You may remember the flap over the Secret Service limitations on where protestors could set up near George W. Bush, and the wailing about “free speech zones” being an unconscionable restriction, etc. I have yet to hear anybody (1) complain about the Secret Service’s policy since Obama took over or (2) explain how the policy changed, as I suspect it has not. Like so many routine government activities, it’s only objectionable when it’s Bush.
Anyway, this is a slightly different story - about a private sign-making company, not a government agency - but it’s nonetheless revealing: a billboard company refused to allow signs to call President Obama “pro-abortion,” insisting on altering the billboards to “pro abortion choice.” Here’s the proposed billboard:
Here’s what they ran instead:
First of all, this is ignorance. Obama has long supported taxpayer funding to subsidize abortions. It is simply not possible to support taking money from taxpayers to pay for a thing, causing more of that thing to happen, and then argue that you are not supporting the thing itself. Taxpayer funding is a far cry from live and let live (it’s something Obama opposes for, say, sending black children in failed DC school districts to private schools - he must regard abortion as more desirable than a good education). Add in efforts to squeeze Catholic hospitals that have moral objections to performing abortions, and Obama’s famous crack about how he would not want his daughters “punished with a baby,” and it’s just nonsensical to deny that Obama is, if words have any meaning whatsoever, pro-abortion. The fear of saying so about anybody is revealing, though - it’s a recognition that being pro-abortion is a bad thing, which of course is not the case if you believe, as supporters of legal abortion must, that the act does not take a human life.
(A digression: when Sarah Palin talked recently about the choice to keep her youngest child, liberals argued that this was a concession - isn’t it wonderful, some of them argued, to live in a country that allows such choices? Um, no. Using cocaine and driving drunk are illegal, but we still speak of not doing them as being moral choices. If a teenager from a bad neighborhood refuses to join a gang, we can celebrate the positive moral choice without saying, “isn’t it great to live in a country where teenagers get to choose whether or not to join violent, drug-dealing street gangs?” No, it’s a tragedy.)
Second, the reluctance to allow open discussion of the issue is symptomatic of something Justice Scalia has noted at the Supreme Court level: the systematic bending of all other rules and customs, much as happened in the days of slavery, to protect the practice of abortion, from unique rules for protests around clinics, to laxer regulation of clinics, to distortion of the language itself. The same people calling for displaying graphic photos of interrogation of detainees or who want soldiers’ coffins on the front page of the newspaper without the consent of their families are the ones who are horrified by the idea that any image should be displayed of abortion, the ones who even recoil at showing pictures of live unborn children in the debate. The unwillingness to face the language itself is a symptom of the recognition that some things can’t really be defended.
Denial
Vannek Thursday, May 7th at 2:47PM EDT (link)“The unwillingness to face the language itself is a symptom of the recognition that some things can’t really be defended.”
Well said. It’s a fetus, not a baby. It’s a choice, not the taking of an innocent life. Partial-birth abortion is a medical procedure, not an execution.
The cartoonist who draws Calvin & Hobbes said this: “It’s not denial. I’m just selective about the reality I accept.”
Perception words
ExposeDemLiars Thursday, May 7th at 4:57PM EDT (link)The liberals have taken the high ground by using “perception” words. We need to counter that by making them look foolish whenever they do. That’s easily done by asking questions that put the word back in context. For instance whenever a liberal calls themselves progressive, ask them
What is “progressive” about regressing back into Totalitarianism?
Or if they call someone a homophobe, reply by stating that phobia implies fear and we are not afraid of discussing our position, are they?
When they blame Bush for starting the bailout spending, remind them that Obama has been in office for 5 months. If he were a leader he would have corrected the direction.
In other “words”, we need to use their own words to show a clear and distinct difference between us and them.
Along those lines we should all start calling socialism "caveman economics"
LJ "Beaglescout" Miller Thursday, May 7th at 7:11PM EDT (link)Because that is what it is. The tribe owns everything, and lends it to the people of the tribe to be caretakers. Their produce is given to the tribe, and they get a small piece back. When they hunt it is given to the tribe. Nobody, except the chief, can accumulate any property. In a defacto sense everything belongs to the chief and the council of elders, including the lives and labor of the tribe. And that’s exactly the same thing as socialism. Just change the name of the chief to the secretary and the council of elders to the socialist party. The misery and poverty are the same. Caveman economics, as proposed by Marx.
