By Isaac Fitzgerald, AlterNet
Posted on June 2, 2009, Printed on June 8, 2009
http://www.alternet.org/story/140399/
Dr. George Tiller, one of the few OB-GYNs in the country who performed late-term abortions despite threats to his safety, was brutally slain on Sunday in an act of domestic terrorism. Suspect Scott Roeder has been detained for questioning, but while Roeder may have pulled the trigger, another participant in Tiller's tragic death is still at large: Bill O'Reilly.
Gabriel Winant of Salon writes about O'Reilly:
... there's no other person who bears as much responsibility for the characterization of Tiller as a savage on the loose, killing babies willy-nilly thanks to the collusion of would-be sophisticated cultural elites, a bought-and-paid-for governor and scofflaw secular journalists. Tiller's name first appeared on The Factor on Feb. 25, 2005. Since then, O'Reilly and his guest hosts have brought up the doctor on 28 more episodes, including as recently as April 27. Almost invariably, Tiller is described as "Tiller the Baby Killer."
Watch a video roundup of O'Reilly's jihad on Tiller.
"Tiller the Baby Killer." That's how time and time again on national television O'Reilly referred to Tiller -- a man who worked within the confines of the law and was a legal medical practitioner. O'Reilly's rhetoric helped feed the hate that led to Tiller's killing, and we believe that O'Reilly must take responsibility for his abhorred actions. That is why we urge you to join CREDO in telling O'Reilly that he should "take responsibility for creating an atmosphere in which the assassination of Dr. George Tiller comes as no surprise. And ask him to pledge to stop spreading the hateful rhetoric that encourages violence against doctors who provide reproductive health care for women." Click here to learn more about how you can help.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Dr. Tiller in this time of sadness. Here are the rest of our take-action campaigns for this week:
II -- Tell Congress to Stop Being Scared and Close Gitmo
As one of his first acts in office, President Barack Obama announced he will close Guantanamo Bay by January 2010.
But he needs Congress to move forward, and they're caving in the face of recent right-wing attacks. We need to step up and show our support for Obama's decision to close Guantanamo. Join MoveOn.org and tell Congress "Guantanamo Bay is a constant reminder of the Bush-era abuses of our laws" and must be shut down.
III -- Stand Up Against the Right-Wing Attacks on Sotomayor
Sonia Sotomayor is an accomplished scholar, celebrated judge and devoted public servant. But despite her impressive credentials, right-wing critics have responded to her historic nomination with thinly veiled sexist and racist attacks. Please join Presente.org in standing with Sotomayor and urging the Senate Judiciary Committee to give her a swift confirmation.
IV -- We Must Be Fearless in Our Response to Prop. 8 Ruling
The California Supreme Court has announced its deeply disappointing decision to uphold Proposition 8. We don't have time to mourn the failure of the state court to restore marriage equality to California. It's time to go on offense. To be fearless in our fight for equality. Will you join the Courage Campaign and stand up for what you know is right?
V -- Stop Schwarzenegger's Home Care Cuts in California
Home care workers across California face pay cuts of up to 33 percent -- from $12.10 an hour to $8.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's belief that solving the state's fiscal problems on the backs of those who take care of the most fragile among us is an absolute disgrace. Stand with SEIU and write a message to Schwarzenegger telling him you strongly disagree with his misguided priorities.
VI -- Take Action to Prevent Child Marriage
Sixty million girls around the world are married before the age of 17 -- many to men twice their age or older. They need our help.
The cost of child marriage is too high to be ignored. When a girl is forced to marry at a young age, it diminishes her chance at an education, endangers her health and has long-lasting and dire consequences not only for her, but for her family and community as well.
Young brides are:
- More likely to become young mothers. Girls under the age of 15 are five times more likely to die in childbirth than a woman in her 20s.
- More likely to drop out of school and have limited economic opportunities, which keeps them and their families locked in the cycle of poverty.
- Twice as likely to suffer domestic violence and are more vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases like HIV.
The United States can use its leadership to prevent child marriage. Stand with CARE and ask your representatives to co-sponsor the International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act of 2009.
VII -- Hold Shell Oil Accountable for Its Environmental and Human Rights Crimes
Shell Oil Co. faces charges that it was complicit in the slayings of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Nigerian activists. Shell Guilty is a collective of environmental and human rights groups that have formed a global campaign to hold Shell accountable and demand that it stop gas flaring in Nigeria.
Call for Shell to come clean about its corporate irresponsibility, human rights abuses and record of environmental devastation. Take action by clicking here. To learn more, visit ShellGuilty.com.
VIII -- Stop Starbucks' Problematic Labor Practices
Starbucks has a history of being anti-barista, anti-union, and thus anti-Employee Free Choice Act. Brave New Films, which took on the giant chain store Wal-Mart, is spilling the beans on Starbucks' atrocious labor practices, and it needs your help. Let Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz know that you demand he stop opposing the Employee Free Choice Act and allow his workers to unionize. Also, if you work at Starbucks, know someone who does, or even just got a coffee there today share your Starbucks story.
IX -- Health Care for America Now
With the likes of Rick Scott and Blue Cross Blue Shield turning on the pressure, we must keep on Obama to carry out his campaign promises about fixing our broken health care system. Click here to learn more about what you can do to help ensure that insurers don't defeat health care reform.
X -- Stand Up to Home Depot and Save Patagonia's Rivers
The Home Depot is the largest U.S. buyer of timber products from the Matte Group, one of the companies planning to build five big dams on two pristine rivers in Patagonia, southern Chile. The dams and their associated transmission lines would ruin rivers, flood rare, endangered forests and destroy livelihoods.
Why the Home Depot? Every year the Home Depot purchases $50 million worth of timber products from the Matte and Angelini groups Рowners of wood-products companies CMPC and Arauco Рwhich together control the main Chilean owner of the dam consortium called HidroAys̩n. The Home Depot claims that it works to protect Chilean native forests, but the dams and their transmission lines would require clear-cutting and flooding of untouched temperate rainforests of a type found nowhere else on the planet.
InternationalRivers.org is calling on the Home Depot to protect Patagonia and stop buying timber products from the Matte and Angelini groups. Will you help? Learn how you can get involved!
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