Attack of the Unicorns: Reply to AJC Guest Editorial 11/8/04; Republican Myths and gullible voters

Dear Editor:

Regina Gulick writes that "Liberals need to listen to America's clear voice," but she reveals more than she intends about why Republicans win elections when she states "[o]n gay marriage, you imposed your abortion policies with activist judges 35 years ago, but we've gotten smart. . If you want your liberal polices to pass American muster now, you have to go through the normal American channels."

So what's wrong with that assertion? Only everything. Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973, 31 years ago, not 35. Decided by "activist judges" who were presumably appointed by liberal Democrats? Only if you turn history upside down and reframe Richard Nixon as a liberal Democrat, because he was the president who appointed Harry Blackmun, the author of Roe v. Wade. Nixon also appointed Warren Burger, the Chief Justice who joined the majority opinion. Dwight Eisenhower appointed William Brennan and Potter Stewart, two other justices in the majority. Byron White, one of two justices who dissented, was appointed by President Kennedy. For the history challenged, Nixon and Eisenhower were Republicans, Kennedy a Democrat.

And the "activist justice" who wrote the majority opinion in Lawrence v. Texas, the 2003 case which overturned Texas' sodomy law was Anthony Kennedy, who was appointed by that other liberal Democrat- Ronald Reagan.

Karl Rove must be laughing in his sleeve at the whoppers he has managed to pull off to win elections: the epidemics of elective partial birth abortions, gay marriages, and activist judges imposing their ultraliberal views on America. If gullible voters are going to blame liberal Democrats for those shibboleths, in 2008 I expect we will be held responsible for the rampaging herds of unicorns which are eating all the shrubbery in the Republican suburbs.