Choose honesty

by Jill Stanek

Ah, history, it's so fun to revise! 

As quoted by Eric Zorn today, Rep. Jack Franks would have us believe that his epiphany to single-handedly halt approval of specialty plates in Illinois came coincidentally when the Choose Life license plate bill was introduced in 2002.

Then Franks should explain why he voted for these specialty plates during the two years prior: Pan Hellenic (yes, that's right), Coal Mining, Union Member, West Point Bicentennial, Chicago and NE IL Dist. Council of Carpenters, Black Fraternity, Lewis & Clark Bicentennial, Hospice, Marine Corps, Army Combat Vet, Paratrooper, Park District Youth Program, Professional Sports Team, September 11, Korean War for Motorcycles, and Pet Friendly.

Rep. Jack Franks would have us believe that with hundreds of specialty plates from 49 states and foreign countries on Illinois roads, along with 78 different types of Illinois' own specialty plates that have been offered for 67 years (the first one being by the General Assembly for themselves), it was only coincidentally when Choose Life was introduced that he decided it was time to stop the specialty plate madness.

And my dear pro-abortion friend Eric concurs, reminding us in his column of the state's insulting argument inferring that only upon seeing Choose Life plates would the minds of Ku Klux Klan members and Nazis be triggered to get their own plates.

I am still amazed at the depth of hate toward the pro-life movement, in this case, hate that would rather stop a multitude of wonderful charitable giving programs sponsored via these specialty plates - alleviating the tax burden in some instances - than see the culture of life and adoption promoted.

The fact is the other side doesn't want a competition, which is where they know this will lead if Choose Life plates are approved and they keep whining.

Comments

[Eric Zorn]

ZORN REPLY (from his blog) -- I'll assume, then, Jill, that you would be supportive of any effort to create a "Choose Choice" or "Women for Reproductive Freedom" plate?

[Jill Stanek]

Absolutely, although I must say I find the term "Choose Choice" pretty funny. But it's their choice, right?

[Truthful James]

Yes, Zorn's sudden epiphany regarding specialty plates is most specious.

[Eric Zorn]

ZORN REPLY (from his blog) -- Then we agree again, as I'm sure we agreed on Lisa Madigan's move late last week. And I believe you and I agreeing three times in one week is a sign of the apocalypse.
Uh oh.

[Bob]

While listening to the radio this morning this was discussed.

Lots of mixed feelings about this. Not the message on the plates them selves but the difficulty that the police have with them. A caller (Policeman) indicated that they have a difficulty running specialty plates through the computer system.

One caller had a great idea. Many states have gone to the one plate system (displayed in back). He suggested that Illinois go with the same system. If you desire a state issued specialty plate, you could get one for the front of your car.

[Pat Hickey]

The Chicago Tribune following close on the heels of Eric Zorn’s ‘Tabula Rasa’ call for blank license plates is further indication of its run-away impotence.

I used Chesterton’s analogy for progressive thinking the other day in the smoking ban burp in the windstorm - a Progressive is like the nurse ( child care provider) who tastes bitter baby food and determines that better baby food is just not good enough - get a new baby.

Old Chesterton would have loved today’s gutlessness from the Tribune. Rather than sell license plates with proceeds going to fight breast cancer, AIDS, Honor Veterans, and any other common sense issue - the Trib follows the ACLU dictum - ‘if one person ( no matter how loopy or plain nuts) is offended by a such a design the entire fabric ofthe Republic will unravel.'

Milquetoast posers and pre-cut Clarence Darrows should not have the final say about too much, but they do seem to run the media.

[Jill Stanek]

Eric,

Yes, one commenter on Rich Miller's blog noted, "And as for Zorn, funny how he decided to chime in on the plate issue once the choose life ones were approved…wow, I sound like Stanek! YIKES!!!"

So the conversions have begun! As Rod Stewart sang the old spiritual:

People get ready
For the train to Jordan
Picking up passengers
From coast to coast

Come on board, Eric.

[Eric Zorn]

ZORN REPLY (from his blog) -- I hope you, with your experience in journalism, Jill, set this poster straight about what a news peg is and why commentators weigh in on topics when they do. And I also hope you noted that I did NOT editorialize against the "Choose Life" plate when it was proposed and when you began to litigate for it. Nor am I in particular opposition to it now. I have always been open to dialogue and airing views of those I disagree with, including you (I really regret that our debate on IDE got swallowed up in some re-programming decisions at chicagotribune.com...would gladly repost it if anyone has a copy) and that to accuse me of wanting to silence anyone's views is infamously false.
Like I say, I hope that. But I look on your blog and I see the same tired whining and accusations of hypocrisy from you.

[Jill Stanek]

I hope you, with your experience in journalism, Eric, understand it's your job to set posters straight about your commentaries, not mine.

As to whether you, like Rep. Franks, had an epiphany that there were too many specialty plates on Illinois' roads only coincidentally at the same time Choose Life plates came on the scene, well, ok, if you say so.

[Eric Zorn]

ZORN REPLY (from his blog) -- That's between you and Jack Franks, though I can't see why he or anyone would have thought it changed the legal lay of the land one way or the other once you tried to introduce "Choose Life" plates. It certainly wouldn't have changed your legal argument one iota if Franks had or had not allowed, say, the Boy Scouts or any of the other organization who applied after you (I gather) to have their plates. Those would have been just more of the same. The argument against your proposed plate -- again an argument I do not buy -- is not that it's one too many plates, but that it contains too much self expression and implies an endorsement of your cause by the state. So your point is that Franks felt that he could help the state's legal case and/or justify denying "Choose Life" by denying less controversial plates, even though this idea clearly makes no sense. Well, as you say, if you say so.
Regarding your post and its innuendo about my intentions, I was simply urging you to be fair to ME in your blog postings.

[Pat Hickey]

In all fairness to Mr. Zorn, he and all self-styled Progresives will take the most extreme position on any issue to combat common sense or tradition.

The Progressive sees himself as Atticus Finch, while in fact he is Ernest T. Bass.

A rock ( or lawsuit or legislation) through a person's frontwindow gets that person's attention. That is being Progressive.