F%&$#king Terrorists

[j_b]

The Murder of Dr. Tiller, a Foreshadowing

by Cristina Page

 

For those who would like to think today's murder in church of Dr. George Tiller, an abortion provider, is an isolated incident, here's the horrifying news: You are wrong. The pattern is clear and frightening.

 

In March 1993, three months into the administration of our first pro-choice president, Bill Clinton, abortion provider Dr. David Gunn was murdered in Pensacola, Florida. That was the beginning of what would become a five-fold increase in violence against abortion providers throughout the Clinton years.

 

Today's assassination of Dr. George Tiller comes 5 months into the term of our second pro-choice president. For anyone who would like to believe that this is a statistical anomaly, a coincidence that doesn't portend anything, again, you are wrong.

 

During the entire Bush administration, from 2000-2008 there were no murders.

 

During the Clinton era, between 1994-2000 there were 6 abortion providers and clinic staff murdered, and 17 attempted murders of abortion providers. There were 12 bombings or arsons during the Clinton years.

 

During the Bush administration, not only were there no murders, there were no attempted murders. There was one clinic bombing during the Bush years.

 

One can only conclude that like terrorist sleeper cells, these extremists have now been set in motion. Indeed the evidence is already there. The chatter, the threats, the hate-filled rhetoric are abundant.

 

In the last year of the Bush administration there were 396 harassing calls to abortion clinics. In just the first four months of the Obama administration that number has jumped to 1401.

 

And so the execution of Tiller, 67, is not only tragic but ominous. He was born into an era when being an abortion provider meant saving women's lives. And the cold-blooded murder in church and in front of his wife of this stalwart defender of women rights and beloved physician, comes as a message for others, as well as tragic deja vu.

 

Battered women are at greatest danger of being killed by their abusers when they are most strong -- that is, when they muster the courage to leave. The same phenomenon may be true in the abusive political abortion debate. The pro-choice movement, specifically our abortion providers, are in the greatest danger of violence when we take power. When the anti-abortion movement loses power, their most extreme elements appear to move to the fore and take control. The murder of Dr. Tiller suggests that violence against abortion providers may be far more linked to the power, or lack thereof, anti-abortion groups have politically than to laws designed to increase penalties against such acts.

 

History has another disturbing lesson for us. The escalation of anti-abortion rhetoric plays a direct role in instigating violence. When anti-abortion groups ratchet up the rhetoric, they know exactly what they're doing and the results it will have. Even if they maintain deniability, as Operation Rescue recently did saying, in effect, we wanted Tiller gone, but didn't want him murdered, they have inflamed the rhetoric. And suddenly people Like Dr. Tiller's murderer become inspired.

 

Eleanor Bader, author of Targets of Hatred: Anti-Abortion Terrorism, in an article in March for RHRealityCheck.org about clinics bracing for an uptick in violence after the election of Obama wrote, "immediately after Obama's election, Douglas Johnson, Legislative Director of the National Right to Life Committee, called him a "hardcore pro-abortion president." The American Life League dubbed him "one of the most radical pro-abortion politicians ever," and Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life warned that Obama will "force Americans to pay for the killing of innocents." Americans United for Life, the Family Research Council and Operation Save America quickly joined the chorus."

 

Bader interviewed clinic staff -- many seeing a direct relationship between the pro-choice victory in November and increased aggression against them and their patients. Claire Keyes, of Allegheny Reproductive Health in Pittsburgh, explained:

 

Right after the election we saw a small upsurge in anti-abortion activity. But since the inauguration, things have gotten measurably worse. There's been an increase in picketing by students from Franciscan University in Ohio. On Saturdays there are 60-plus protesters and there's been an increase in screaming and aggression. We don't have a parking lot so people park on the street. The antis have surrounded cars, trapping the women inside, and in several cases the antis jumped into vehicles and touched or grabbed at them. The police were called but so far they don't seem to be responding appropriately.

