Pamela Sumner’s Remarks, January 13, 2011

Pamela Sumner’s Remarks to Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice – January 13, 2011

I THINK THIS TALK WAS INITIALLY BILLED AS A POTENTIALLY UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE. I HATE TO DISAPPOINT ANYONE, BUT I’VE BEEN WATCHING THE SAME APPALLING NEWS YOU HAVE. THE BRITISH WRITER D.H. LAWRENCE ONCE SAID, A LITTLE SNEERINGLY, ABOUT US: “THE ESSENTIAL AMERICAN SOUL IS HARD, ISOLATE, STOIC, AND A KILLER.” I HOPE HE’S NOT RIGHT ALL THE TIME, BUT THE HEADLINES OF LATE (AND ESPECIALLY THIS WEEK) WOULD OFFER SOME EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT OPINION.

OUR NEW SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IN WASHINGTON HELD A PRIVATE MEETING WITH A MAN WHO HAS MADE PUBLIC DEATH THREATS AGAINST A DOCTOR WHO PERFORMS ABORTIONS. THREE DAYS AFTER RANDALL TERRY, ERSTWHILE OF OPERATION RESCUE, CALLED FOR THE “EXECUTION” OF DR. WARREN HERN, ANOTHER DOCTOR HIRED TO REPLACE THE PREVIOUSLY ASSASSINATED DR. DAVID GUNN OF PENSACOLA WAS FOUND SHOT DOWN IN BIRMINGHAM WITH MONEY IN HIS POCKET. DR. HERN’S CLINIC HAS BEEN THE TARGET OF REPEATED VANDALISM, AND SINCE THE ASSASSINATION OF DR. TILLER IN 2009, DR. HERN REMAINS ONE OF ONLY TWO PHYSICIANS IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES OPERATING A CLINIC AT WHICH LATE-TERM ABORTIONS ARE PERFORMED.

ASSASSINS HAVE COMMITTED EIGHT MURDERS OF DOCTORS AND OTHER MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND HAVE ATTEMPTED 17 MORE MURDERS. DOMESTIC TERRORISTS HAVE BOMBED 41 CLINICS, CARRIED OUT 175 ARSON ATTACKS, MADE 400 SERIOUS DEATH THREATS, AND SENT COUNTLESS PIECES OF HATE MAIL TO THE CLINICS, SOMETIMES CONTAINING ANTHRAX OR HOAX ANTHRAX. DR. TILLER’S ASSASSINATION WAS ONLY ONE OF 60-PLUS THREATS OR VIOLENT ACTS AGAINST CLINICS IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2009.

OUR CLINICS ARE REPORTING THE HIGHEST RATES OF VIOLENCE SINCE 1997, RANGING FROM INVASIONS TO STALKING TO ARSON AND DEATH THREATS. IT’S NOT SURPRISING THAT THE NUMBER OF ABORTION CLINICS HAS BEEN STEADILY DECREASING-FROM 739 IN 2005, TO 685 IN 2008, TO 595 IN 2010. ALMOST 90% OF COUNTIES IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE NO ABORTION PROVIDER.

I’VE SEEN FIRSTHAND AT THE CLINICS WHAT OVERHEATED RHETORIC FROM PEOPLE LIKE RANDALL TERRY CAN INCITE. EMILY LYONS, THE NURSE WHO WAS ALMOST KILLED IN THE BIRMINGHAM CLINIC BOMBING, WAS MY CLIENT IN TWO SUPREME COURT CASES IN WHICH ORERATION RESCUE AND THE PRO-LIFE ACTION NETWORK WERE DEFENDED BY CHRISTIAN COALITION LAWYERS. THEY ARGUED THAT THEIR VIOLENT BLOCKADES OF CLINICS AND INTIMIDATION TACTICS WERE MERELY FREE SPEECH.

