South Dakota should give some serious thought to changing its state motto from “Under God, the People Rule” to Under-Qualified People Rule. As if it weren’t bad enough that the powers that be in this dusty corner of America would deny a woman who has been raped the right to an abortion, they would also deny a woman who favors the impeachment of George W. Bush the right to express that opinion on her license plate.

From the Rapid City Journal:

State looks to pull anti-Bush license plate

RAPID CITY — Heather Moriah loves the personalized license plates on her silver Prius encouraging the impeachment of President George W. Bush.

But somebody doesn’t agree. And that somebody complained to the state. Now, the South Dakota Division of Motor Vehicles is trying to recall the plates — which read MPEACHW. And if Moriah doesn’t turn them in voluntarily, the state might send law-enforcement officers to pick them up.

Even so, she’s not immediately inclined to cooperate.

“I don’t think I’m going to play,� Moriah said Thursday afternoon. “The plate isn’t in poor taste. It‘s not sexual in nature or pornographic. To me, a political message should not be considered offensive.�

But Division of Motor Vehicles director Deb Hillmer said Thursday that the law clearly gives the state authority to recall the plates and have them forcibly removed if necessary. And although only one person complained about Moriah’s political statement, that’s all it takes to recall a set of vanity plates, Hillmer said.

“I’m following the letter of the law,� she said. “It’s offensive to someone and not in good taste and decency. And the plates are the property of the state of South Dakota.� [full text]

UPDATE: Common sense—or, more likely, negative publicity—has prevailed. The Rapid City Journal is now reporting the “MPEACH plate won’t be recalled by DMV.”