Bader also quotes Elizabeth Barnes, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Women's Center, who explained, "When the pendulum swung in the direction of protecting women's rights, we expected something. The way the antis are reacting has changed, they're taking more liberties, pressing the boundaries of legal, civil protest."

 

Many in the pro-choice movement believed that the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) law, passed in 1994 in response to Gunn's murder, was responsible for reigning in violence against abortion providers. Clearly that is not the case. Based on statistics on violence against abortion providers compiled by the National Abortion Federation, even after the passage of FACE in 1994, there was still considerable violence and threats against clinic personnel, including six murders. As appears clear, the pro-choice movement has looked through rose-colored glasses, assuming or hoping that legalities can restrain terrorists.

 

In fact, it didn't abate after FACE, as we've seen. It was not until a comforting anti-abortion president did they calm down and stop the murder, bombing and harassment spree.

 

As we are witnessing now, Bush policies resulted in a surge in abortions. That has failed to inspire introspection from anti-abortion groups. That Clinton presided over the most dramatic decline in abortion rates in the recorded history of our country left them unmoved. That Obama has assigned his senior-most staff to the task of finding ways to reduce the need for abortion has not protected clinics nor providers nor Obama. Holder and his Justice Department should take note of the chatter and move aggressively against this form of domestic terrorism. The hate-filled rhetoric against Obama from the anti-abortion movement is at unprecedented levels, even for this reflexively inflammatory group. They refer to him as the "Most Pro-Abortion President Ever" ignoring the fact that he is the first to extend an olive branch in hopes that together we can make abortion more rare.

 

Anti-abortion groups will put out carefully worded press statements condemning the murder of Dr. Tiller, as became routine for them during the Clinton years. But unless the rhetoric they choose from now on becomes careful too -- they may be the enablers of murder and terror.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/06/01-1

[kevbone]

wow

[prole]

Gotta love the GOP base.

[Jim]

We think what you are doing is murder, so we will murder you. Hmmmm.

[JayB]

Hopefully someone in the GOP will avail themselves of the opportunity to categorically denounce this guy, the networks and organizations that provided the ideological home-base for this guy, and to distance themselves from Christian wack-jobs in general, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

Something about losing the contest of ideas at the ballot box seems to make a good fraction of the losing party lose their collective shit. Could be a recent phenomenon, but I suspect that it's been with us for as long as we've had political parties.

 

The dusk of the Truthers brings us the dawn of the Nirthers...

[prole]

the networks and organizations that provided the ideological home-base for this guy

 

Bill O'Reilly...COME ON DOWN!!!! (Brought to you by the makers of Calgon)

 

 

O'Reilly's Campaign Against Murdered Doctor

 

 

By Gabriel Winant, Salon.

 

May. 31, 2009 |

 

When his show airs tomorrow, Bill O'Reilly will most certainly decry the death of Kansas doctor George Tiller, who was killed Sunday while attending church services with his wife. Tiller, O'Reilly will say, was a man who was guilty of barbaric acts, but a civilized society does not resort to lawless murder, even against its worst members. And O'Reilly, we can assume, will genuinely mean this.

 

But there's no other person who bears as much responsibility for the characterization of Tiller as a savage on the loose, killing babies willy-nilly thanks to the collusion of would-be sophisticated cultural elites, a bought-and-paid-for governor and scofflaw secular journalists. Tiller's name first appeared on "The Factor" on Feb. 25, 2005. Since then, O'Reilly and his guest hosts have brought up the doctor on 28 more episodes, including as recently as April 27 of this year. Almost invariably, Tiller is described as "Tiller the Baby Killer."

 

Tiller, O'Reilly likes to say, "destroys fetuses for just about any reason right up until the birth date for $5,000." He's guilty of "Nazi stuff," said O'Reilly on June 8, 2005; a moral equivalent to NAMBLA and al-Qaida, he suggested on March 15, 2006. "This is the kind of stuff happened in Mao's China, Hitler's Germany, Stalin's Soviet Union," said O'Reilly on Nov. 9, 2006.

