Posted on 11/22/2001 4:32:58 AM PST by jerod
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - A judge on Wednesday threw out a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Florida's Choose Life license plate, which opponents had claimed amounted to a state-sponsored religious message. The National Organization for Women, a Palm Beach County synagogue and two other plaintiffs were seeking recall of the plates, saying the "Choose Life" phrase was irrevocably intertwined with religion.
Leon County Circuit Judge Nikki Ann Clark dismissed the case Wednesday, saying the plaintiffs had failed to prove it was unconstitutional.
The optional bright yellow plates went on sale in August 2000 and through the end of last month 25,272 had been sold. State Department of Motor Vehicles spokesman Bob Sanchez said $668,000 has been raised from sales of the plate, which goes to counties to use to promote adoption.
Opponents of the plate said they would appeal the decision.
"This is a religious slogan, it comes from Deuteronomy," said Barry Silver, the lawyer for NOW. "We feel that a license plate is the wrong vehicle to convey a religious slogan."
The group that pushed the Legislature to pass the plate in 1999 argues that "Choose Life" is a message meant to encourage adoption.
Lawyers for the state also argued that just because state law mirrors something that is in the Bible, doesn't mean it is sponsoring a religion. For example, murder is illegal - it is also prohibited by the Bible.
NOW also argued that the phrase is so closely related to the anti-abortion movement that people who see the plate could assume the state agrees with that movement, even though abortion is constitutionally protected in Florida.
Gov. Jeb Bush's office praised Clark's decision.
"We have always believed this suit had no legal merit," said Bush's press secretary, Elizabeth Hirst. "People make a personal choice to display the Choose Life license plate, it is their right as an individual."
AP-ES-11-21-01 1724EST
So if this were the case, I guess that the phrase "Choose Death" would be irrevocably intertwined with National Organization for Women.
I'm for the right of women to choose, but I'm not a pusher. As for those who are active on the choice side, having NOW and their wacky ideas around, probably doesn't help very much.
I've always got one word for those N.O.W. nuts - M O N I C A!
Wait a minute...isn't this the judge that had a role in the Election 2000 debacle? Wasn't she described as an independent liberal?
Flash from that past! She was the judge Rev Jesse "observed" during last year's election trials. So many Freepers were *sure* the "fix was in" (with heavy racial overtones) and she'd toss the ballots the Dems had challenged. She didn't.
Where are those apologies she was due?
"Go Away.....NOW!"
(Unless they wish they had never been born.)
Yeah...That's it.
But even at the time, she was well defined in the media as "not a liberal". Jed had not chosen to promote her to something from a "short-list", but I think her sister was appointed to something by Pres. Bush I. Can't remember what it was, but both these gals seem to be "on our side" politically.
A big pro-life bump indeed. I support these plates and their message. It isn't religious. It's common sense-- Don't kill the unborn humans.
I'm all for free speech. We'll see how tolerant the so-called 'religious right' are when gay rights groups want to get their own Florida plate. That's when the First Amendment gets put on hold, I'll bet.
I get the impression that if Hitler were the only Dem party canidate, and said that he supported abortion on demand, he would get unanimous support from these people.
Religion: "a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, . . . usu. involving devotional and ritual boservances, and often containing a moral code for the conduct of human affiars." (Webster's Dictionary.)
"The government shall not establish a religion nor the free excercise thereof."
Let's see....yep, I guess saying "choose life" is establishing a religion.
...the RIGHT TO LIFE, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...
the RIGHT TO LIFE, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...
I was being sarcastic, wildwood. The left is so moronic and imbecilic. And you're right, 07055, NOW would be in favor of that kind of license plate--see, it all comes back to definitions, slick Willie taught us that: it depends on what "is" is.
Well, I sure doubt that old Adolph would ever support a "Choose Life" slogan so you may be right.
CHOOSE Freedom of speech
CHOOSE Monica
Thanks to NOW, I will be acquiring one of those plates. I also thought the "Right to Life..." was part of the US constitution, even preceding the right to happiness. Hapiness is what NOW sees when they kill an innocent child; they only see ONE CHOICE, death. The right to chose is fine, but what is the child's choice?
Why not step on illegal immigration, and ban abortion? Then we will have an America of Americans and if people do not want a child, put it up for adoption. If they do not interfere with a fetus they will have a child; so taking an act to terminate a child is MURDER in my opinion. Personally, I would insist that pro abortion people have Chose Death Plates...that way we know who the trash is.
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