KS Meadowlark: The Shame of Kansas

Feb 25, 2005. O'Reilly Factor Talking Points: Abortion, privacy rights & rape. "A doctor in Kansas named George Tiller performs hundreds of late-term abortions every year--pregnant women from all over the country go to Kansas to have this ultra-controversial operation performed by Tiller, one of the few American doctors comfortable with partial-birth abortion. Under Kansas law, it is illegal to perform an abortion after 22 weeks, but there are exceptions for the health of the mother. Now, Kansas Attorney General Phil Kline wants to see the medical records of the women who submit to late-term abortions to check on the legality of the operations. Predictably, some pro-choice groups are fighting Kline's request, citing privacy rights. Talking Points realizes there are two sides to this story, but also knows that Dr. Tiller could be running a late-term abortion mill in violation of the law. I think the court must allow Kline to investigate these matters under the strictest supervision--privacy will be protected, but if someone is killing a baby that somebody will pay a huge price. Americans simply can not allow privacy to trump human life, and the courts must make a strong stand."
March 1, 2005	O'Reilly Factor Details O'Relly talks to Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline about protecting viable babies and victims of child rape.
June 8, 2005. O'Reilly Factor Investigation Segment: Controversy over late-term abortion. Guests: Andy Imparato, American Association for People with Disabilities & Kris Koback, University of Missouri. Kansas physician George Tiller performs many late-term abortions and, according to an article in the L.A. Times, some of the pregnancies are ended because the fetus has Down's Syndrome or birth defects. Law professor Kris Koback suggested that Tiller may face prosecution. "There's a potential that crimes are being committed. In the case of Down's Syndrome, that would clearly be a violation of the law. You can only perform late-term abortions in Kansas if the mother's bodily health is in danger." Andy Imparato, an advocate for the disabled, decried the fact that some parents choose abortion over having a disabled child. "A lot of women are getting a prenatal diagnosis of Down's Syndrome and not getting good information about what kind of support is out there. This is not limited to Down's Syndrome - a lot of people think disability is a fate worse than death." The Factor noted Tiller is known as "Tiller the Killer," and declared that aborting imperfect fetuses is reminiscent of "Nazi" behavior.
March 16, 2006. O'Reilly Factor Talking Points: The failure to punish child rapists. "And relativism is what Dr. George Tiller practices in Kansas, where for $5,000, he'll extract a baby from the mother's womb and drill a hole in the baby's head. Tiller is a leader in performing partial-birth abortions. ... A variety of pro-abortion groups think Dr. Tiller is a hero."
Nov 3, 2006 Bill O'Reilly's recent book is Culture Warrior. Also see BillOReilly.com	O'Reilly Factor Details [alternate video source: YouTube video] Talking Points Memo: Killing Babies in America. "This is the Shame of America" So, What Say You, KC Star? What Say You, Wichita Eagle? Are you OK with day-before birth abortion for "temporary depression"? Are you OK looking the other way in protecting child predators and rapists of young girls? Wikipedia entry for George Tiller includes entry for this Talking Points memo
Nov 6, 2006	O'Reilly Factor Details LJWorld Video Link *"Society must afford some protection for viable babies and children who are raped"* Talk Radio Host, Megan Mosack, WIBW, Topeka, explains part of political money being used by ProKanDo PAC and its related non-profits to stop efforts to protect viable babies and young girls from child predators. O'Reilly discussed "San Francisco Values" with Michelle Malkin (conservative) and Kirsten Powers (liberal). Powers explains how the press reports stories about abortion. O'Reilly called for a boycott of the Kansas City Star (see bottom of page). Letters The press conference the press reported then ignored.
Nov 8, 2006	O'Reilly Factor Details Tiller's attorney, Pedro Irigonegary, is questioned by O'Reilly producer. Kansans for Life Executive Director, Mary Kay Culp, explains differences between partial birth abortions, and the late-term procedure used by Tiller. Fox legal analyst, Megyn Kendall, explains decision by the U.S. Supreme Court about partial birth abortion will likely not affect Tiller.
Nov 9, 2006	O'Reilly Factor Details Talking Points Memo: Life, death & the culture war Letters
