Court outburst validates concerns about extreme anti-choice rhetoric, activists say

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by: Jason Salzman

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

Alleged domestic terrorist Robert Dear. Photo via CSPD

For an RH Reality Check post today, I collected the responses of pro-choice activists to last week’s court appearance by the accused Planned Parenthood domestic terrorist, during which he shouted, “I’m a warrior for the babies.”

Were his outbursts further proof that extreme anti-choice rhetoric contributed to the November 27 murders in Colorado Springs?

“I think Dear’s comments remove any doubt as to what his motive was,” Amy Runyon-Harms, director of ProgressNow Colorado, said in an email to RH Reality Check. “Elected officials who use over-the-top rhetoric in an effort to appease their base need to think twice before doing so and recognize the impact their words have on others.”

Karen Middleton, director of NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado, agreed.

“The attacks have gotten worse, and the fact that the gunman repeated the same rhetoric about ‘baby parts’ we’ve heard from abortion opponents is not a coincidence,” Middleton toldRH Reality Check. “Words have meaning, and people inclined to violence can act on that meaning in awful ways. The result here is that an Iraq war veteran, a mother of two, and a police officer lost their lives, and six children lost their parent….”

“We know that words matter,” Vicki Cowart, director of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, said in the statement. “It is time to put an end to the dangerous rhetoric that has permeated our political conversations. Enough is enough—this violence, whether inflicted with words or with weapons, cannot become our normal.”

You recall that at a December 1 news conference on the west steps of the capitol, activists named three anti-choice politicians, Rep. Mike Coffman, State Rep. Gordon Klingenschmitt, and State Sen. Tim Neville, as using rhetoric that contributed to the shooting in Colorado Springs.

16 thoughts on “Court outburst validates concerns about extreme anti-choice rhetoric, activists say”

Conserv. Head Banger says:

December 16, 2015 at 12:31 pm

"named three anti-choice activists……….as using rhetoric that contributed to the shooting in Colorado Springs….." That sort of rhetoric by "activists" is pretty off-the-wall and virtually impossible to prove.

I'd give national politicos running for President more bad credit for inflammation of the nut cases in the so-called base than these local people. Still, people can expect Tim Neville to be back at the Legislature beginning next month with his religious freedom and anti-abortion/contraception bills (it's "religious freedom" only if he and his fellow travelers get to determine what actually is "religious freedom"). I wonder how many of the liberals on this web site will actually show up to testify against Neville, and anything similar that Klingenschmitt happens to introduce? Anyone willing to "walk the talk?"

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1. Moderatus says:
  
  December 16, 2015 at 1:16 pm
  
  Free speech must never be blamed for crime. Once we start down that road there is no going back.
  
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  1. BlueCat says:
    
    December 16, 2015 at 2:15 pm
    
    Fine but why is he just an individual crazy and not a crazy terrorist? Put a turban on him and have him yell something about jihad and you'd be the first one to call him a terrorist. Heck… just the turban would do. He wouldn't have to say anything. I certainly don't hear you saying anything about the sanctity of free speech and how we must never connect it to crime when your side blames Obama and Black Lives Matter for inciting violence against cops. The difference? You're a bigot, a racist and a hypocrite. Also a little piss ant putz. Please, please say you're so disgusted by our attacks on free speech you'll boycott us? FOREVER. Please, you little waste of space?
    
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    1. Andrew Carnegie says:
      
      December 16, 2015 at 2:57 pm
      
      BC.
      
      That small cavity in the waste of flesh north of your shoulders, where others have a brain, must be good for something other than name calling. Or, maybe not.
      
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      1. Davie says:
        
        December 16, 2015 at 4:06 pm
        
        Aww, did poor wittle ACHole get a boo boo last night watching the GOP "debate"? Is that why you're so gwumpy-wumpy?
        
        Trump's your guy and you get to watch your party destroy itself
        
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      2. FrankUnderwood says:
        
        December 16, 2015 at 5:06 pm
        
        Oh, it's back…………. Looks like reinforcements have arrived so Muddy Anus doesn't have to defend Free-Dumb all alone.
        
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        BlueCat says:
        
        December 16, 2015 at 5:14 pm
        
        Oh dear. I've been insulted by AC. How ever will I hold my head up in public again. Boo hoo hoo.
        
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  2. Curmudgeon says:
    
    December 16, 2015 at 2:29 pm
    
    Slander and Libel are not protected under the First Amendment. Your allies knowingly lied about Planned Parenthood and lit the fuse to this particular bomb.
    
    Live with it.
    
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    1. Moderatus says:
      
      December 16, 2015 at 2:42 pm
      
      Where is the slander suit???
      
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      1. Socialisticat says:
        
        December 16, 2015 at 4:10 pm
        
        Violations of RICO
        Civil Conspiracy
        Promissory Fraud
        Fraudulent Misrepresentation
        Breach of Contract
        Anticipatory Breach of Contract
        Trespass
        Violations of Business and Professions Code
        Eavesdropping/Wiretapping
        Invasions of Privacy
        
        Nope, you're right, no suit for slander yet.
        
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      2. Curmudgeon says:
        
        December 16, 2015 at 4:18 pm
        
        The lies have already been proven to be lies. At least you're not denying that the liars are your allies.
        
        Progress.
        
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  3. Diogenesdemar says:
    
    December 16, 2015 at 2:35 pm
    
    Bet you don't say that about Imams?
    
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    1. bullshit! says:
      
      December 16, 2015 at 2:41 pm
      
      Don't ask him to justify his bullshit. He can't.
      
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    2. ajb says:
      
      December 16, 2015 at 5:04 pm
      
      I'm still waiting for the media to call Dear a "radicalized Christian terrorist" and send the FBI around to interview Fiorina et al.
      
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  4. Voyageur says:
    
    December 16, 2015 at 3:47 pm
    
    Funny, but you don't seem as blasé toward Black Lives Matter discouraging police from doing their job
    
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  5. marklane1351 says:
    
    December 18, 2015 at 6:22 pm
    
    It isn't about free speech being blamed for the crime. It is about taking responsibility for the actions your words and deeds inspire.
    
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