Kansas City News Blog

Troy Newman

Operation Rescue president Troy Newman wrote an op-ed in USA Today, uh, today calling the assassination of George Tiller "vigilantism" that "must be abhorred" but so should aborting fetuses. Meanwhile, USA Today's editorial board calls for protection of abortion providers.

Fox 4's Tess Koppelman asked an anti-abortion activist about the denunciations of Tiller's killing by anti-abortion groups like Operation Rescue. Here's the answer she got: "... she said that because they profit from abortion being in existence, they don't really want it abolished, and that's why they sympathize with Tiller." She also talked to a gun-toting clinic security guard who's ready to "take this fights to the streets." Scary.

Nebraska doctor LeRoy Carhart wants to keep providing third-term abortions, he just needs a place to do them. The money quotes from the Associated Press story:

"Dr. Tiller and I and all our friends know that tomorrow is never a given," Carhart said. "I think what we have to do is not let this loss of his life affect our goals in life, No. 1, and we need to do things so he's never forgotten."
...
"As long as you have a terrorist who is willing to walk into a church and kill one person, as long as that element is in society, this is the risk we take," he said. "You can't live your life based on fear. You have to live by your principles."

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is, of course, playing opportunist. (Hat tip to Crime Scene KC.) The Associated Press reports that PETA plans to use Tiller's shooting and put up billboards with these messages: "Pro-Life? Go Vegetarian" and "Pro-Choice? Choose Vegetarian." From the AP:

PETA contends people who call themselves pro-choice shouldn't choose cruelly produced foods, and that those who call themselves pro-life shouldn't support slaughterhouses.

KCTV-5 has the uncut video of yesterday's arraignment hearing for Scott P. Roeder.

Kansas City Star reader rep Derek Donovan defends the daily devoting more coverage to Tiller's killing than the killing of a military recruiter in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Looks like Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson did give a more lengthy response about Tiller's killing than his by-request-only comment. From the Cap-Journal:

"I do strongly believe that the cantankerous rhetoric that revolves around the abortion debate is not helpful," Parkinson said. "People that are pro-life are not terrorists and people who are pro-choice are not baby killers. They are people that have a different view on a very controversial issue."

He's right. Too bad it's wishful thinking.