South Carolina bill proposes 'Choose Death' plate slogan
I always get a charge out of legislators who forget the one simple rule of being a public official ('Tis better be thought a fool than to propose absurd, wasteful legislation and remove all doubt....).
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- One lawmaker said he has a compromise for the debate over "Choose Life" license plates for South Carolina -- "Choose Death" tags.
The law allowing the "Choose Life" plate was created in 2001, but Planned Parenthood and others sued, claiming the state discriminated by providing a forum for only one political viewpoint.
The state has appealed last month's ruling by U.S. District Judge William Bertelsman, who said the slogan "Choose Life" on tags violated the First Amendment.
"My bill is simply a reaction to the abortionists," said State Rep. John Graham Altman. "They're pro-choice. Well, they've got a choice -- whether to buy (the tag) or not."
Peter Murphy, the Columbia attorney who represented Planned Parenthood, says Altman's bill misses the point. The case was about the First Amendment, he said, not abortion.
"It is unfortunate that Mr. Altman apparently doesn't understand the First Amendment or the judge's decision," Murphy said.
But House Ways and Means Chairman Bobby Harrell, also a Republican, said every specialty tag the state produces espouses a viewpoint.
"I think John is simply trying to make a point that all of these tags come from one point of view, and it's hypocritical to single out that one," said Harrell, who sponsored legislation creating a license plate for public education.
The mind boggles at the possibilities for license plates, doesn't it??
CHOOSE IGNORANCE
CHOOSE GRATUITOUS SEX AND SENSELESS VIOLENCE
CHOOSE LARRY SIMON (or not)
CHOOSE APATHY
CHOOSE MEDICAL MARIJUANA
CHOOSE EUTHANASIA
CHOOSE YOUTH IN EUROPE
CHOOSE YOUTH IN IOWA
CHOOSE YOUTH GOING WHEREVER THEY CHOOSE
