the roof and plugged the buildings' downspouts. Rain poured through the roof and caused thousands of dollars of damage in the clinic. Tiller reportedly asked the FBI to investigate the incident.

No arrests were made in the 1986 bombing."


Added the spokes douche bag for Operation Rescue: "All those times we called Tiller a murderer and baby-killer- well, we didn't really think anyone would do something like this again. After all its not like we've constantly called for abortion providers to be prosecuted or said that they deserved to be punished or argued that our interpretation of what the Bible says overrules the law of the land...oh wait, yes we did...uhm nevermind"


In other coverage: "Abortion foes fear backlash"  -- Really? Are they afraid that pro-choicers are going to start stalking and shooting their leaders? Bombing their offices?  Endlessly harrassing the people who work in their movement with death threats and screaming demonstrations outside their places of business?

Also - Randall Terry - a "Klass" act.

While many anti-abortion leaders swiftly issued statements condemning the shooting, their expressions of dismay were not echoed by Randall Terry, a veteran anti-abortion activist whose protests have often targeted Tiller.

"George Tiller was a mass murderer and we cannot stop saying that," Terry said. "He was an evil man - his hands were covered with blood."

Terry said he was now concerned that the Obama administration "will use Tiller's killing to intimidate pro-lifers into surrendering our most effective rhetoric and actions."

A month ago, Terry was arrested protesting President Barack Obama's appearance at the University of Notre Dame commencement. The president's graduation speech was dominated by abortion issue - and an appeal for the nation to seek common ground instead of vitriol.

3 comments:

Patrick C said...

"Terry said he was now concerned that the Obama administration "will use Tiller's killing to intimidate pro-lifers into surrendering our most effective rhetoric and actions.""

If "pro-lifers" can be intimidated into not murdering people, well, let's just say that I'm down with that.

JJ said...

"If "pro-lifers" can be intimidated into not murdering people, well, let's just say that I'm down with that."

I've seen this idea being circulated by one or two people. My feeling is that the prevailing level of sanity on the pro-choice side is so overwhelmingly high that it kind of precludes using intimidation tactics.

That has always been the trump card of anti-choicers -- their movement harbours a disproportionately high number of real nutbars.

Right now, I think the best thing is for the feds to start turning over rocks in organizations like Operation Rescue, and laying conspiracy charges.

Rev.Paperboy said...

I think Chunklets was referring to exactly that kind of thing JJ, charging people with incitement to commit murder, incitement to cause a breach of the peace, conspiracy etc -- Legal itimidation of the "my lawyer will eat your lawyer's lunch" variety as opposed to the "let's get a dozen guys with pick-axe handles and go visit the Operation Rescue office" variety. As much as the latter might offer a certain visceral sense of satisfation, it would be wrong and it not the kind of tactic that good, sane, people employ.