Randall Terry: George Tiller Reaped What He Sowed... Now Let's Go Have Some Hot Wings And Beer
People for the American Way have posted some incredible footage of anti-choice activist Randall Terry who, at the National Press Club earlier today, doubled down on his suggestion that Tiller got what was coming to him.
"The point that must be emphasized over, and over, and over again: pro-life leaders and the pro-life movement are not responsible for George Tiller's death. George Tiller was a mass-murderer and, horrifically, he reaped what he sowed."
After that kind decree, Terry ended the conference by inviting everybody on hand out to have a beer and some hot wings.
"Thank you for coming, unless there's any other questions. And I truly am sorry that we had to meet under these circumstances. I like Guinness for those of you who want to have a beer somewhere. I prefer my chicken wings really hot and a little crispy."
Maybe it's a ritual feast of mourning, or something.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
It's people like Randall Terry who are responsible for the decline of religion in America.
June 1, 2009 4:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Scientific development and reason, both in our education curriculum and in the media are the reasons for the decline of religion in America. As we learn more of our origins and the origins of the universe, we have less reason to believe in religions, and that which they purport.
June 1, 2009 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's wishful thinking. Religion isn't a choice, it's usually territorial and familial. You don't think drugs, a consumption society, and the mass migrations of people within the US, and the horrible rot within the American church had anything to do with it? Naaaww...we're a reason based society, just ponderin' the universe here.
June 1, 2009 7:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's because they are the opposite of what they say they are. If this is what the Church stands for, why would people want to be a part of it?
Personally, I think that if there's ever an anti-Christ, he would come from self-serving hateful people like Randall Terry who profess to be doing "God's work" but aren't.
June 1, 2009 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I only wish this hate-mongerer would reap what he sows.
June 1, 2009 4:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
so, 'he reaped what he sowed' doesn't mean what it actually means???
guess the bible isn't all that easy to understand when it's shoved so far up yer ass...
June 1, 2009 4:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
The bible ain't all that easy to understand at all, in or out of one's ass. People with lots of letters after their names who can read Greek, Coptic, Syriac, Latin and Hebrew can't agree on what it means, so why expect a yahoo like Randall to know?
June 1, 2009 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
A book that people can't understand shouldn't be a guiding document for so many people's lives. But, the Koran isn't any easier to understand. Maybe the problem is that if a religion were easy to understand it wouldn't be so believable by so many people. Like the Latin mass used to be much more impressive because few had any idea what was being said.
June 1, 2009 6:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
You've hit on some truth here. If religion were more easily understandable, it couldn't be twisted to mean whatever such diverse, contradictory groups want it to mean.
June 1, 2009 6:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Really? The Constitution is a complicated document (and much shorter!) with reams and reams and reams and a couple of centuries interpretation on it without agreement.
And FZ1999, democracy and Western culture aren't "choices" using your reasoning, but are territorial and familial. ALL worldviews are this way. It ain't just religion.
Please, people. TPM and those who comment here are often very bad at doing interpretation of religion(s) in a modern context--or any context, for that matter. Very sloppy.
June 2, 2009 12:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Please, people. TPM and those who comment here are often very bad at doing interpretation of religion(s) in a modern context--or any context, for that matter. Very sloppy."
Oh, please. And you are a self described expert on religion? The subject is murderous domestic terrorist asshats, Christopath gloating and chicken wings with extra-hot pomposity sauce-- which you have obviously consumed in plentiful portions. Sloppy, indeed.
June 2, 2009 2:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, I am. Sociologist specializing in religion. Nice to meet you.
June 13, 2009 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Bible isn't difficult to understand, it's merely that people understand it in different ways based on their individual perspectives. In many forms of Protestantism, it is believed that people have a "personal relationship" with God. When reading the Bible under the "spiritual guidance" requested of the Lord, interpretations will vary since each person is unique. The hard and fast rules are covered in the Ten Commandments; most of Jesus' teachings were in parables, which are subject to interpretation (and I would suggest purposefully so).
The problem isn't that the Bible is hard to understand, but that individuals believe their interpretations should be applied universally. The Catholic church has the Pope to do the thinking, while Protestants who feel the need to be led look to preachers. Neither, in my view, is necessary -- and can be dangerous in the wrong hands (like Mr. Terry's). One is capable of understanding the Bible as its lessons apply to one's individual life without third-party interpretation. The danger is in thinking one's individual beliefs should apply to all.