“Each of us has a natural right, from God, to defend his person, his liberty, and his property.”
He's unambiguously pro-abortion
gonzo55 Thursday, May 7th at 3:06PM EDT (link)That’s just a statement of fact. Of course, we need to work together to reduce the total number of abortions to just those cases in which having a kid would be extremely inconvenient, like in the case of a single mom in college. How’d that work out for you, Dear Leader?
“Facts are stubborn things” — Ronald Wilson Reagan
Net positive on the sign IMHO
redneck_hippie Thursday, May 7th at 3:12PM EDT (link)The distinction is clear, at least to me, that by underlining “abortion”, the sign is pointing out that choice doesn’t mean a good thing that is humane. The issue is abortion choice. The emphasis is on abortion choice and not just “choice” is okay. with me.
More billboards, I say.
“We must not lose our faculty to dare, especially in dark days.” - Churchill in March, 1942.
Remember NY-23; translation: RINOs Have No Base.
5... Notre Dame needs to be shamed over this
6eorge Jetson Thursday, May 7th at 3:15PM EDT (link)So stop sending your sons & daughters to Notre Dame
izoneguy Thursday, May 7th at 7:20PM EDT (link)Legacy, schmegacy….
“When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.”
Thomas Jefferson
great comment izoneguy - I mean really, even if there are only 5 conservative
Mike gamecock DeVine Thursday, May 7th at 7:37PM EDT (link)universities in the US
There must be 10?
but see my comments on the culture war and you will see that I think we are saying the same thing
http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law–Politics-Examiner~y2009m4d25-Culture-battles-lost-despite-not-because-of-Dobson-and-Reagan
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
fi you want a truly Catholic school there are several
Lammo Thursday, May 7th at 7:53PM EDT (link)scattered around the country. The Cardinal Newman Society publishes an annual guide to authentically Catholic colleges and universities. The list, which currently consists of 21 schools, can be found here: http://www.catholichighered.org/TheNewmanGuide/tabid/356/Default.aspx
ACORN: Association of Criminals Obama Represented in the Nineties. (jupitersuite)
Don’t be so open minded that your brains fall out. (Fr. John Corapi, SOLT)
Crime never takes a holiday. (Dennis J. O’Shea, R.I.P.)
Unlawful is against the law. Illegal is a sick bird. (Ooold joke)
Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read. (Groucho Marx)
"IF"
Lammo Thursday, May 7th at 8:06PM EDT (link)darn computer.
ACORN: Association of Criminals Obama Represented in the Nineties. (jupitersuite)
Don’t be so open minded that your brains fall out. (Fr. John Corapi, SOLT)
Crime never takes a holiday. (Dennis J. O’Shea, R.I.P.)
Unlawful is against the law. Illegal is a sick bird. (Ooold joke)
Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read. (Groucho Marx)
I understand the point but
LibRick Thursday, May 7th at 4:06PM EDT (link)Shouldn’t the required text have been stated in their RFP or more likely RFQ (on this level) ?
And, doesn’t a private business have the freedom to propose, modify requirements and submit a bid according to it’s own interests?
The Pro Life Action League could have rejected the contract and went elsewhere, and maybe they should have.
Freedom? Absolutely.
Dan McLaughlin Thursday, May 7th at 4:17PM EDT (link)It’s not censorship, per se. But that doesn’t make it above criticism.
The fact that they were unwilling to print those particular words is telling.
“No compromise with the main purpose, no peace till victory, no pact with unrepentant wrong.” - Winston Churchill
Don't know about South Bend but
Lammo Thursday, May 7th at 7:58PM EDT (link)in my city, which is about three times the size, there’s only one billboard company so there would be no where else to go.
ACORN: Association of Criminals Obama Represented in the Nineties. (jupitersuite)
Don’t be so open minded that your brains fall out. (Fr. John Corapi, SOLT)
Crime never takes a holiday. (Dennis J. O’Shea, R.I.P.)
Unlawful is against the law. Illegal is a sick bird. (Ooold joke)
Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read. (Groucho Marx)
Abortion Choice
ExposeDemLiars Thursday, May 7th at 4:55PM EDT (link)If there’s a choice, then the only civilized choice is to outlaw it.