WHEN THAT BOMB WENT OFF ABOUT A HALF MILE FROM WHERE I LIVED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF BIRMINGHAM, IT RUMBLED EVERY WINDOW IN MY FORTRESS OF A HOUSE. EMILY LIVED TO REQUIRE 29 SURGERIES BUT CAN NO LONGER DRIVE OR WORK AS A NURSE. AMAZINGLY, SHE HAS THE STRENGTH AND GRACE AND RAW COURAGE TO SAY OF HER SUFFERING AND LOSS: “ERIC ROBERT RUDOLPH TRIED TO SILENCE ME THAT DAY. INSTEAD I FOUND MY VOICE TO TELL YOU ALL WHY IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO BE PRO-CHOICE.”

SARAH PALIN MADE A LITTLE MAP WITH CERTAIN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS DRAWN WITH A RIFLE SCOPE’S CROSSHAIRS OVER THEM, INCLUDING GABBY GIFFORD’S. SHE NOW SAYS THAT THEY WERE REALLY JUST “SURVEYOR’S SYMBOLS,” AND BESIDES, THE LIBERAL LAMESTREAM MEDIA HAS “BLOOD-LIBELED” HER BY EVEN SUGGESTING THAT SHE SHOULD REGRET SOME VIOLENT INSINUATIONS ABOUT POLITICAL ADVERSARIES.

SARAH PALIN’S CROSSHAIRS ARE NOT WITHOUT PRECEDENT.

YEARS AGO, OPERATION RESCUE POSTED THE PHOTOS OF DOCTORS WHO PERFORM ABORTIONS ON THE INTERNET UNDER THE HEADING “NUREMBURG FILES.” DOCS WHO PERFORMED ABORTIONS WERE DEPICTED AS “WANTED” POSTERS. THEIR ADDRESSES, PHONE NUMBERS, AND PERSONAL DETAILS WERE PUBLISHED. AS DOCS WERE WOUNDED, THE SITE HIGHLIGHTED THEIR PROFILES. AS DOCS WERE KILLED, A LARGE X WAS STRUCK OVER THE FACE. DESPITE A FEDERAL COURT ORDER, SOME TEN YEARS LATER FLIP BENHAM OF OPERATION RESCUE AGAIN POSTED “WANTED” POSTERS OF DOCS WITH THEIR HOME ADDRESSES AND WAS FINALLY CHARGED WITH STALKING.

THE PRO-LIFE RHETORIC WHEN THEY’RE EXHORTING THEIR TROOPS IS NOT THE TEMPERED LANGUAGE THEY PRESENT IN COURT OR ON THE NEWS WHEN ONE OR TWO OF THEM MIGHT PURPORT TO DECRY THE KILLING OF DOCTORS. THEY WEAR THE CIVIL DEMOCRATIC CLOAK OF FREE SPEECH IN THE COURTS. IN THE STREETS AND THE FURTIVE CREASES OF THEIR CHATROOMS, AND SOMETIMES PUBLICLY, THEIR LEADERS SAY THINGS THAT ARE QUITE DIFFERENT.

“THANKS SO MUCH FOR SENDING THE PHOTOGRAPHS OF OUR GANG IN FRONT OF THE BOMBED-OUT ABORTUARY-GREAT SCENE. APPRECIATE THE HELP. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK,” JOSEPH SCHEIDLER WROTE TO ONE OF HIS CONFEDERATES. HE PLANNED A PRO-LIFE CONFERENCE IN THE WAKE OF A SPATE OF CLINIC BOMBINGS AND ARRANGED FOR THE HOTEL MARQUEE TO READ: “WELCOME, PRO-LIFE ACTIVISTS. HAVE A BLAST.” HE HAS DESCRIBED HIS GROUP AS A “PRO-LIFE MAFIA,” VOWED TO STOP ABORTION “BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY,” AND PROCLAIMED “A YEAR OF PAIN AND FEAR” FOR ANYONE SEEKING OR PROVIDING AN ABORTION.

