Sarah Palin: Tiller Murder A "Tragedy"

UPDATE 6/2: On Tuesday, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin expanded on the murder of George Tiller, comparing the doctor's death to the "equally disgusting" murder of army recruiter William Long. Both crimes, she wrote, were committed by politically and religiously motivated fanatics.

"The stories of two very different lives with similar fates crossed through the media's hands yesterday -- both equally important but one lacked the proper attention. The death of 67-year old George Tiller was unacceptable, but equally disgusting was another death that police believe was politically and religiously motivated as well.

William Long died yesterday. The 23-year old Army Recruiter was gunned down by a fanatic; another fellow soldier was wounded in the ambush. The soldiers had just completed their basic training and were talking to potential recruits, just as my son, Track, once did.

Whatever titles we give these murderers, both deserve our attention. Violence like that is no way to solve a political dispute nor a religious one. And the fanatics on all sides do great disservice when they confuse dissention with rage and death."

* * * * *

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin released a statement Monday responding to the murder of Dr. George Tiller, a doctor in Wichita, Kansas who performed late-term abortions.

Gov. Palin has a staunchly pro-life record. She opposes abortion in all cases, including rape and incest, except when a mother's life is in danger.

Her statement on the Tiller murder was posted on her personal website:

"I feel sorrow for the Tiller family. I respect the sanctity of life and the tragedy that took place today in Kansas clearly violates respect for life. This murder also damages the positive message of life, for the unborn, and for those living. Ask yourself, 'What will those who have not yet decided personally where they stand on this issue take away from today's event in Kansas?'

Regardless of my strong objection to Dr. Tiller's abortion practices, violence is never an answer in advancing the pro-life message."

Governor Sarah Palin

Get HuffPost Politics On Facebook and Twitter!

Comments

[Wiberforce]

A balanced compassionate and dignified response by Governor Palin to an awful incident.

[pleadthe5th]

Its funny and a shame that so many people on this board just hate Governor Palin so much that no matter what she says you all will ridicule her. Why do you hate her? Because she is a Christian and believes that abortion is murder? I am Pro-Choice and I am comfortable enough to know that everyone in this country is entitled to their own opinion. Or do you hate her because she is a conservative? If thats the case then you must also "hate" a majority of your fellow citizens. No matter who John McCain picked as his running mate last fall, they didn't stand a chance. The media was so far in the tank for Obama that they would have printed negative story after negative story of ANY Republican VP candidate. Heck, they even made up stories such as the "I can see Russia from my house" myth and "Africa is a country" myth. She NEVER said either of those things but I bet most people on this board believe she did. It just goes to show you how dangerous a biased media in this country can be when a very popular governor (58% approval rating before the election) goes from relative obscurity to being on the wrong end of liberal jabs day after day.

[ljlu]

Palin did say that "she could see Russia from her house"..and that's practically a quote. people don't "hate" her, they just can't stand her because she's a hypocrit and a liar. Look at how she treats people, and she has absolutely no business being in Government at all.People hate her, if they do, because of herself, her brazen lavish shopping trips, ( some people can't be dressed up), and her views on subjects she doesn't practise nor does her family. Pregnant daughter?? That would never happen to the Obama girls, they'd have more respect for their parents, if nothing else, they'd never be so dump. Palin's ignorance isn't a joke, she is.

[globalwarmingisafraud]

Most of you are missing the point Gov. Palin is trying to make and that is that there has been VERY little or no coverage of the soldier murder on the MSM. The guy who killed one and wounded one has been a muslim for 5 years, went to Yemen (for vacation?), had a hit list of other soft targets including a daycare, and was in contact with others (handlers?) in the days leading up to the murder. This was not simply a drive-by but a true terrorist plot. Yet NOTHING on the news and nothing of Huff since Monday. Why?

[notwhatUwant2hear]

he wasn't short, he was ...

[kamandi]

Actually her point was the injecting extremism or violence into any debate does little to further any sort of positive resolution. However with a handle like "globalwar­mingisafra­ud" I can see how you'd immediately try and create some sort of conspiracy theory.

Pleadthe5th, personally I never hated Gov. Palin, but I did feel threatened by someone who if given the opportunity would try and force her religious beliefs onto everyone else in this country. Also, the high approval ratings you mentioned may have had something to do with the checks that were sent to the people of Alaska from the money the government made off of Alaskan oil.

[NedroidPrime]

Yeah, only thing was the recruiter killer was not politically motivated. He was a religious extremist. Just like you Ms. Moose

[LiberalForever]

Who is she?

[Jeanine Chambers]

I agree. Sarah Palin is classy and intelligent. She may have not been ready for Presidency, but neither is what we ended up with. I applaud her caring so much about life, that she would denounce even the death of someone like Tiller. Her mention of her son was in general what mothers do, but the saddest part of this whole thing is that Tiller (for purely political purposes) was top priority for news media and the ones that defend our right to say anything we want, the ones who die keeping us free to do so, are on the back burner. And even more shameful is our fearless leader who takes every opening he can to lower our country which includes the people who fought for it. In reading his book, I feel so good that I didn't vote for him.

[karronna]

How do you justify the fact that d.e.a.t.h. thr eats to then-candidate O.b.a.m.a. skyrocketed after she began accusing him of "running around with terror...is.t.s" and all the other bs that came out of her mouth? The r.a.ci.s.t ha.t.r.ed. that was spewed at her rallies was pretty incredible and she heard it. The secret service came and talked with her about and she continued.

Justify this.

