Posted on 12/31/2005 3:31:33 AM PST by rhema
The state of New York is attempting to stifle a lawsuit seeking to make “Choose Life” license plates available. Although the lawsuit cites the free speech protection of the first amendment, New York Assistant Solicitor General Jennifer Grace Miller told the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals that the statement “Choose Life” could lead to road rage.
Judge Dennis Jacobs agreed, suggesting that allowing the phrase could open the door to messages from extremist groups. “If you win, then white supremacist organizations and the Ku Klux Klan can have license plates,” said Judge Jacobs. “There'd be a lot of road rage following that.”
"This case should be of great interest and concern to all New Yorkers, whether they are pro-life or not, because New York has always vigorously defended freedom of speech and equal treatment under the law for every citizen, not just some, " said Dr. Elizabeth Rex, President of The Children First Foundation.
"What is utterly and 'patently offensive' is that Governor Pataki, Attorney General Spitzer, and the DMV are all involved in violating the Constitution, abusing their political offices, and wasting tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars defending an absolutely egregious case of government censorship and discrimination," added Dr. Rex.
The state argued, in a written submission to the appeals court, that the Children First Foundation's plate was rejected in order “to avoid any appearance of governmental support for either side in the divisive national abortion debate.”
The New York State DMV has approved over 200 plates for organizations including labor unions, and religious organizations.
The "Choose Life" license plate originated in Florida and has been approved in 12 other states. More than 60,000 motorists have now raised over $5 million dollars to fund pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes.
Same thing happend to a friend of mine. He made up another bumoer sticker that said "A Liberal keyed my car" just to shame the community...
No wonder these wackos want to control handguns, they can't control themselves behind the wheel of a car if they see someone who is opposed to baby killing.
"My CNN LIES bumper sticker..."
Where did you get the idea for that? Cause I made a protest sign that said just that for the DC protest of VP Gore durng the Florida recount fiasco..
These are just stupid made-up reasons that the Left resorts to when they don't have any real arguments to make. It's like the argument they made when trying to block the California recall -- they argued that minorities would not be able to properly use the punchcard ballots, so the election should be deferred until the following spring.
In the CA case, as in this case, a court would rule that you can't block something (like the license plates) because it MIGHT cause something, you have to wait for the harm to actually occur (like road rage) and then argue for the remedy.
-PJ
This kind of stuff makes me laugh, in that it tends to not be very flattering to people who they are politically aligned with.
It's like in Florida election 2000, when people got blue in the face insisting that votes be recounted because their voters couldn't understand the ballot format. Everyone else's voters? No comment. OUR VOTERS couldn't understand it!
If someone else said that about their constituency, they would (legitimately) be taken to the mat.
Actually, I got several of them from a poster here on FR a few years ago. A fellow in Israel, if I recall correctly, who offered to send them to whoever FReepmailed him a request. I offered a donation in payment, but he declined. I'll try to find the envelope as I don't recall his screen name.
Meanwhile (to him) thanks again!
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