IN COURT, SCHEIDLER AND HIS ILK CALL A CLINIC A CLINIC. WHEN TALKING AMONG THEMSELVES, IT’S A DEATH MILL. IN COURT, PROTESTORS WHO HARASS PATIENTS ARE CALLED “SIDEWALK COUNSELORS.” THESE “SIDEWALK COUNSELORS” AT HOPE CLINIC YELL RACIAL SLURS, CALL WOMEN SLUTS, AND CALL MALE CLINIC ESCORTS ALL MANNER OF ANTI-GAY SLURS. THEY’LL CALL YOU EVERYTHING BUT A REPUBLICAN MATRON AND A CHILD OF GOD. MAINLY THEY CALL US DEATHSCORTS.

THE CLINIC ESCORTS WE AT NARAL TRAIN AND PROVIDE ARE TAUGHT NOT TO RESPOND TO THE TAUNTS AND NOT TO HAVE CONTACT WITH THE PROTESTORS. THEY ARE EXPLICITLY TRAINED IN NONVIOLENT RESPONSE. OPERATION RESCUE TRAINS ITS “RESCUERS” WITH MATERIALS THAT DISAVOW VIOLENCE,TOO–UNLESS MAN’S LAWS CONFLICT WITH GOD’S LAWS.

IT’S PRETTY CLEAR THAT ANTI-CHOICE EXTREMISTS THINK THERE’S A BATTLE GOING ON. HERE’S A TYPICAL STATEMENT FROM AN OPERATION RESCUE OPUS: “WE ARE AMONG THE FRONT-LINE TROOPS IN THE BATTLE FOR LIFE. TOGETHER WE WILL WIN! WE HAVE AN ARMY OF PEOPLE. THE BATTLE IS RAGING. . . THE COMMANDER IS CALLING MOST OF US TO THE FRONT LINES.”

RANDALL TERRY, SPEAKING ABOUT DOCTORS AND CLINIC ESCORTS, HAD THIS TO SAY: “WHEN I, OR PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE RUNNING THE COUNTRY, YOU’D BETTER FLEE, BECAUSE WE WILL FIND YOU, WE WILL TRY YOU, AND WE WILL EXECUTE YOU. I MEAN EVERY WORD OF IT.. . .IF WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TRUE REFORMATION IN AMERICA, IT IS BECAUSE MEN ONCE AGAIN. . .HAVE RIGHTEOUS TESTOSTERONE FLOWING THROUGH THEIR VEINS.” I DON’T WANT THAT “VISUAL”-MAKES ME NEED VISINE FOR MY MIND’S EYE.

THE DAY AFTER DR. TILLER WAS GUNNED DOWN, RANDALL TERRY CALLED A PRESS CONFERENCE TO DENOUNCE DR. TILLER AS A “DEMONIC,” “DIABOLICAL” “MASS MURDERER” WHO “REAPED WHAT HE SOWED.” ONE OF HIS SUCCESSORS AT THE HELM OF OPERATION RESCUE, TROY NEWMAN, PUBLICLY DEPLORED THE VIOLENCE-BUT TROY NEWMAN HAS SOME STRANGE FRIENDS. HIS SECOND-IN-COMMAND WAS IN TOUCH WITH TILLER’S ASSASSIN FOR WEEKS BEFORE THE SHOOTING, AND HER NAME AND NUMBER WERE IN HIS CAR WHEN HE WAS ARRESTED. THIS WOMAN HERSELF SPENT TWO YEARS IN JAIL FOR CONSPIRING TO BOMB A CLINIC BEFORE OPERATION RESCUE PUT HER TO WORK. GUESS EVERYONE DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE, HUH?

