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March 21, 2005
In a gross abuse of governmental authority, right-wing leaders have turned the life of Terri Schiavo into a media circus and exploited her condition for crass political purposes. President Bush signed legislation early today to force federal courts to violate the wishes of her husband to end Ms. Schiavo's life with dignity. Americans everywhere are rightly outraged at the insatiable demands of right-wing politicians to decide when and how people should live and die.
- Congress has no place intervening in the private medical decisions of any American. The shameless 11th hour intervention in the Schiavo case by right-wing leaders is a disgrace to all Americans. The case had been fully vetted by state and local courts in Florida for years, yet at the last minute, Congress decides it knows better than the judgment of Ms. Schiavo's husband and Florida state courts. Conservatives, once the self-proclaimed protectors of individual privacy and federalism, have morphed into the party of personal violation and ham-fisted federal intervention.
- The political manipulation of a personal life-and-death issue by right-wing leaders is shameful and morally repugnant. Make no mistake about it: President Bush, Tom DeLay and Bill Frist are no friends of the Schiavos. DeLay's unprecedented attack on Terri Schiavo's husband, Michael, was designed solely for political gain and represents a new low for the ethically challenged House leader. A memo distributed by Senate leadership to right-wing members called Schiavo "a great political issue" and urged Senators to talk about her because "the pro-life base will be excited." The presence of anti-abortion extremist Randall Terry with Ms. Schiavo's parents yesterday, confirms the worst suspicions about the right's motivations in this matter.
- As Governor of Texas, President Bush signed a law to allow hospitals to discontinue life support even if family members disagree. In a statement released early this morning President Bush said he will "continue to stand on the side of those defending life for all Americans." But the facts make it hard to believe that Bush is standing on principle. In 1999, then Gov. Bush signed a law that "allows hospitals to discontinue life sustaining care, even if patient family members disagree," according to the Houston Chronicle. Just days ago the law permitted Texas Children's Hospital to remove the breathing tube from a 6-month-old boy named Sun Hudson. The law may soon be used to remove life support from Spiro Nikolouzos, a 68-year-old man. Bush has not commented on either case.
Daily Talking Points is a product of the American Progress Action Fund. |
Daily Talking Points is a product of the American Progress Action Fund. |