Nov 16, 2006, O'Reilly Online Column "Who Will Save the Babies?" By: Bill O'Reilly for BillOReilly.com Thursday, Nov 16, 2006 There is something terrible going on in Kansas and you should know about it. A doctor named George Tiller is performing hundreds, perhaps thousands, of late-term abortions using a variety of medical reasons, including the depression of the mother. In Kansas, there is a mental health exception which allows an abortionist to terminate a fetus at any time up until birth. The exception is vague, and so is Tiller's oft-used depression diagnosis, according to documents currently under investigation by Kansas authorities. So the deal is this: If you want to walk away from your pregnancy at any time, just contact Dr. Tiller; he'll help you out. But only if you have at least $5,000. The doctor, known as "Tiller the Baby Killer" among some people who object to his practice, lays it all out on his website. He'll terminate your baby, and even cremate it for you if you wish. He's one-stop shopping. ... George Tiller could not do what he's doing in ultra-liberal France or even in permissive Holland. In France, a baby cannot be aborted after 12 weeks unless two doctors certify a woman's physical health is endangered, or the fetus has a serious abnormality. ... It is hard to believe that babies have more protections in Paris and Amsterdam than they do in Wichita. But that's the truth. Other publications publishing this commentary: Human Events Online, Nov 18 Gwinnet Daily Post (GA), Nov 19 Press & Dakotan (SD), Nov 19 Jewish World Review, Nov 20 Smoky Mtn Sentinel (NC), Nov 22 LifeNews, Nov 25
Nov 17, 2006	O'Reilly Factor (Video) Talking Points Memo: American Culture Hits Its Lowest Point ever
Nov 22, 2006	O'Reilly Factor's Producer's Notebook: Confronting Dr. George Tiller "Keep watching. There will be more."
Dec 5, 2006	O'Reilly Factor Follow Up Segement There is good news and bad news when it comes to protecting children. In Kansas, a judge has ruled that authorities can investigate notorious abortionist Dr. George Tiller for failing to report the rape of young girls. But in Indiana, Attorney General Steve Carter has dropped an investigation into a case of child rape, claiming that a minor's right to privacy trumps the state's desire to search for evidence of abuse. Anti-abortion activist Curt Smith called the decision aa travesty. "Indiana has always put kids first, this is a stain on our record, and we're going to do everything we can to remove it. The politics of abortion are destroying kids' lives." The Factor summed up the situation this way: "One federal court has ruled that the privacy rights of a 12-year old trump any kind of criminal investigation about who raped her. It comes down to this - in America today you can rape a 12-year old and get away with it because of privacy."
Dec 12, 2006	O'Reilly Factor Follow Up Segment Details YouTube video Courageous Kelly tells her story about her trip to Kansas to visit Dr. Tiller's Clinic when she was only 14 Letters (Dec 13, 2006)
Dec 21, 2006, O'Reilly Factor Unresolved Problems Segment: Update on Dr. George Tiller Guests: Attorney Nicole DeBorde & Fox News chief judicial analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano Kansas authorities are investigating abortionist George Tiller for allegedly failing to report underage abortion victims who may have been rape victims. Fox News analyst Andrew Napolitano explained the legal details. "There is no situation under which a 12-year old girl can legally become pregnant. It was either forcible rape, statutory rape, or some form of sexual abuse, and every health care provider is required to report it. If it hasn't been reported in Kansas, it's a crime." But attorney Nicole DeBorde argued that medical ethics should sometimes take precedence over the law. "If there is a teenager who goes to a medical professional and says 'I need this medical treatment,' the medical professional has taken an oath to help this person. You have to have medical treatment available so people are not afraid to go to the doctor."
Dec 27, 2006	O'Reilly Factor Unresolved Problem Details Guest host, John Kasich, discusses Judge Paul Clark's court ruling against Attorney General Kline with UMKC constitutional lawyer, Kris Kobach Sedgwick County District Attorney Blocks Kansas Attorney General: The 30 Charges Against Tiller Ignored in Wichita Dec 29, Wichita Eagle (WE) Blog: Flashback 1991: "Nola Foulston should recuse herself from any investigation concerning George Tiller, as the Tillers contributed to her election campaign"
Jan 5, 2007	O'Reilly Factor Unresolved Problem Details Jack Cashill, editor of Ingram's Magazine, and a WorldNetDaily contributor, discusses: Shedding light on a topic that no one wants to have light shed on
May 30, 2007	O'Reilly Factor YouTube Video Talking Points Memo What's the Matter with Kansas? "Governor Kathleen Sebelius is protecting Tiller *...* She is not fit to serve." Letters (May 31, 2007)

