Brace yourselves: Santorum is leading a wave of stochastic terrorism. Get ready for shootings...

[DirkGently]

4. I think it's a valid point. There are implications to labeling people murderers, etc.

I'd agree the idea that every kind of loaded rhetoric is a form of "terrorism" is a stretch. But any time you call upon religious fervor and suggest that your opponents hold views or do things that "god" condemns, you are inviting the fairly large number of zealots in the world to do what zealots always do -- kill in the name of their deity, regardless of secular laws or morals.

The whole POINT of religious-based campaigning is to claim that one party or leader represents "god," implying that the other is the enemy of "god." That's exactly what they're doing when abortion opponents frame their objections in terms of "murder of unborn babies."

What would people do to someone actually murdering babies? Work out a compromise? Consider the health and needs of the "murderer?" If they don't really mean it "that way," why do they always PUT IT that way?

Most people don't take religion literally. Most people recognize the secular view of rights and liberties is the proper framework.

But on some level, every time someone phrases these questions in terms of absolute, religious right or wrong, they're making an appeal to throw all those things away. I don't think you get a free pass when that actually happens, just because sane people would never take you at your word.