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Following abortionist's murder, hypocrisy abounds on the Left, not the Right
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Two can play at this game; who "created the atmosphere" for this insanity?
Another abortion doctor is dead, and the gloating has already begun.
Not from the mainstream pro-life Right, mind you, which has largely condemned the cold-blooded murder of Dr. George Tiller (at a Sunday service in his Kansas church, no less). Most of those “anti-choice extremists” still have respect for all human life and the rule of law.
No, the gloating is to be found in the fever swamps of the Left, such as Daily Kos, which finally – finally – have ironclad proof that “pro-life” is synonymous with “hypocrisy,” and that social conservatism is the natural gateway to dangerous bigotry. Or so they think.
Here's a delightful snippet from a fellow named Satchel Robinson: “We must name those who contribute to the creation of an atmosphere that results in a man losing his life for performing his job. And when we call these people out we must cast a wide net that includes those wastes of humanity in the media like Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, Glenn Beck, and Laura Ingraham; but first and foremost must be Bill O'Reilly.” [my emphasis]
Wastes of humanity? Sounds like your problems with them began a long time ago, Satchel!
While these (mostly) conservative commentators may be controversial, they're hardly encouraging violence. Stating one's views firmly (and indeed, sometimes aggressively) is a hallmark of healthy, open, and honest debate – not a revolutionary call for bloodshed. To suggest such a thing is to echo President Clinton's feeble 1995 attempt to blame conservative radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh for the Oklahoma City bombing. These people are paid to express their opinions in an entertaining way, and mere charisma does not a cult leader make. Individuals are responsible for their own actions.
Ah, but that's where I'm wrong, apparently! In a not-so-subtle piece on The Huffington Post titled “Tiller Murder: Ann Coulter's Happy Day?” (really nice), feminist blogger Adele Stan remarked, “If the murderer was not a follower of Coulter's, he certainly acted from the sort of hateful sentiment she disseminates in popular and right-wing media.”
And here's good old Satchel again: “I am not suggesting that Bill O and the rest of these folks are individually or collectively directly responsible for Dr. Tiller's death [of course you're not!]. But, were I one of them (I just threw up a little in my mouth), or if I subscribed to the logic these folks use in situations that suit their causes, I would blame them directly.”
I guess that settles that, then. Conservative commentators didn't order the hit, but they “created the atmosphere.” I smell a Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy.
This is nuts. It's a sleazy attempt to score cheap political points with faithful leftists – no fans of the aforementioned commentators to begin with – and throw gasoline on the fiery culture wars. While there do exist anti-abortion radicals who won't tolerate disagreement with their convictions, the fact is that these smug lefties can't stand that a large portion of civilized America disagrees with them. Better to characterize them as “extremists” and “haters” following the orders of talk-show demagogues than to have an honest public debate – because they might lose.
Worse, it's dishonest. Why does the cultural Left balk at the term “baby killer” when applied to an abortion doctor, but not when bestowed upon a member of our military?
On St. Patrick's Day 2003 in Ithaca, NY, anti-war protesters vandalized a military recruitment office with their own blood. In January 2005, a violent mob of anti-war students stormed a Seattle recruitment office, threatened the recruiter, and destroyed property. Later that month, a recruitment office in the Bronx was vandalized with super glue. According to The New York Times, the student perpetrator “was caught carrying a handwritten note declaring that a 'wave of violence' would occur throughout the Northeast... aimed at the 'military industrial complex' in response to American military actions.”
In February 2005, a South Toledo, OH recruitment office was vandalized with spray paint and manure. Later that month, a Vestal, NY recruitment office came under siege when a radical student hurled a Molotov cocktail through the window.
I could go on and on and on.
Sound like dangerous extremists to me! “Acting from the sort of hateful sentiment” disseminated in popular and left-wing media, of course. Which “wastes of humanity” shall we blame for “creating an atmosphere” of intolerance and hatred toward men in uniform?
Who shall we blame for “creating the atmosphere” that led to the murder of Pvt. William Long at an Arkansas recruitment office only yesterday? Will his senseless, tragic death receive the same attention and treatment as that of the late Dr. Tiller?
The cultural Left and Right in this country both have radical fringe elements passionately devoted to one cause or another. For the Left, in recent years, it's been denouncing the war in Iraq. For the Right, it's denouncing abortion. And sometimes, things can get pretty ugly.
But the majority of American citizens, Left or Right, do not applaud or condone this kind of behavior. They don't throw bombs at military recruitment offices, and they don't shoot abortion doctors. No matter what their differences in politics, beliefs, and faith, they put the rule of law first.
Using the lawless and immoral actions of a few crazed individuals to indict an entire swath of American society is not only unfair to both the mainstream Left and Right, it's a dishonest (and dishonorable) political stunt that breeds nothing but cynicism and contempt.
Grow up.
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