While conservatives try desperately to play down the possibility the shootings at Planned Parenthood were the result of the anti-abortion propaganda, or those doctored videos, evidence starts to surface that their efforts might prove futile.

Robert Lewis Dear

As I pointed out yesterday there is an ongoing and concerted effort to redirect any suspicion that the Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood shooter was inspired to go on his shooting spree by by the so-called "pro-life" movement or those doctored videos that have been all over the news recently.

Even Sarah Palin did her part to play down any connection:

Our prayers are for Colorado Springs and the families of the three killed there yesterday, including a heroic police officer who put his life on the line for others. Such a horrible, evil act perpetrated by a deranged man who'd been repeatedly investigated by law enforcement over the years. Senseless acts of violence involving stabbings, beatings, shootings, etc., are equally evil, abhorrent, unacceptable. The evidence isn't all gathered but it appears yet another criminal mind ignored all sensibilities and all laws to fulfill his mission to kill. Pray that our culture receives wisdom in dealing with any dark intention that is manifested in ugly violence - using any weapon - and that glorification of death and violence - using any weapon - is wholly condemned. We must have a collective commitment to reversing the trajectory we're on towards creating a hard-hearted, selfish civilization. Yesterday's crime was so wrong, so terrible, so tragic - as is every deadly act of violence we sufferably witness everyday here and around the world. May God comfort Colorado Springs' victims.

Did you notice that there was NO mention of Planned Parenthood, and the  emphasis on "any weapon" so as to distract from the fact that this was yet another senseless act of violence using a firearm?

Pretty clumsy misdirection for a journalism major don't you think?

Sadly for Palin, and her ilk, there is at least some circumstantial evidence of why Mr. Dear did what he did: 

In one statement, made after the suspect was taken in for questioning, Dear said "no more baby parts" in reference to Planned Parenthood, according to two law enforcement sources with knowledge of the case.

Now I am going to err on the side of caution and remind everybody that we still do not have definitive evidence as to what Mr. Dear's motives were, but I can tell you that if he did NOT go on this shooting spree because of abortion, then he is really going to disappoint his new fans:

Like I said we don't know what this guy's motivations were for sure, however there is still plenty of evidence that demonstrates an uptick in violence against Planned Parenthood since the release of those videos: 

Back in September, CBS reported that the FBI had noticed an uptick in attacks on reproductive health care facilities since the first video was released by the anti-abortion group Center for Medical Progress (CMP). There were nine criminal or suspicious incidents (including cyber-attacks, threats, and arsons) from July, when the videos first came out, through mid-September. 

An FBI Intelligence Assessment at the time found these attacks were "consistent with the actions of lone offenders using tactics of arsons and threats all of which are typical of the pro-life extremist movement." Moreover, the report said it was "likely criminal or suspicious incidents will continue to be directed against reproductive health care providers, their staff and facilities." 

Less than two weeks after CBS reported that, another abortion clinic was firebombed in California. It was the fourth arson at a Planned Parenthood location in as many months. 

"The toxic rhetoric directed at Planned Parenthood has dangerous consequences," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein in a press release at the time. "It sends a signal that using violence to close clinics and intimidate healthcare professionals and women is 'OK.' It is not."

So even if this guy was NOT there with guns blazing in response to those videos, it is really only a matter of time before somebody will be.

Update: Here's a little more from HuffPo:  

Planned Parenthood said late Saturday that witnesses said the gunman was motivated by his opposition to abortion. An official who has been briefed on the investigation told The Washington Post that the attack was "definitely politically motivated."

Still not case closed, but once the police release their statements I imagine the conservative media might have an awful lot of crow to eat.