Related

April 1, 1997, Washington Post, Tiller Thanked Clinton at Whitehouse Coffee

Oct 27, 1999, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Minister under pressure to ban abortionist

On his website drtiller.com, George Tiller promotes himself as a specialist in late term abortion care. The Kansas based doctor will perform elective terminations to the end of the second trimester, 26-weeks, or until the foetus is viable, something determined by the attending physician.

According to the conference program, Dr Tiller will speak on the 2628 late term foetuses he's terminated, using the abortion drug, RU486, which is banned in Australia.

Dr Van Genn is horrified by Dr Tiller's practices, and has written to the Immigration Minister, Phillip Ruddock, asking him to refuse to allow Dr Tiller entry to Australia.

March 16, 2005, Hardball

July 7, 2006, Salina Journal Blog: "Two little girls. Four pregnancies. One set of twins, born on their mother’s 12th birthday." Would AG Candidate Paul Morrison just look the other way and allow this abuse...?

Oct 11, 2006, O'Reilly Factor Personal Segment, 'Ms.' Magazine Encourages Celebs to Acknowledge Past Abortions [See YouTube video.]

Oct 13, 2006, National Review Online,
The Red-State Freak Show: By EU standards, Kansas is a hotbed of liberal extremism

"But if Kansas were in Europe, it would be a rogue state, isolated from others by the weirdness of its social policies."

Nov 5, 2006, Wichita Eagle, Tiller will seek investigation of Kline, O'Reilly

Nov 8, 2006, AP, Investigation of Fox's O'Reilly requested

Nov 10, 2006, Human Events, Supreme Court Debates Best Method to Execute a Baby

Nov. 11, 2006, Wichita Eagle, O'Reilly prompts abortion protest

Nov 12, 2006, Reflections of a Paralytic: All Life is Sacred Blog: Killing Our Children

Nov 14, 2006, Wichita '07- A Cry For Justice, January 19-22

Nov 15, 2006, New York Times: What’s Right With Kansas

"And for us, one of the most satisfying results was the resounding defeat of Attorney General Phill Kline, an anti-abortion zealot who gained national notoriety by misusing his office to further his ideology." [Apparently the Times doesn't watch O'Reilly, nor do they care about his "Are you OK ..." questions.]

Nov 18, 2006, WorldNetDaily: Ministry's photograph gives evidence of forced abortion: Teen accused man of rape, pro-life group documented her clinic visit

"One of the first steps for a rapist when they have a child victim and the child is pregnant is to eradicate the evidence of the rape," Kline said.

Nov 19, 2006: Salina Journal Blog: Kansas press mostly ignores reporting of “Shame of Kansas” by Bill O’Reilly

Nov 20, 2006: Wichita Eagle Blog: Bill O’Reilly has been exploring topics suggested by his recent book

Nov 22, 2006: Salon attacks O'Reilly? Bill O'Reilly's misinformation campaign

Nov 29, 2006: Concerned Women of America Applauds O’Reilly’s Investigation of Tiller the Killer

Dec 1, 2006: Kansas City Star, Court rejects inquiry into leak to O’Reilly

Dec 3, 2006: Kansas City Star continues attack on Kline: Kline shamelessly bucks the tide

Dec 7, 2006: Johnson County Sun's Steve Rose attacks Kline: Deja vu all over again

Dec 8, 2006: Kansas City Star continues attack on Kline: Phill Kline lacks qualifications for the job

Dec 9, 2006: Wichita Eagle WE Blog entry: Kansas City Star attacks Kline's credentials to be JoCo District Attorney but fails to mention the Star received an award from the defendant in the case Attorney General Kline is investigating.

Dec 18, 2006: BP News: Tiller’s clinic unveiled by Kelly Dickerson

Dec 21, 2006: 18th District Court State of Kansas Vs. George R. Tiller Complaint / Information:
The 30 Counts Against Tiller

Dec 22, 2006:

Wichita Eagle, Attorney: Kline files criminal charges against Tiller (no longer online)
18th District Court: Journal Entry of Dismissal: State of Kansas Vs. George R. Tiller
Wichita Eagle, Kline's charges against Tiller dropped
Wichita Eagle WE Blog entry: Kline’s last gasp as attorney general?
Wichita Eagle, Kline's statement
Wichita Eagle, Foulston's official statement

Dec 23, 2006:

Timeline of the Kline-Tiller Case

Dec 31, 2006: Rhonda Chriss Lokeman continues Kansas City Star's insults about Kline:

The Kill and Be Killed Award goes to Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline. Theocrat Kline is obsessed with George Tiller, who performs abortions in Kansas. Tiller’s Wichita clinic was bombed in 1985. He was shot in both arms in 1993. But Kline insists Tiller is the criminal.

