11-06-06, 10:00 a.m.
With the mid-term elections less than twenty-four hours away, I had reached the relatively firm conclusion that the ultra-right couldn't possibly stoop any lower than they already have. But, to parphrase comedian/satirist Lewis Black's line about an end to cold winter weather and applying it to the present situation: 'I was f***ing wrong, wasn't I?'
It seems that a medical doctor, George Tiller, is on the verge of asking the Supreme Court of Kansas to appoint a special prosecutor to look into comments made by the state's Attorney General and Fox cable network commentator Bill O'Reilly, and take control of records from two clinics. Almost 100 patients of those clinics are impacted.
The Associated Press reported that the state's Attorney General, Phill Kline, obtained records from the clinics following a prolonged legal battle. Kline sought to review the records to determine criminal conduct, including rape and illegal abortions. The Attorney General received the records in response to a subpeona, and the records were redacted to protect the identity of patients.
But apparently, O'Reilly has the records as well. On his show last Friday, the Fox commentator told Tiller: 'Our information says that on almost every medical sheet -- and obviously we have a source inside here -- it says, 'depression.' I don't know whether you have that information or not -- I don't know -- but that's what it says,' according to the Associated Press.
Tiller and his representatives reject O'Reilly's contention that the information obtained by the commentator came from a source inside the clinics, the AP report states.
Attorney General Kline also appeared on O'Reilly's broadcast. Kline, a Republican, is described as being one of the nation's foremost opponents of abortion. He is up for re-election against Democratic challenger Paul Morrison and the race is said to be a close one.
A close election. Investigations of crimes at a medical clinic at the behest of an attorney general who has made anti-abortion rhetoric a core element of his politics. An appearance on O'Reilly's television program. Are you thinking what I am thinking?
No one with an ounce of heart and even the slightest degree of decency would be opposed to a legitimate investigation to determine criminal conduct, particularly when minor children might be involved. But to do so in a manner that would lead a reasonable person to believe that political gain was the prime motivation is despicable.
But not out of character. The ultra-right has always placed political power and expediency above the qualities of respect and decency, to say nothing of candor. During the past five years, the ultra-right complexion of the Bush administration has led the ascendancy of fear-based politics as cover for the erosion of civil liberties at home and the flagrant disregard of international law abroad.
Hitler used the Reichstag fire to do the same thing in Germany seventy-three years ago. And while I am not suggesting that Bush and company are identical to Hitler and his gangster cronies, no one has come up with a compelling reason not to draw parallels. Hitler demonized Jews, Gays, the left. Bush and his minions have demonized Moslems, Gays, the left -- and women who wish to exercise their rights under the existing law of the land to terminate their pregnancies.
No one knows, of course, what the outcome of Dr. Tiller's request to the Kansas Supreme Court will be, nor whether O'Reilly will find himself in a bind. We have yet to see the denouement concerning the disclosure of undercover CIA officer Valerie Plame's identity to the press -- a clearly political act involving the release of classified information.
In the final analysis, this episode is yet another example (if one were needed) why the the ultra-right needs to be sent to the sidelines. My conservative friends (yes, I have quite a few) will probably vote the way they've always voted although they're not at all happy about it -- nor am I. In the discussions I've had with them, they have difficulty getting their minds around how this administration has run roughshod over the constitution of our country. At least one has openly said to me, 'The Constitution needs to be altered.' But I don't think I'll be seeing him anytime soon since the drink I had in my mouth when he said it ended up on the front of his shirt.
Some of my many friends to the left -- a few further left than me -- have questioned why I support the Democrats in the mid-terms. There are many fine responses to that -- check out Joelle Fishman's recent reports, for instance. But if I had to boil it down to a sound bite, it would be this:
'I have to go back almost forty years to find something truly reprehensible a Democratic administration has visited upon the American people. It was the Vietnam war. With the Republicans, I have to go back to....well....what time is it now?'
Vote tomorrow, and kick the ultra-right to the curb.
