Press Coverage of Ideologically Motivated Slayings

[Anonymous]

I was interested to see that in the Post today the murder of George Tiller, Wichita abortion provider, garnered front page coverage, while the murder of Military recruiter William Long (24) for "probable political and religious motives" received a 4 paragraph blurb on the back page. Why the vast disparity in the coverage of these heinous slayings?

[Anonymous]

Did you have your own opinion?

[Anonymous]

Well, that it struck me as an odd contrast. Both politically "religiously' motivated (hard to imagine what religion allows for that -- but on the face of it), yet the one targeting an abortion doctor gets massive coverage, the one targeting a military recruiter next to none. I don't know, you do the math. Is abortion such a cultural zetgeist, and recruiting people to our armed forces such a non-presence on the cultural landscape? Is a killing by the religious zealot on the right, different from a killing by someone who has changed his name to "Mujahid Muhammad"? Just a question about the disparity stuck in my mind after I read the paper from front to back.

[Anonymous]

And I use 'religious right' and 'Mujahid Muhammad' wincingly. The inference that one is purportedly a "Christian" and one a "Muslim" is one I make by their self-designation only. These killers both sound like crazies acting horrifically outside the pale of the considered and thoughtful 'right' in either--I should not have bandied that term.

[jsteele]

Frankly, I'm shocked that the killing of a US soldier, and wounding of another, by a Muslim (convert) has not sent the media into a frenzy. I would fully expect to be seeing Cheney, Gingrich, et al all over the place saying that this is the natural outcome of Obama's policies that are putting America in danger. The only explanation I have is that the bankruptcy of GM and French airliner mystery have dominated the news cycle. Tiller was actually killed the previous day, so coverage of his murder was not overshadowed. The Post's article this morning is an analysis of the abortion debate in the wake of his killing rather than a straight news story. But, the real culprit is likely Drudge. He is still hyping the airliner story. How is the traditional media supposed to know what to cover if Drudge doesn't tell them?

[Anonymous]

Tiller ran a prominent abortion clinic and had been shot before, and Roeder is part, albeit on the extreme, of a large movement. The other killer appears to be an isolated crazy who shot two kids just out of boot camp. Both killings are tragic, but the guy who kidnapped the Lindbergh baby got a heck of a lot more press than other kidnappers; that's life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tiller ran a prominent abortion clinic and had been shot before, and Roeder is part, albeit on the extreme, of a large movement. The other killer appears to be an isolated crazy who shot two kids just out of boot camp. Both killings are tragic, but the guy who kidnapped the Lindbergh baby got a heck of a lot more press than other kidnappers; that's life.

Which 'large movement' was Roeder part of?

[Anonymous]

I will hazard a guess. The recruiter was a military person killed by someone upset with the government. The doctor was a civilian killed in an attempt to undermine civil liberties protected by the constitution. I think that both murders are tragic. However, armed action against the government is expected. Suppression of individual rights is always a shock.

It is tempting to say that this is a left-right thing. But I can imagine equally heavy coverage if a person shot Rush Limbaugh to silence his point of view, or if someone killed the head of a research lab that performed animal testing, in the name of animal rights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tiller ran a prominent abortion clinic and had been shot before, and Roeder is part, albeit on the extreme, of a large movement. The other killer appears to be an isolated crazy who shot two kids just out of boot camp. Both killings are tragic, but the guy who kidnapped the Lindbergh baby got a heck of a lot more press than other kidnappers; that's life.

Which 'large movement' was Roeder part of?

He is part of the organized hardcore anti-choice movement. His history is pretty well-documented. And people like Randall Terry are saying Tiller got what was coming to him. That's what Roeder is part of.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, didn't mean to add a hyphen to "well documented." Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tiller ran a prominent abortion clinic and had been shot before, and Roeder is part, albeit on the extreme, of a large movement. The other killer appears to be an isolated crazy who shot two kids just out of boot camp. Both killings are tragic, but the guy who kidnapped the Lindbergh baby got a heck of a lot more press than other kidnappers; that's life.

Which 'large movement' was Roeder part of?

He is part of the organized hardcore anti-choice movement. His history is pretty well-documented. And people like Randall Terry are saying Tiller got what was coming to him. That's what Roeder is part of.

Please tell us which movement he was a member of. Do they have a name? Or is it a general political opinion that he had, in the extreme?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
Please tell us which movement he was a member of. Do they have a name? Or is it a general political opinion that he had, in the extreme?

You don't seem to understand the meaning of "movement" in contrast to the meaning of "organization" or "party".

You can see what Wikipedia has to say about it here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_movement

But, briefly, "A political movement may be organized around a single issue or set of issues, or around a set of shared concerns of a social group. In contrast with a political party, a political movement is not organized to elect members of the movement to government office; instead, a political movement aims to convince citizens and/or government officers to take action on the issues and concerns which are the focus of the movement."

In the case of Roeder, as was pretty plainly stated, he has been active in the hardcore anti-choice movement.

[Anonymous]

I just did a search on Scott Roeder and his family says he suffered from mental illness. It looks like his history of extremist views had to do with the government, not abortion:

In April of 1996 Roeder was pulled over by a Shawnee County Sheriff's Deputy for not having a correct license plate. Instead, the car bore a plate indicating the driver was a “sovereign” citizen and immune from law.

Deputies found bomb making materials in his car...

Roeder was arrested and charged with "criminal use of explosives" and several misdemeanors, including driving with a suspended license, and no registration or liability insurance.

The court ruled that Roeder showed "a lack of respect for the laws of the state of Kansas" and that he posed a "significant threat to [the] safety of [the] community."

He was found guilty on all charges...and sentenced to 2 years of probation.

The following year, he was sentenced to 16 months in prison for violating his probation by not filing his income tax returns.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Please tell us which movement he was a member of. Do they have a name? Or is it a general political opinion that he had, in the extreme?

You don't seem to understand the meaning of "movement" in contrast to the meaning of "organization" or "party".

You can see what Wikipedia has to say about it here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_movement

But, briefly, "A political movement may be organized around a single issue or set of issues, or around a set of shared concerns of a social group. In contrast with a political party, a political movement is not organized to elect members of the movement to government office; instead, a political movement aims to convince citizens and/or government officers to take action on the issues and concerns which are the focus of the movement."

In the case of Roeder, as was pretty plainly stated, he has been active in the hardcore anti-choice movement.

Please cite your specific sources.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
Please cite your specific sources.

You know, this "cite your sources" demand has got to be the greatest cop out on the Internet ever. If you don't know enough to compose a proper rebuttal, you just demand to see a source. Have you even read a newspaper in the last two days? You just posted a whole list of quotes without citing a source, yet you want me to provide a source for something that is practically common knowledge?

Well, here it goes:

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/06/tiller_murder_suspects_ties_to_right-wing_extremis.php

This is a secondary source, but all primary sources are documented.

"The 51-year-old resident of Merriam, Kansas has a record as a fanatical anti-abortion activist, who had made at least one other threat against an abortion provider."

"Roeder believed in 'justifiable homicide' -- that is, that it's OK to kill those who facilitate abortions -- according to another anti-abortion activist, Regina Dinwiddie."

Yes, Roeder's family is now saying he has mental health issues. That seems likely. Theodore Kaczynski's brother said the same about him, and it also seems likely. But, Kaczynski still sits in a federal prison, so Roeder shouldn't expect it to be much of a defense.