 

O'Reilly has also frequently linked Tiller to his longtime obsession, child molestation and rape. Because a young teenager who received an abortion from Tiller could, by definition, have been a victim of statutory rape, O'Reilly frequently suggested that the clinic was covering up for child rapists (rather than teenage boyfriends) by refusing to release records on the abortions performed.

 

When Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline, an O'Reilly favorite who faced harsh criticism for seeking Tiller's records, was facing electoral defeat by challenger Paul Morrison, O'Reilly said, "Now we don't endorse candidates here, but obviously, that would be a colossal mistake. Society must afford some protection for viable babies and children who are raped." (Morrison ultimately unseated Kline.)

 

This is where O'Reilly's campaign against George Tiller becomes dangerous. While he never advocated anything violent or illegal, the Fox bully repeatedly portrayed the doctor as a murderer on the loose, allowed to do whatever he wanted by corrupt and decadent authorities. "Also, it looks like Dr. Tiller, who some call Tiller the Baby Killer, is spending a large amount of money in order to get Mr. Morrison elected. That opens up all kinds of questions," said O'Reilly on Nov. 6, 2006, in one of many suggestions that Tiller was improperly influencing the election.-- Salon 5/31/09

Edited June 2, 2009 by prole

[prole]

Hopefully someone in the GOP will avail themselves of the opportunity to categorically denounce this guy...

 

And alienate their last remaining supporters?! Uh, no.

[Peter_Puget]

Yep free speech it's bad..very bad....

 

This is where O'Reilly's campaign against George Tiller becomes dangerous. While he never advocated anything violent or illegal, the Fox bully repeatedly portrayed the doctor as a murderer on the loose, allowed to do whatever he wanted by corrupt and decadent authorities.

 

Closed minds! planned markets! Democracy Now!

 

 

Go Mariners!

[olyclimber]

yes, its like yelling "Free Mariners Tickets" in a crowded theater.

[Fairweather]

I'm not sure why Republicans would need to denounce this murderer any more than Democrats would need to denounce the recent Islam converts who killed an Army recruiter yesterday. Where is the outrage, oh JimProle?

 

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,524405,00.html?test=latestnews

 

A convert to Islam accused of having "political and religious motives" in a deadly Arkansas military center shooting pleaded not guilty to capital murder Tuesday and was ordered held without bond.

 

One soldier died and another was wounded in what police say was a targeted attack by Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad, 23, on U.S. forces.

 

Muhammad, an American citizen who is a convert to Islam and previously was known as Carlos Bledsoe, already had been under investigation by the FBI at the time of the shootings.

 

Muhammad was charged in Monday's death of Pvt. William Long, 23, outside the Army-Navy Career Center, which handles recruiting, in Little Rock.

 

A prosecutor said Muhammad admitted shooting Long and another soldier "because of what they had done to Muslims in the past."

 

Long and Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula, 18, had recently completed basic training and had never seen combat. Ezeagwula was in stable condition at a hospital.

 

An FBI joint terrorism task force based in the southern U.S. reportedly had been tracking Muhammad after he traveled to Yemen and was arrested and jailed there for using a Somali passport, an official told The Associated Press. The probe had been in its early stages and based on Muhammad's trip to Yemen, ABC News reported.

 

While there, Muhammad, who was born and raised in Tennessee, studied jihad with an Islamic scholar, according to Jihadwatch.org. He moved to Little Rock in April.

 

After the shooting, investigators searched his apartment and found additional weapons, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the AP.

 

An FBI spokesman in Little Rock did not immediately return a call for comment.

 

At Tuesday's court hearing, Deputy Prosecutor Scott Duncan said Muhammad told investigators that "he would have killed more soldiers had they been in the parking lot."

 

Long and Ezeagwula were targeted as they stood outside the recruiting center smoking cigarettes.