June 2, 2009 7:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
While I take your general meaning, I must disagree with you. The average person reading a modern translation of either the Hebrew scriptures or the Christian scriptures wouldn't have a clue about the social, historical, ethic and political contexts that shaped the formation of each book of the bible. A case can be made (and has, actually) that each of the Gospels represents entirely different versions of Christianity depending upon one's understanding of each of those contexts that I mentioned above.
What an educated reader takes away from a thorough inspection of the entire bible (which very few people actually do -- most just use it as a reference book, like a dictionary or an encyclopedia) will be unique and idiosyncratic to the understanding that of the casual reader who may or may not have other resources available to enlighten and amplify his comprehension of some very dense concepts.
The bible is neither easy to understand nor interpret. That said, I agree that achieving a uniformity of understanding is even more distant a possibility.
June 2, 2009 11:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
i guess terry's saying that tiller isn't 'responsible' for his own murder, just that he DESERVED it. okay. got it.
June 1, 2009 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jesus and this guy have so much in common, don't they?
June 1, 2009 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Brian, this is actually the second right wing gunmen with ties to O'Reilly and the gang. Remember the church shooter in TN from last summer?
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/Jul/28/church-shooting-police-find-manifesto-suspects-car/
June 1, 2009 5:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
That lowlife is beneath contempt.
June 1, 2009 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
What a pathetic scumbag of a human being. I pray that the big Karma train in the sky is chugging along at top speed and headed his way.
June 1, 2009 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Pardon my language, but what a prick.
June 1, 2009 5:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oops. I meant to say:
"What a HATEFUL prick."
June 1, 2009 5:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, I think you meant to say what a hateful, lowlife, despicable prick.
But I don't want to put words in your mouth.
June 1, 2009 5:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
You left out "ignorant".
June 1, 2009 6:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
and 'scumbag'.
June 1, 2009 6:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
And trans-fat.
June 2, 2009 1:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Of course the pro life folks believe they are the ones chosen to have the responsibility to choose WHICH folks should be allowed to live... and WHICH shouldn't...
Most of them would rather wait until the little ones get older and sin... then execute them!
June 1, 2009 5:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm always amazed and saddened by the pro-life, pro-death penalty crowd. It would be comical hypocrisy if not so disgustingly pathetic and harmful.
June 1, 2009 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Two Questions:
Why is a hatemongering religious fanatic like Terry being given a platform like the National-Freakin'-Press Club from which to legitimate his incitement to murder physicians? And
Who would actually want to sit down for a beer with a sick fuck like Terry? I'd rather use a broken Guinness bottle to cut my own throat.
June 1, 2009 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Because the National Press Club will rent out its space at lunchtime for any and every whackadoodle, as long as said whackadoodle pays them.
June 1, 2009 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Enough with the media and other useful idiots calling these people pro-life. This cannot be allowed to continue. "Radical theocrats" or "anti-choice" will do fine. Do not play their game.
June 1, 2009 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess it's an index of what I've come to expect that when I read the headline--"Now Let's Get Wings"--I actually thought he was going to have said we should all go "get our wings" like angels getting their wings, i. e. by going out and killing more doctors.
June 1, 2009 5:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
You weren't the only one who interpreted it that way!
June 1, 2009 6:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
The wings are plenty hot and crispy in Hell, dude. Funny how you claim J.C., but you'll never meet Him.
June 1, 2009 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I prefer my chicken wings really hot and a little crispy????"
Sort of like they do in Hell, Terry?
Oh my god, is Jon Stewart going to have fun with that one.
June 1, 2009 5:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm wondering if these public displays of callous indifference to murder in a church are going to help or hurt the fundraising for Terry &co. Also, is the association with the GOP going to advance the party's political fortunes, or send them into further decline?
Thanks.
mp
June 1, 2009 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Terry: Next!
"Another Abortion Doc Says He Fears He's Next" http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=7722869&page=1
June 1, 2009 6:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
This man isn't just despicable, he's an accessory to murder, a co-conspirator and a domestic terrorist.
I want to see him behind bars, preferably in Gitmo with the other terrorists.
June 1, 2009 7:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm betting a lot of money is being raised in radical right circles for the assassin's defense fund.