THE GUY WHO OPERATED THE “NUREMBURG FILES” WEBSITE SAID ABOUT DR. TILLER’S KILLING: “THE THING ABOUT TILLER’S ASSASSINATION THAT WAS REALLY APPROPRIATE IS THAT THEY KILLED HIM IN CHURCH. WHILE HE WAS THERE COLLECTING THE MONEY, COUNTING THE MONEY, HIS BLOOD POURED INTO THOSE THICK CARPETS IN THAT CHURCH. THAT WAS A FITTING SENDOFF.”

TROY NEWMAN MAINTAINS CONTACT WITH THREE OF THE TOP 20 OPERATIVES OF THE ARMY OF GOD. THE ARMY OF GOD HAS BEEN LINKED TO MILITIA ACTIVITY, CHRISTIAN IDENTITY AND NEO-NAZI ELEMENTS, AND OF COURSE BOMBINGS, ASSASSINATIONS, AND ARSONS AT THE CLINICS. THE ARMY OF GOD SUBSCRIBES TO THIS MANIFESTO: “WE PROCLAIM THAT WHATEVER FORCE IS LEGITIMATE TO DEFEND THE LIFE OF A BORN CHILD IS LEGITIMATE TO DEFEND THE LIFE OF AN UNBORN CHILD.” ARMY OF GOD MEMBERS HAVE DEPLORED THE LACK OF CHRISTIAN SUICIDE BOMBERS AT THE CLINICS.

PEOPLE WHO WOULD MAKE THESE SORTS OF STATEMENTS ARE RIGHTLY RECOGNIZED BY MOST OF US AS MONOMANIACS. BUT THE LANGUAGE AND THE IDEOLOGY OF VIOLENT FRINGES HAVE CREPT INTO OUR ALLEGEDLY MAINSTREAM POLITICAL DISCOURSE, POISONING OUR POLITICS-FROM ELECTORAL CAMPAIGNS TO THE COURTS. NOVEMBER SHOWED US NOTHING LESS THAN THE CREEPING ALABAMIFICATION OF AMERICA.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF US WOULD BE REPULSED BY THE LITANY OF VITRIOL FROM ANTI-CHOICE LEADERS AND ACTIVISTS I JUST RATTLED OFF. BUT NOW, AS IN 1960S ALABAMA, WE HAVE PEOPLE RUNNING FOR OFFICE WHO HAVE MADE IT PLAIN THAT THEY DON’T CARE WHETHER IT’S EASIER IN AMERICA ANYMORE TO GET A GUN OR TO DECIDE WHO TO KILL WITH IT.

LET’S LOOK AT SOME RHETORICAL SNAPSHOTS FROM 2010 ELECTIONS, FULL OF GUN IMAGERY AND THREATS OR INTIMATIONS OF VIOLENCE.

IN FLORIDA, A CANDIDATE HELD A CAMPAIGN EVENT AT A SHOOTING RANGE FEATURING A HUMAN-SHAPED TARGET WITH HIS LIBERAL OPPONENT’S INITIALS ON IT. IN SOUTH CAROLINA, A TEA PARTY-BACKED CANDIDATE THREW A “MACHINE-GUN SOCIAL” THAT DREW 500 PEOPLE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN AN AK-47 AND SHOOT 20 ROUNDS FROM A MACHINE GUN. GABBY GIFFORDS’ OPPONENT HAD AN EVENT WHERE VOTERS COULD COME SHOOT AN M-16 WITH HIM. THE POSTERS FOR THE EVENT READ: “GET ON TARGET FOR VICTORY IN NOVEMBER. HELP REMOVE GABRIELLE GIFFORDS FROM OFFICE.”

A TEXAS CANDIDATE SAID THAT VIOLENT REVOLUTION WAS “ON THE TABLE.” AN ALABAMA REPUBLICAN POSED WITH A RIFLE AND TOLD THE CAMERA, “I WILL NAME NAMES AND TAKE NO PRISONERS,” WHILE ANOTHER ALABAMA CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE RAN A TEA-TINGED AD CALLED “GATHER YOUR ARMIES.”