 

Muhammad, wearing a dark blue jail uniform with brown plastic sandals, sat with his hands in his lap before Little Rock District Judge Alice Lightle. He did not say anything during the brief hearing...

[prole]

I'm not sure why Republicans would need to denounce this murderer any more than Democrats would need to denounce the recent Islam converts who killed an Army recruiter yesterday.

 

Uhhh, because anti-abortion wacko fucknuts make up a substantial portion the Republican electoral base which is not the case with the Democratic party and Islamic wacko jihadist fucknuts?

[Fairweather]

I'm not sure why Republicans would need to denounce this murderer any more than Democrats would need to denounce the recent Islam converts who killed an Army recruiter yesterday.

 

Uhhh, because anti-abortion wacko fucknuts make up a substantial portion the Republican electoral base which is not the case with the Democratic party and Islamic wacko jihadist fucknuts?

 

Anti-abortion beliefs equal neither the promotion of, nor tacit support of murder. Meanwhile, your party is trying its best to secure the release of individuals who are--in some cases--not distinguishable from the killer of Doctor Tiller. Again; where is your outrage?

Edited June 2, 2009 by Fairweather

[prole]

Meanwhile, your party is trying its best to secure the release of individuals who are--in some cases--not distinguishable from the killer of Doctor Tiller.

 

How would you know; none of these people have been tried.

[Fairweather]

Meanwhile, your party is trying its best to secure the release of individuals who are--in some cases--not distinguishable from the killer of Doctor Tiller.

 

How would you know; none of these people have been tried.

 

Neither has the accused in the Tiller case.

[prole]

Neither have the recruitment center shooter-uppers.

[Fairweather]

So you're willing to cast judgment in one case, but not the other? Now, why would that be?

[prole]

All of the accused allegedly used terror tactics in order to further their political aims. If guilty, they'd be terrorists. Happy? What do you want me to do, start a rally, hold a sign on the highway, call my ombudsman?

[olyclimber]

this thread needs a cartoon intermission

 

[video:youtube]0LtxHqcIZdQ

[prole]

Anti-abortion beliefs equal neither the promotion of, nor tacit support of murder.

 

Ugh, don't gimme that crap. While technically true, apart from the 1% smart enough to see the political downside to the act, the other 99% felt like the sun shone a little brighter, food tasted a little better, and life was like getting licked on the face by a puppy. Pro life my ass.

[Fairweather]

All of the accused allegedly used terror tactics in order to further their political aims. If guilty, they'd be terrorists. Happy? What do you want me to do, start a rally, hold a sign on the highway, call my ombudsman?

 

No. I just want you and yours to display consistency from time to time and apply some of that critical thinking you seem so fond of touting even absent your own application thereof.

[KaskadskyjKozak]

So you're willing to cast judgment in one case, but not the other? Now, why would that be?

 

Because he's a pinko nutjob

[Fairweather]

Anti-abortion beliefs equal neither the promotion of, nor tacit support of murder.

 

Ugh, don't gimme that crap. While technically true, apart from the 1% smart enough to see the political downside to the act, the other 99% felt like the sun shone a little brighter, food tasted a little better, and life was like getting licked on the face by a puppy. Pro life my ass. Religion of peace my ass.

 

Hey, you might be on to something BIG here! Does the same hold true for all--I mean 99% of--Muslims post 9/11?

[Winter]

classic diversion. look at the little birdie ... i mean Muslim terrorist! nothing to see here. move along.

[Fairweather]

classic diversion. look at the little birdie ... i mean Muslim terrorist! nothing to see here. move along.

 

Diversion? I think it's an apples to apples comparison. Heck, I hear e-lawyers do it all the time. I just love the way you goof-balls get all riled up when your world view is questioned.

[olyclimber]

Well those gull-dern goofball libs! they gone and done it agin! and it looks like they even enjoy the taste of crow!