Jan 3, 2007: Wichita Eagle (WE) Blog: Blatant bias by the Kansas City Star?

Jan 4, 2007: WorldNetDaily, Jack Cashill: 'Progress' triumphs in Kansas

Jan 9, 2007: Topeka Capital Journal, New A.G.: 'Starting from square one':

Morrison said he has deep concerns about the integrity of the investigative materials in the case, which alleges Tiller performed up to 15 illegal late-term abortions in 2003. Thirty related misdemeanor charges filed by Kline in Sedgwick County District Court were dismissed.

"I am very concerned about the integrity of all that. Very critical," Morrison said. "I've got concerns about it because just look at O'Reilly. We've already got a national television personality talking about how he's got sources and he's seen records and he's knows what's in there. I think it's a big issue here about maintaining the security of those medical records."

Morrison was referring to Bill O'Reilly, host of "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News, who talked about the Tiller case on his show and said he had seen records related to illegal abortions.

Morrison said he also was concerned about how many people had copies of paperwork relating to the case. He noted that he hoped court action to obtain the files and items related to the case wouldn't be necessary.

Jan 30, 2007: WorldNetDaily: 'Child-rape cases being ignored' in Michigan just like in Kansas

Feb 3, 2007: WorldNetDaily: 'Money trail connects Tiller case players'

Feb 15, 2007: Hutchinson News: Former AG's case against abortion doctor now over

Morrison, a Democrat who supports abortion rights, asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the request, and the court did Tuesday. Chief Justice Kay McFarland wrote "granted" on the one-page document Morrison's office had filed. The court offered no explanation, though a dismissal is routine when someone no longer wants to pursue a case.

Feb 23, 2007: Wichita Eagle (WE) Blog: Kline outlined case, urged pro-lifers to ‘stand firm’

Mar 7, 2007: WorldNetDaily: Regulators asked to suspend Tiller license

Mar 7, 2007: WorldNetDaily: 3rd annual Abortionist of the Year award to Tiller

Tiller's Political Money

Politicians Who Have Taken Campaign Contributions from Tiller

Tiller Political Money Flows: 2002 Details, 2004 Details, 2006 Details (incompletee)

Bias and The Kansas City Star

On Nov 6, 2006, because of their failure to report the Shame of Kansas,
and because of their failure to protect rape victims and viable babies,
O'Reilly called for a boycott of the Kansas City Star.

O'Reilly: "There's no question The Kansas City Star, and the Wichita paper as well, are against any kind of action against Tiller, and it is disgraceful in my opinion. McClatchy, which owns both papers, they are shameful."

See statistics about how The Kansas City Star suppressed stories about Tiller since 1998.

The Kansas City Star received an "editorial writing " award from Planned Parenthood in 2006 (also see this list of those receiving awards)-- could this explain their opposition to Kline's investigation of Planned Parenthood and their ongoing attacks of Kline?

Boston Lgal Forum, April 1, 2006
Star editorials win award from group Planned Parenthood Federation of America has recognized The Kansas City Star editorial board for a series of editorials written in support of reproductive rights.
Federation President Cecile Richards said in a letter to The Star that the editorials “appeared in a year when anti-choice legislation and legal attacks reached new heights in Kansas and Missouri, as well as on the national level.”

“We applaud your success in amplifying for your readers that these attacks on reproductive rights put women’s health and safety at risk and jeopardize the fundamental right to choose whether and when to have a child.”

Planned Parenthood’s Maggie Awards, named for the organization’s founder, Margaret Sanger, honor news media and the arts and entertainment industries for coverage of reproductive rights and health-care issues.

Salina Journal Blog, April 4, 2006
The Tiller-Kline rematch this year should prove interesting as Tiller and his ProKanDo PAC find creative ways to hide their political money from public scrutiny. Likewise, the Kansas City Star, and other left-leaning papers, will find creative ways to withhold information from voters.
Planned Parenthood: The Kansas City Star, editorial writing
In 2005, reproductive rights in Kansas were under constant attack — bids to seize confidential medical records, efforts to pass a clinic regulation bill designed to block abortion services, and ongoing legislative efforts to de-fund family planning programs. PPFA honors The Kansas City Star that through it all, championed reproductive justice, family planning, and the right to confidential health care on its editorial pages, providing a welcome antidote to the efforts of anti-choice extremists.