SHARRON ANGLE IN NEVADA, WHO CAME DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO WINNING, EXPLICITLY LINKED THE USE OF FIREARMS TO POLITICAL ACTION: “PEOPLE ARE REALLY LOOKING TOWARD THOSE SECOND AMENDMENT REMEDIES AND SAYING, MY GOODNESS, WHAT CAN WE DO TO TURN THIS COUNTRY AROUND? I’LL TELL YOU, THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IS TAKE HARRY REID OUT.”

IN MINNESOTA, CRAZY MICHELLE BACHMAN SAID SHE WANTED MINNESOTANS TO BE “ARMED AND DANGEROUS” AND INVOKED JEFFERSON’S THOUGHT THAT OCCASIONAL REVOLUTIONS MIGHT BE NECESSARY. SHE FORGOT TO INCLUDE JEFFERSON’S CAVEAT THAT THE NECESSITY WOULD BE ONLY IN CASES OF A TYRANNICAL GOVERNMENT.

A MISSISSIPPI REPUBLICAN TOLD A REPORTER, “WE HUNT LIBERAL, TREE-HUGGING DEMOCRATS, ALTHOUGH IT DOES SEEM LIKE A WASTE OF AMMUNITION.” A RIGHT-WING FLORIDA REPUBLICAN AT LEAST HAD THE GOOD SENSE TO RESCIND A JOB OFFER TO A SHOCK JOCK WHO TOLD A TEA PARTY RALLY, “IF BALLOTS DON’T WORK, BULLETS WILL.”

ABOUT HALF THESE PEOPLE I JUST QUOTED WON NOT ONLY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NOMINATION, BUT WENT ON TO WIN THEIR RACES. NOT TO MENTION THAT KENTUCKY ELECTED A SENATOR WHO THINKS FEDERAL DESEGREGATION LAWS INFRINGE ON YOUR PRIVATE RIGHT TO DISCRIMINATE IN YOUR BUSINESS. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM OPPOSES ABORTION IN ALL CASES.

NOW, WE KNOW THAT NOT ALL TEA PARTY TYPES ARE TERRORISTS ANY MORE THAN ALL CLINIC PROTESTORS ARE. BUT THEIR STANDARD-BEARERS STALK THE AIRWAVES, METAPHORICALLY JUGGLING FLARES IN A FIREWORKS FACTORY. PEOPLE WHO DO THAT SHOULD EXPECT AN EXPLOSION. AS PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS REMINDED US, WORDS MATTER. THERE’S A REASON THE BOOK OF GENESIS SAYS THAT DOMINION IS GIVEN TO THOSE THAT NAME THINGS.

EVEN IF THAT ARIZONA SHOOTER WAS UNHINGED, EVEN IF ERIC ROBERT RUDOLPH WAS UNHINGED IN BOMBINGHAM, EVEN IF SCOTT ROEDER WAS UNHINGED IN DR. TILLER’S CHURCH, CRIMINALLY MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE HEAR THE SAME THINGS THAT YOU AND I HEAR. THEY’RE NOT IMMUNE FROM BILL O’REILLY’S RANTS OR RANDALL TERRY’S BUCKET OF CRAZY OR SARAH PALIN’S ADMONITION, “DON’T RETREAT-RELOAD.”

IN THIS COUNTRY, THERE IS A HARD RIGHT CONSISTING OF ABOUT 23% OF THE POPULATION THAT FLAT-OUT HAS A BROWNSHRT MENTALITY. WHEN BILL CLINTON WAS ELECTED, THE CLINICS STARTED GETTING BLOCKADED AND BOMBED OR TERRORIZED AT A GREATLY ACCELERATED RATE, AND WE REMEMBER ARMED CAMPS OF CRAZIES AND BOMBED FEDERAL BUILDINGS. WHEN THE OPPOSITION IS IN CHARGE OF GOVERNMENT, THEY CALL THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF TREASONOUS.

