New Jersey Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg, 89, announced today that he will retire in two years at the end of his term. President Obama predictably praised him as a "steadfast champion of the people of New Jersey."
Well, not all of the people of New Jersey. In March 2011, Lautenberg spoke at a pro-Planned Parenthood rally in Englewood. In a statement the establishment press steadfastly ignored, Lautenberg, responding to vocal pro-life protesters, said the following (video still present at LifeNews.com; bolds are mine throughout this post):
They want other people not to be able to have their own opinions. These people (referring to the pro-life advocates) don’t deserve the freedoms in the Constitution, but we’ll give it to them anyway.
Sen. Lautenberg, booed by protesters against funding for Planned Parenthood, egged on his opponents, who he characterized as “Tea Party Republicans” with an “extremist ideology.”
“Let’s hear their boos against cancer screening — hey where are they so quiet,” Lautenberg said. “Taken an Aspirin, think about this and maybe you’ll feel better in the morning.”
Steve Ertelt's write-up at LifeNews.com reminds us that Lautenberg's audience applauded the idea of taking away constitutional freedoms:
The comment is coming under heavy criticism from Marie Tasy, the director of New Jersey Right to Life.
“Lautenberg’s remarks and attitude were extremely inappropriate for a U.S. Senator,” Tasy told LifeNews.com, adding that the comment “bears repeating because it provides evidence of how Planned Parenthood and its supporters actually feel.”
“This statement is shameful coming from a U.S. Senator,” Tasy added. “Lautenberg made these remarks surrounded by Planned Parenthood employees, supporters and state lawmakers who applauded him. These remarks are absolutely shameful and need to be exposed.”
As I originally wrote in March 2011: "Lautenberg's remarks, if instead said by a Republican or conservative about his or her opponents, would have become prominent national news in less than a millisecond."
Instead, as would be expected in today's establishment press environment, Lautenberg's comments were barely noticed.
Thus, they deserve to be brought to light once more.
Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.
