I'd like to say that I'm surprised by this response but alas, I expect nothing less from the man. I received the letter via e-mail on September 20, 2010.
Dear XXXXXXX:
Thank you for contacting me with your concerns about federally funded abortions in the military. I always appreciate hearing from the Kansans whom I serve.
Truly, no gift is more precious than life. I believe that life should be cherished by everyone and that all life is precious and should be protected. This should be a central tenet of any civilization(it is the hallmark of a truly life-affirming culture.
During my time in Congress, I have always defended the sanctity and dignity of every human life from the moment of conception. I will continue to be a strong advocate for legislation that ensures all individuals are afforded their inalienable right to life.
I do not support proposals to amend the National Defense Authorization Bill to allow for the funding of abortions in military hospitals overseas. Such amendments would have the effect of turning our military facilities into abortion clinics. Hardworking taxpayers should not have to be forced to pay for abortions.
Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me about this important issue. I appreciate your concerns, and I encourage you to visit my website at brownback.senate.gov for more information on the issues on which I am working.
We're still here at Roeder Watch. With the trial over there has not been much to report and we've been trying to figure out where we want to take this blog. Post a comment and let us know. Should we close the blog but leave it up as an archive? Should we make it broader and address the anti-choice movement and what they are up to? Should we move in some other direction?
On Thursday, April 1st, Scott Roeder's terrorist friends got their April Fool's joke: after trying to provide reasons why Roeder should be allowed to walk out of the courthouse, Roeder was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 50 years plus 24 months for aggravated assault (with the possibility of a 15% reduction for the assaults for good behavior). If he behaves, positively contributes to prison life, and repents, he has no chance of getting out of prison for 51 years and 8 months.
Rachel Maddow has been one of the only people in the media consistently calling this what it was: domestic terrorism. Thursday, she had Julie Burkhart on the show. Julie was the executive director for Dr. Tiller's PAC, ProKanDo, and has since founded Trust Women PAC. It was nice to see her on the show.
In the second video, Rachel talks about other acts of anti-government terrorism which is linked to anti-abortion terrorism.
We will have more coverage of the trial and the sentencing later, probably with more video.
Dave Leach has been friends with Scott Roeder for a long time. In this interview for Leach's "The Uncle Ed Show," Roeder talks about being a Freeman. He talks about differences between God's law and man's law.
According to KWCH, Leach plans on selling tapes of the entire interview. Looking on his website, I would guess he wouldn't share the whole interview on YouTube (need the money to pay for the stay in Wichita, eh?) The Guardian criticized YouTube for hosting the jailhouse interview, though Don Spitz is of the opinion Roeder didn't threaten anyone in the interview. It is also on Leach's website for download. So it'll be around even if YouTube yanks it.
Spirit One Christian Center has a long history of making political statements outside their building. Many of the statements have caused the IRS to take a look to determine if they have crossed the line as a tax exempt organization.
Appears they have placed Judge Wilbert in their sights. Always scary when a group as far right as Spirit One is in the same boat with so many of the pro-choice groups that were sure we'd all fall off the edge of the earth with Judge Wilbert.
Apologies for some late news here. I got bronchitis immediately after the trial and am just now getting over it. Here are some links of news the past couple of weeks:
Last week, Roeder's attorneys requested a new trial as is normal. Throughout the trial, Roeder's defense team stated the details behind their objections to various denials so they would be in the court record for the appeal.
During the trial, representatives from the US Department of Justice sat in the gallery and observed the trial (and some of the people in attendance). Which lead to an article concerning possible federal charges. Many of the people in the gallery have also visited Roeder in jail. Michael Bray, David Leach, Regina Dinwiddie, Jennifer McCoy, and Angel Dillard have all visited him and attended at least two days of the trial.
Up on the Eagle's website is a video with a couple of the deputies in the courtroom about their security measures during the trial. They made sure everything was orderly to keep the jury as free from prejudice as possible. Dinwiddie has been known in the past to make a ruckus during trials (she wanted to during Roeder's but was not allowed). These men and women of the sheriff's department did an excellent job.
Keith Olbermann gave a "quick comment" after Roeder's conviction. The truth behind Roeder's actions? He's not a hero: he's a fraud. Heroes don't threaten to kill others and then run and hide.
There are a lot of things that don't get called terrorism in this country, but few of them approach the breadth of the long-term, flagrant campaign of intimidation, harassment, exhorted violence, attempted violence, actual violence, and murder of abortion providers and abortion-seeking women.
Roeder is a terrorist. It is flatly inexplicable why he is not regarded as such, nor his campaign of murderous rhetoric treated with the according contempt. Free speech was never meant to protect from embargo the communications of those who justify and exhort organised terror.
I didn't have an update on yesterday for a few reasons, and I still don't really have much of one. And today? I have little left in me but great sadness. Writing my daily post for RH Reality Check had me tear up again several times.
Today, Scott Roeder took the stand and admitted to murder and assault. According to Ron Sylvester, Roeder's attorneys let law enforcement know right before he took the stand where he left the gun. Until that point, he hadn't told them. Somewhere in Burlington, KS, a murder weapon is buried. For some reason, Roeder thought a pile of dirt in a parking lot would stay there so he could go back and get the loaded gun back. And that no one would be hurt.
Jennifer McCoy had a baby girl on Sunday via c-section. That's why she hasn't been at the trial much. She showed up this afternoon and won the lottery, sitting next to me again. Randall Terry, three of his goons, Dave Leach, Anthony Leake, Michael Bray, and Regina Dinwidde were among those in attendance today. A couple of new people showed up. Some Phill Kline supporters wanted to hear him testify but upon learning about the lottery seating process decided to leave. We might have more on that later. But until then ...
Today was a very difficult day. Even though I logically knew what would happen, it was still a shock to hear it. He presented it so coldly, with such disregard. Tomorrow, it will largely be done.
Today was very, very, very full of evidence. Very full. On the terrorist front, no one new that we could ID showed up though Randall Terry thought it would be a fantastic idea to neither "condone or condemn Scott Roeder's actions". When I left the courthouse tonight, I saw two people near the exit handing something out. They asked me if I was media. I told them no but asked what they wanted anyway. So they were handing out that press release which delt with Terry arriving and telling us he's planning a press conference Wednesday during the lunch session. Uh huh. He was also on the phone bad-mouthing Troy Newman. Operation Rescue's Advisory Board issued a press release authored by Christian Defense Coalition President Patrick Mahoney admonishing Terry. It's a pretty interesting read ...
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