DID THE PASSAGE OF A LAW ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE REALLY LEAD TO CALLS FOR ARMED INSURRECTION? WHEN A BLACK MAN MOVES INTO THE WHITEST HOUSE IN AMERICA, CLINIC DOCS ARE MOWED DOWN AGAIN, AND THIS TWISTED BUNCH OF MALCONTENTS SPIT ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONGRESSMEN, LEAVE A COFFIN ON RUSS CARNAHAN’S LAWN, AND BOARD THE BUS FOR CRAZISTAN IN SEARCH OF THE PRESIDENT’S BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

AFTER FAR-RIGHT ELEMENTS SUCCEEDED IN IMPEACHING A PRESIDENT AND STEALING ONE AND POSSIBLY TWO PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS-AT LEAST ONE WITH THE COMPLICITY OF THE SUPREME COURT-DID ANYONE REALLY BELIEVE THAT ANY RESPECT FOR LAW OR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS WAS GOING TO PREVAIL?

THE QUESTIONS FACING OUR COUNTRY AREN’T ABOUT CIVILITY. WE MUST REALLY DECIDE WHY NORMAL, MODERATE PEOPLE TOLERATE AND EVEN CONSIDER IT MAINSTREAM FOR NATIONAL LEADERS TO INCITE VIOLENCE. IF YOU WERE READING PROGRESSIVE BLOGGERS, YOU’D HAVE TO REACH ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE COMMENTS SCROLL TO FIND IMPLIED THREATS OR IMPORTUNINGS TO KILL SOMEBODY BECAUSE YOU DISAGREE WITH THEM. BUT SARAH PALIN IS RELOADING, SHARRON ANGLE IS TALKING ABOUT HARRY REID AND GUN-WIELDING CITIZENS, AND JOE WILSON, WHO SHOUTED “YOU LIE” AT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, HAS A COMMEMORATIVE RIFLE BEING MANUFACTURED WITH “YOU LIE” ON THE GUNSTOCK.

THE RIGHT WING SHOULD KNOW FROM LIARS. WHEN STEALING ELECTIONS, KILLING PEOPLE, AND THREATENING TO KILL PEOPLE DOESN’T WORK, THEY GET WHAT THEY WANT BY LYING. I AM FROM THE SEMI-SOVEREIGN REPUBLIC OF ALABAMA, SO I HAVE SEEN WHAT’S PLAYING OUT ON THE NATIONAL STAGE ALL BEFORE. I’VE BEEN INVOLVED IN LAWSUITS IN WHICH THE GOVERNOR DISPUTED THAT THE BILL OF RIGHTS EVEN APPLIES TO ALABAMA. SOME DAYS IT SEEMED HE WAS CORRECT AT A PRACTICAL LEVEL.

RIGHT-WING LIARS ATTACK THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE BY DISTORTING THE WORDS OF THE FOUNDERS, BY READING THE CONSTITUTION THE WAY ANY BONE-HEADED FUNDIE LITERALIST READS THE BIBLE-WHICH IS TO SAY, REFLEXIVELY, THOUGHTLESSLY, AND WITHOUT ANY APPRECIATION FOR ALLEGORY. THEY PRETENDTHAT SCHOOL-SPONSORED GROUP PRAYER IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS JUST FREE SPEECH, PRETEND THAT 10 COMMANDMENTS DISPLAYS ARE NOT RELIGIOUS AT ALL, BUT MERELY SYMBOLIC OF THE HISTORIC ROLE OF RELIGION IN OUR COUNTRY OR OUR ALLEGED “CHRISTIAN NATION HERITAGE.”

THEY HAVE DECLARED WAR ON SCIENCE, TRYING TO DISMANTLE STEM CELL RESEARCH, PUSHING FOR FAITH-BASED ABSTINENCE-ONLY PROGRAMS THAT DON’T WORK AND MAKING UP BOGUS STATISTICS TO BELLY UP TO THE FEDERAL TROUGH, SUBSTITUTING SOMETHING THEY CALL “INTELLIGENT DESIGN” IN OUR SCHOOLS TO CAMOFLAGE A CREATIONIST CURRICULUM.

