"He stood by his principles."

Georgia State Representative Bobby Franklin (R-Marietta) was found dead at home, apparently of natural causes. He was perhaps the most controversial member of the state legislature, a sort of obsessive gadfly who annoyed fellow Republicans almost as much as Democrats.

Faithfully every year, he filed anti-abortion legislation, including proposals that would have put women who had miscarriages at risk of being accused of a criminal act; another of his bills would change rape law to replace the word "victim" with "accuser." He could tie up committee meetings for hours, trying to insert his favorite causes into other bills; and he often forced time-consuming votes in the legislature to make a point of opposing some ruling by the Speaker, even a Speaker from his own party.

And what are they saying about him, now that he has died?

"He stood by his principles."

Well, so did the Norwegian Anders Behring Breivik, who blew up a government building and shot scores of Norway's finest young people at a government sponsored camp.

So did Jared Lee Loughner of Tucson, who tried to assassinate Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and killed six others at a political rally.

It matters what those principles are that you're standing up for. Let's not forget that when we rush to speak kindly of the dead.

Ralph