Fighting the Strawman

It's funny, in a way. Conservatives tend to be so anti-intellectual that they actually seem to enjoy being stupid. Recently they have been writing and emailing Congress against the re-imposition of the Fairness Doctrine, a law that used to require that TV and radio stations utilizing the public airwaves present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that was (in the Commission's view) honest, equitable and balanced. But no one in Congress or the White House has actually put forth any bills.

Now some conservatives are on the war path to defeat mythical legislation that would broaden abortion rights.

From Time magazine...

The U.S. Catholic Church's crusade against the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) has all the hallmarks of a well-oiled lobbying campaign. A national postcard campaign is flooding the White House and congressional offices with messages opposing FOCA, and Catholic bishops have made defeating the abortion rights legislation a top priority. In the most recent effort to stop the bill, Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia sent a letter to every member of Congress imploring them to "please oppose FOCA."

There is only one hitch. Congress isn't about to pass the Freedom of Choice Act — because no such bill has been introduced in the current Congress.

Just think of the outrage the Church and the conservatives have built up - probably donating money to the cause, sitting down to write a torrent of mail (electronic and otherwise) all in the name of - nothing.