WHEN THE FACTS DON’T SUIT THEM, THEY MAKE THEM UP. THEY CONTINUE TO CLAIM A LINK BETWEEN ABORTION AND BREAST CANCER EVEN THOUGH WE’VE KNOWN FOR A WHILE THAT THIS IS A LIE. THEY HELD UP OVER-THE-COUNTER STATUS FOR EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION FOR YEARS, PRETENDING IT CAUSES ABORTION, ALBEIT THE SCIENCE SAYS OTHERWISE. THEY HAVE MADE UP SOMETHING THEY CALL “ABORTION TRAUMA SYNDROME.” FROM THIN AIR, THEY HAVE PLUCKED THE FIGURE THAT 64% OF ABORTIONS IN AMERICA ARE COERCED. THEY SCREAMED THAT HEALTH CARE REFORM WOULD FUND ABORTIONS, WHEN THE OPPOSITE WAS TRUE. THEY CONJURED DEATH PANELS AND TOLD YOU SECULAR HUMANISM WAS GONNA GET YOUR MAMA.

THEY HAVE SPREAD THE PERNICIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL THEORY THAT THE TENTH AMENDMENT SOMEHOW MEANS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN’T REFORM HEALTH CARE. THOSE WORSHIPPERS OF THE TENTH AMENDMENT, THOSE PEOPLE SPOUTING “SOVEREIGNTY,” ARE THE SAME PEOPLE THEY WERE IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE DOORS WITH GEORGE WALLACE. STATES’ RIGHTS IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN THE LAST REFUGE OF SCOUNDRELS. “SEPARATE BUT EQUAL” WAS DECIDED ON THE BASIS OF THE TENTH AMENDMENT. DRED SCOTT WAS RETURNED TO SLAVERY BY BONE-HEADED TEXTUALISM AND A TENTH AMENDMENT ANIMATING SPIRIT. THE TENTH AMENDMENT IS A FULL-SERVICE BIGOTERIA WITH SEGREGATED LUNCH COUNTERS.

AND FOR A SOLID WEEK LAST YEAR, THE MISSOURI GENERAL ASSEMBLY DEBATED A NONBINDING RESOLUTION ABOUT DECLARING ITS SOVEREIGNTY THAT READ LIKE A DECLARATION OF SECESSION HOT OFF THE PEN OF JOHN C. CALHOUN. FOURTEEN STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL HAVE SIGNED ON TO A LAWSUIT CHALLENGING HEALTH CARE REFORM ON THE BASIS OF THE TENTH AMENDMENT.

ONE QUARTER OF THE POPULATION CONSISTING OF CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALISTS, MILITIA TYPES, AND FRANKLY-BIGOTS-IS GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER, MAYHEM, LEGISLATIVE BLACKMAIL, SCAPEGOATING, AND VARIOUS ASSAULTS ON GRAMMAR AND SPELLING AT THEIR INCOHERENT RALLIES.

THE DAMAGE THAT AN UNCHECKED POLITICS OF THREAT AND DEMONIZATION CAN DO IS NOT MEASURED JUST IN BULLETS, BUT IN THE ABSENCE OF BALLOTS. SARAH PALIN IS RELOADING, WHILE THE GREAT MASS OF PEOPLE WITH COMMON-SENSE, MODERATE VIEWS ARE RETREATING. IT’S TIME FOR THE REST OF US HOT-EYED MODERATES TO JUST SAY ONE THING TO THESE PEOPLE AND THEIR MEDIA ORGANS THAT REPEAT THEIR LIES UNTIL THEY HAVE THE RING OF TRUTH: WE CALL BULLSHIT.