Dr. Tiller

I knew nothing about Dr. George Tiller until this morning, but I join millions in mourning his death.
From Feministe :

He put the health of women above his own life.

From Pandagon:

If a woman has a later term therapeutic abortion---be it because it was a wanted pregnancy, she has serious mental health issues, or she is a child victim of rape---it’s rarely easy on her mentally or physically. Dr. Tiller’s clinic was renowned for the thoughtful patient support to help women get through what is a very difficult time---counseling, support groups, religious services for the lost baby if you desire.
He didn’t have to do this. He didn’t have to put his life and his family’s life on the line every day to tend to women going through a little-understood trauma. He didn’t have to go through a sea of protesters who hate women so much they actually think that women are lying about their problems so they “get” to have later term abortions. He didn’t have to suffer through relentless legal abuse at the hands of fundamentalist misogynists who obtain political power by exploiting voter ignorance about abortion. He didn’t have to make himself the target for this murder to help women, but for whatever reason, he rose to this challenge, and that makes him a real hero.

But, of course, it would be unseemly if pro-choice people actually got angry about this tragedy. The Associated Press writes:

[Anti-abortion activists]expressed concern that abortion-rights activists would use the occasion to brand the entire anti-abortion movement as extremist.
They also worried that there would be an effort to stifle anti-abortion viewpoints during questioning of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Her exact views on abortion aren't known, but conservatives fear she supports abortion rights.
Said the Rev. Patrick Mahoney, an anti-abortion activist: 'No one should use this tragedy for political gain.'

Digby responds

Perhaps we could just sweep it under the rug and carry on with the slut shaming, bloody pictures and calling doctors murderers.

And chief wingnut Randall Terry is happy to oblige.
Just watch -- they'll complain about how Obama is persecuting them if they aren't allowed to turn the funeral into an anti-abortion protest circus.