[kidsareworthit]

Sarah Palin is such a classy , intelligent woman. She is morally on target in my book. The people who bundle all conservatives as" crazy right wingers" I wonder do you actually know any? I consider myself a loving compassionate soul , but I do know morally right from wrong. Also, my husband and I have raised or are raising twelve children , 9 adopted domestically. We are those crazy people who live by our beliefs. All murder is wrong. Hopefully , we can respect each others opinions w/out slinging hate;but that would go back to my point on right from wrong. I've survived many a family thanksgiving not agreeing with everyone there , but thankful to have them in my life.

[HappyDae]

Amen. On the perennial issue of Roe v. Wade, I say it is the law of the land. Disagree with it. Work to change it. But don't kill for it. I believe in the Right to Choose, but for everyone, including the unborn future generations.

Murder is murder, even if legal.

Happy Dae·
http://ShoeStringGenealogy.com

[conservativelady]

I really don't know how appropriate it is for someone who is against abortion to be expressing outrage over the murder of someone who does late term abortions, I don't know if outrage is an honest response from someone who is against abortion. The way I look at it, you live by the sword, you die by the sword. It doesn't mean I advocate the murder of someone who does something as disgusting as late term abortions. I wouldn't go out on a limb either though and call it an outrage. Of course, under the law, someone who commits an act of revenge still needs to be punished, because that's what the law calls for. I don't particularly care though for Palin's statement, because it doesn't seem honest. Sometimes it is best to not say anything.

[ljlu]

What "sword" did Dr Tiller carry? His job was to help women have a legal medical procedure, period. Terrorism is what the murderer did to him in his church, in front of his family. That was no " act of revenge" it was cold blooded first degree murder and in this case an act of terrorism. Tiller didn't deserve this and anyone who thinks he did is pure evil and shouldn't call themselves a "Christian". That, is being a hypocrit.

[liberalchick]

Classy? Intelligent?

[Miralo]

Why is this news? Palin wasn't qualified to be president, and still isn't, but this seems like a thoughtful and reasonable response. She may even be joining the (rapidly dwindling) ranks of the "reasonable right."

[notwhatUwant2hear]

And some how with all her 'inexperience', I don't think you would be globe trotting on 'kick me' tours. I think she might talk about what a great nation this was, before faucism was instituted. I think she would talk about how great the people are that live and work here. I think she has a more realistic view of the country than the unnn dock U minted worker.

[ranchosx]

way to go Sarah

[ThePoetryMan]

We should make abortion a federal crime, amend the constitution to ban gays from marrying, erect a wall around the US, end any and all immigration, make English the official language, put The Ten Commandments on every building, Toss out, other than Christianity, any and all other religions, strip away any and all gun restrictions, and invade as many countries as we see fit and even begin torturing our own citizens. Do this and the result would be that the Republicans wouldn't win another election for one thousand years...

I know it's completely insane to do the aforementioned, besides the fact that Kool-Aid would go out of business, but the country (and the world), at this juncture, would be much better off. The Progressive Party, The Green party, etc, could all replace the GOP and the Democratic Party might straighten up and get down to the business of the people or face the same fate as the Neocons. If the GOP doesn't have any hot-button issues to get elected and pass bills then the result would be to shed light on their utter inept leadership.

Just a thought... An irrational thought, but still just a thought.

[killpack]

Well, I'll say this much. Congress as a whole is about to get themselves run out of town, and I hope it happens. They are ripping people off and doing it BLATANTLY and without shame, and every day seems to get worse. Did you see the article on here somewhere about GM keeping lobbyists on board? Remember, Congress is the parent company of GM now. Why on earth does Congress need lobbyists to go to Congress? Just a drop in the bucket of fraud and incompetence in Congress, but what a great example of that fraud and incompetence. They keep pushing the envelope and I'm telling you it's going to blow up in their faces. At least I hope it does. I don't wish for political unrest, but I will not stand for this repeated abuse. I hope no one else does either.

[wingnutgator]

actually, I would prefer a civil war fought on ideological grounds. the south, plains states and intermountain west against the northeast, west coast and old rust belt states. we could do like the partition of India and Pakistan when they gave everybody who wanted to move a chance to do so before the partition. That way the rest of the govt. leeches and left wing nut jobs could go to California before the firing started. Since we right wing nuts have most of the guns, most of the cops and most of the military personnel, I bet we win.

[ChelseaC]

Who cares what she thinks. I'm sick of this woman, please....­..........­......

[notwhatUwant2hear]

how sick are you?

[HFR]

What else could she say, the crazed religious fanatic murderer of the Doctor will be lethally injected when found guilty just like the last one was!

[LeftinKansas]

For the one person I would push the button on, the Kansas death penalty is not applicable to.

[rjeremy89]

And many pro-lifers would object to that as well - just look at the Catholic Church's stance. They're against capital punishment and abortion, both of which they feel is murder.

[Captain Lionel Mandrake]

Palin says, "... And the fanatics on all sides do great disservice when they confuse dissention with rage and death."

Minx Palin gets a C for trying but she confuses "dissent" with "dissension."

[CentralVA]

"Dissension" (more rarely spelled "dissention") means disagreement, especially partisan and contentious quarreling. Palin was right to use it.

[utley04]

She was stating that political disagreements should not be resolved by violence.

[wagadog]

Evolving, thinking -- or at least hanging out with a better crowd. Good for her.

[just4shiggles]

Wonder which news papers she read that in..... probably any and all of them that happened to come across her desk. LOL Wonder if she was planning to use that particular doctors services during the 7 months that she hid her pregnancy from her immediate family.

[notwhatUwant2hear]

my mom would not talk about a new child until people 'noticed', some didn't notice until after 6 mos.