Are Groups That Actively Pursued Tiller Culpable In His Murder?

Rogers Cadenhead of the Drudge Retort writes that one group in particular might bear some responsibility for the murder of George Tiller.  However, unlike some Tiller haters, Jenn Giroux (right), who runs Women Influencing the Nation, posted this after the murder:

Women Influencing the Nation condemns all form of murder. The murder of George Tiller is in direct contradiction with the beliefs and morals embraced by those of us who believe that every life is precious in the eyes of God and no individual has the right to take the life of another. We encourage everyone to pray for the repose of Dr. Tiller’s soul.

Rogers points out that Giroux, who runs ChargeTiller.com, spent two years pursuing criminal charges against Tiller, and referred to him as “Tiller the Killer,” and falsely charged that he performed illegal abortions. Giroux also accused Tiller of bribing government officials on a page that was taken down after his killing.

The accused assassin posted this on her site.

It seems as though what is happening in Kansas could be compared to the ‘lawlessness’ which is spoken of in the Bible,” it said. “Tiller is the concentration camp ‘Mengele’ of our day and needs to be stopped before he and those who protect him bring judgment upon our nation.

I’m not sure that you can claim causality when some whack-job does something insane.  You never know just what sets people off.  Cadenhead makes a case for how important it is for these anti-abortion groups to distance themselves from these acts of violence:

Anti-abortion groups that go after individual doctors with rhetoric as strong as Giroux’s share responsibility for his death. When you tell people that a doctor is committing murder and has bribed government officials to escape prosecution, you’re encouraging people like Tiller’s murderer to view violence as a justifiable act. Anti-abortion activists know this. Since 1993, there have been 14 attempted murders of abortion providers, 13 bombings of medical care locations, and now two doctors killed.

No matter how you feel about abortion, you should recognize that protests against doctors at their hospitals and homes are a form of political violence intended to stop Americans from engaging in a legal activity. If Giroux is genuinely remorseful about Tiller’s murder, her group should repudiate the practice of going after individual abortion doctors the way they pursued Tiller.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.