Prochoice is a farse
ExposeDemLiars Thursday, May 7th at 5:03PM EDT (link)Opposing abortion is simply defending the rights of the innocent. How can there be room to allow each individual the “choice” of recognizing those rights or not?
To say “I’m not pro-abortion, I’m pro-choice, each woman should decide for herself”
is no different than saying
“I’m not pro-slavery, I’m pro-choice. Each plantation owner should decide for themself.”
Even better:
aesthete Thursday, May 7th at 10:09PM EDT (link)“No one wants to see slavery expanded, and the tired rhetoric from both sides is not what the American people want. To that end, I will not only make slavery safe, legal and rare by upholding the plantation owner’s right to choose, but I will also increase government funding for slavers, will prohibit merchants from pointing out the moral and long-term economic pitfalls of slavery, and will increase funding for slavery around the world.”
Isn’t that such a reasonable position?
Guilt is a rope that wears thin.
-Ayn Rand
“I am a freeman in a free state!”
-Last words of Dumnorix, chieftan of the Aedui, 54 BC
Private Business
jabley Thursday, May 7th at 8:30PM EDT (link)It would bother me more if a private business was forced to put up any billboard someone brought their way. They have a right to have content guidelines, just like RedState/Eagle Interactive does (and which they clearly define on their advertising materials. Private business. Their choice. End of story.
===========
From Eagle Interactive
All web banner, dedicated e-mail and e-newsletter text advertising creative is subject to Eagle Interactive approval. Eagle Interactive reserves the right to reject or cancel any Advertisement, Insertion Order, and space reservation or position commitment at any time based upon its creative content or otherwise. Eagle Interactive has the right to refuse any content that is defamatory, racist, sexist or discriminatory to any social or religious group at its discretion. Eagle Interactive has the right to refuse any content that is sexually explicit in nature, that contains reference to bodily functions, that condones illegal actions, that contains violence, that advertises any male enhancement products or advertises HGH (human growth hormone). Eagle Interactive also reserves the right to refuse any advertisement(s) with content that we determine to be unacceptable to our audience.
I’m actually a Democrat pretending to be a Republican, and that’s why I got banned. I’m just too dense to be able to defend my side with facts and reason, so I have to resort to deception, just like President Obama.
I wonder if the private business argument would hold up if...
DONTREADONME Thursday, May 7th at 8:36PM EDT (link)the person was a black man and the business owner was a white man? I agree with you that this is a private business matter, but the hypocracy in this country usually shifts the argument depending on the purchasee’s minority status. Again, I agree with you this is a private business.
“The UN is right? you can’t be any more “un”; Than you are right now, the UN is undone, Another mushroom cloud, another smoking gun, The threat is real, the Locust King has come, Don’t tell me the truth; I don’t like what they’ve done, Just give me ammo for the UNITED AbomiNATIONS”-Megadeth
Yes it is a private business but
lkdavis Thursday, May 7th at 10:16PM EDT (link)we also have the option of not giving them our business.
From what I read
leftylurker Thursday, May 7th at 8:47PM EDT (link)On Kos, fwiw, even the Vatican thinks that all the outrage over this is politics.
A little black paint
JoeG Thursday, May 7th at 10:32PM EDT (link)Could fix that sign real quick.
If someone is paying for this
WarEagle01 Sunday, May 10th at 12:39AM EDT (link)Why in the heck would the sign company care?
“A wise, doughy leg with rich tingly experiences will always reach better conclusions than will a more tanned, muscular leg that hasn’t felt those thrills.” –Chris Matthews’ Leg
Here's three reasons the sign company might care
civil_truth Sunday, May 10th at 12:50AM EDT (link)…of the top of my head. I probably could come up with others if I took more time.
1) The owners had a personal objection to the message because of their convictions on the abortion issue (pro-abortion) and/or support for Obama, and so wanted to craft the message in a weaker form that would still pass muster with the buyers.
2) The owners did not want to risk displeasure of other advertisers.
3) The owners wanted to minimize a possible public controversy so as not to get drawn into it, which would be a losing situation for them regardless.
And Rightly So!
nt
WarEagle01 Sunday, May 10th at 12:41AM EDT (link)“A wise, doughy leg with rich tingly experiences will always reach better conclusions than will a more tanned, muscular leg that hasn’t felt those thrills.” –Chris Matthews’ Leg