Why is the Republican leadership willing to turn the full attention of Congress on the sad plight of one woman's tragedy while letting countless Americans face poor health, bankruptcy and death from lack of health care?
Why does the Republican leadership glorify the sanctity of marriage while denying Michael Schiavo's right to make medical decisions for his incapacitated wife?
Why does the Republican leadership declare it immoral to discontinue Terri Schiavo's care while acting to slash the very Medicaid funding that has paid for that care? The answer can be found in the Republican talking points memo describing Terri Schiavo's tragic plight as "a great political issue."
The absurd hypocrisy of the Republican leadership defies description. In these dangerous times, Congress should attend to pressing fiscal, domestic and international issues at hand and leave this family tragedy to be sorted out by the family.
After all, who would you want to make your medical decisions for you if you were incapacitated? Your spouse, or Tom DeLay and Bill Frist? I would choose the one who would not describe my plight as "a great political issue."
Steve Bird
Greensboro
Comments (7)
Guess you didn't see Jessie Jackson grandstanding down in Florida over Ms Schiavo, did ya?
Posted by mr t | March 30, 2005 10:15 AM
When I saw Jackson shoving his way into the spotlight, my respect for him (never all that high) took quite a nosedive. Makes me wonder what he thinks of the deaths of people who do have living wills.
Posted by Eric | March 30, 2005 2:02 PM
Mr. Eric, your statement makes me wonder what you think about husbands lying in court to legally murder their wives.
Terri Schiavo is no more incapacitated than the Pope, who is also on a feeding tube. Both are awake, alive, responsive, and breathing on their own. Good thing he isn't married, or I guess he'd be starved to death as well.
Posted by Okra Hottle | March 30, 2005 5:50 PM
Okra, murder is never legal. Second, if you think Schiavo's and the Pope's mental capacity is the same, I am embarrased for you.
Posted by Anonymous | March 31, 2005 6:14 AM
Terri Schiavo's condition and the Pope's are very much the same: both are alive, both conscious, both breathing on their own and responsive. Both have limited communication abilities, and diminished mental capabilities.
So, using the logic of those that would see Terri killed for her husband's convenience, they'd pull the plug on the Pope as well.
You're right murder is never legal, and Terry Schiavo has been murdered by her husband for his convenience.
Posted by Okra Hottle | March 31, 2005 10:18 AM
Okra Hottle, There are significant differences between being critically ill (the pope) and having severe, irreversible brain injury (Ms. Schiavo). To even suggest they are one and the same is displaying either major denial or a total lack of knowledge. In either case I suggest you do some serious reading on the subject and educate yourself before causing yourself futher embarrassment.
Posted by Yvonne | March 31, 2005 11:34 AM
Okra,
With all due respect, I fail to see how, overall, the condition of the late (according to the Drudge Report) Ms. Schiavo and the Pope could be considered the same. Aside from all the medical differences between the two cases, we know without any doubt the Pope's views on the matter. With regards to Ms. Schiavo, we know only what has been stated by her husband and her parents. I don't know whether or not you are married, but I can assure you that I have shared information with my wife that I haven't shared with my parents.
There may indeed be valid arguments for arguing that Ms. Schiavo's feeding tube should have been reinserted. But, if you really feel that her condition and the Pope's are the same, I'm afraid that any other arguments you put forth probably won't be heard or considered.
Posted by timothy | March 31, 2005 12:07 PM