June 1, 2009 7:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
The pro-death movement strikes again: Pro fetus, pro capital punishment, pro war. How did the pro choice movement ever let them get away with the Pro life label. They should be described as Pro death with every breath, as far as I'm concerned.
June 1, 2009 7:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Chalk it up to another state of criminal denial due to immersion in the death-cult. Randall Terry has yet to produce a single shred of evidence the late Dr. had broken a single law.
The quaint days where we did not question the clearly deadly dangerous magic-thinking of our fellow citizens are now over.
Religious people do not get to spew like this, and inflict their terrible mental illness on our society without consequence. You do not get to hide behind religion to excuse murder because you cannot stand the fact someone would dare make a decision of their own accord. Fuck the babies, boo-boo, this is about mind control.
Men have exactly three jobs when it comes to women's health issues: 1) STFD, 2) STFU, and 3) Pull the car around when it's time. Any man who cannot perform these simple tasks needs to butt out, and go far, far away. Holder will be enforcing that notion right quick.
Because it will never, ever be your choice.
Follow the law. That's all we are asking.
June 1, 2009 7:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does Terry support the Iraqi War? Let's help him reap what he has sewn.
June 1, 2009 7:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
If religion were more easily understandable, it couldn't be twisted to mean whatever such diverse, contradictory groups want it to mean.
It's not so hard to understand if you look at the bible's vagueness as its strength.
June 1, 2009 8:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yesterday, Josh suggested that the pro-life movement were "subtlely celebrating," and posted a portion of Terry's statement. Unfortunately, since we cannot comment directly to front page articles (frankly due to my own upset at Dr. Tiller's death), I could not point out to him that there was nothing subtle whatsoever in Terry's statement or any of the others.
They may have used more couched language, but they were not subtle. To suggest that bringing someone acting legally "to justice" was their aim, is wholly disingenuous. The "justice" these people advocate is vigilante murder.
Today, Terry showed his true colors, and gleefully cheered Dr. Tiller's assassination.
When you persist in creating a demonizing atmosphere, incendiary rhetoric, you are guilty of a hate crime and incitement to violence.
June 1, 2009 8:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
The doctor had a wife, children, and grandchildren..... and this asshole stands at a microphone and gloats over his death.
Words fail me right now.
I despise these right wing religious fascists with every ounce of my being. Their intent is to TERRORIZE the law abiding, free thinking citizens of America into submitting to their religious dogma. How the hell are they any different from the TERRORISTS we are supposedly at war with?
June 1, 2009 8:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
They're not any different at all, and I agree with you.
That is exactly what the anti-abortion crusaders have in mind--since abortion happens to still be legal, they have decided to terrorize and attempt the elimination of the physicians, nurses, and clinic staff who help women seeking abortions, as well as general reproductive care. These assholes have been after Tiller for a long time.
I have not seen any information from the moronic MSM regarding several previous clinic bombings, (lovely nail embedded bombs), and the damage as well as injuries which have been perpetrated by anti-choice terrorists. This shit has been going on for a very long time and it needs to be stopped. Obama is going to have to do better than politely hum the "why can't we all just get along?" song.
Of course it is all about the Christopathic obsession with controlling women and eliminating any kind of reproductive choice. That is why they are anti-birth control as well.
June 2, 2009 2:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
The wings remark reminded me in a way of Bush's infamous "Now watch this drive" segue.
June 1, 2009 8:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
This will be the anti-Abortion maniac's Gaza. This will be a turning point. I don't think Tiller termionated late pregnancies so the women could be, asJurassic">http://welcomebacktopottersville.blogspot.com/2009/06/respect-life-or-ill-kill-you.html">Jurassic Pork ventured, "A couple of pounds lighter"
June 1, 2009 8:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
As much as I despise the Patriot Act, the fanatical anti-choice groups clearly fit the profile of a terrorist cell. Their sole mission is to terrorize doctors and their patients. Send them to Guantanamo with the rest of their kind.
June 1, 2009 8:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
We also need a consistent definition of terrorism. I'm not sure these guys fit it. Lunatics, yes. Religious zealots, yes. Not sure about terrorists. There goal is to literally stop a very specific group of people from doing a certain action. Bush would call Iraqis who want the US out of their country and who therefore attack the invaders by this name. But I don't think that works.
June 2, 2009 12:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
M-W definition: Terrorist: one that inspires fear
These people do fall into this definition. They are not just going after a small group, they are intent on demoralizing all people who are pro-choice. Where I live, I would never even admit to being so. And why, because I fear them. It would affect my income, my spouses income, etc. Terror can be induced in many forms, IMO.
June 2, 2009 1:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's a decent and meritorious argument from an outcome oriented perspective and I can respect that. However, I would say M-W is deficient (granting the definition you provided) because terrorism is a TACTICAL weapon. In other words, intent matters, not just outcome. I'm not sure that TACTICALLY speaking the intent is to inspire fear ("terror"). I think it is, from their perspective (which I do not share), to kill people who are killing babies. However hard it may be to admit, some of them have decided to use violence to stop what they see as a violation of their definition of justice on the part of abortion providers.
June 13, 2009 6:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would further add that your living situation probably isn't representative of terror per se, at least not terror of violence against your person, yes? I would suggest that someone anti-abortion living in Greenwich Village might not feel very safe in terms of employment, etc., if they made their choices known either. (I personally know someone in a situation close to this who feels the same way you do.) The situation you describe involves holding a belief that is not supported by the dominant (and therefore plausible) worldview surrounding it. Any deviation from such a dominant worldview is seen by those who subscribe to the dominant worldview as, literally, crazy/threatening to social order. And that applies equally in Greenwich Village and in rural Kansas.
June 14, 2009 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
If the abortion Drs. showed this guy a little reaping & sowing, in other words, executed him, do you think it would be as justified? How 'bout alcohol induced violence? Is that cool or religous?
June 1, 2009 9:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow.
My spouse told me last week he was upset with my anti-christian rhetoric, and asked why have I changed so much.......this is why. GW is why. Robert Hanssen, Bill O'Reilly, et al.
I live my life now with the "do unto others" motto and it is working out just fine.
June 2, 2009 12:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not only is are the anti-abortion forces responsible in part for the murder of Dr. Tiller by failing to oust the crazies in their midst or even to recognize the vileness of their violence, they are also responsible for the deaths of thousands of women around the globe denied access to needed abortions and often even access to contraception.
June 2, 2009 12:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
I've never understood why the anti-abortion bunch who are willing to commit murder to prevent abortion, are also against all reasonable methods for preventing abortion: comprehensive sex-ed, condoms, morning after pills, and other contraceptives.
I guess it is so much easier and unambiguously moral to kill a doctor than swallow a pill.
June 2, 2009 9:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
growing up in upstate NY in the 90's is when I met Mr. Terry. He is a nutbag. What I don't understand and am starting to loathe about my party (anyone left of center..) is this non-violence thing. Randal Terry cannot be talked to. He will find other (actually has many under his wing) to fill their little weak minds with ideas, and how when they commit this act (in the name of god/jesus of course) they will be rewarded. He tells them they will not have to fear our judicial system, because in death they will be rewarded..
Sound familiar? Randall Terry is dangerous, and he doesn't have a "point of view" he has an ideology.
June 2, 2009 12:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
A good read of three examples of the reality faced by families in need (and I mean need, no choice in sight) of the kind of services Dr. Tiller provided.
Look at obsidian.blogs.com
title: Dr. George Tiller by Hilzoy
The only bright spot in these tragedies is the care given by Dr. Tiller and his staff. I can only conclude Randall Terry and his followers are absolutely ignorant to the pain and desperate hopelesness these people find themselves in. It would be impossible for any rational person to conclude that there is any other choice for the women who wrote these stories.
I can understand a person of good will concluding that abortion used as birth control is wrong but the work Dr. Tiller did could in no way be construed as birth control. These operations were matters of life and death. Period.
June 2, 2009 5:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Tiller's murder merely confirms the assessment made by Homeland Security last month, a report poo pooed by many as anti-gun.
With 200,000,000+ guns out there and many people who can be programmed through continuous "messaging". Tiller's murder proves it.
Who's next, I fear.
June 2, 2009 8:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
randall terry is next.
that m*therf*cker is a dead man walking.
all that guinness and chicken wings can't be good for ones heart.
June 2, 2009 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why the hell is the National Press Club giving Randall Terry a platform from which to spout his murderous idiocy?
June 2, 2009 8:56 PM | Reply | Permalink