Posted on 12/07/2005 5:02:27 PM PST by eartotheground
Terri Schiavo's husband starts a PAC devoted to defeating the Bible-thumping politicians who used his comatose wife as a football.
By Michael Scherer
Dec. 7, 2005 | At the height of the battle, Michael Schiavo appeared to be a reluctant cultural warrior. His wife, Terri, lay comatose, in her 15th year of vegetative slumber, connected to a feeding tube, but well beyond resuscitation. Around her hospice, a political hurricane swirled.
In Terri's name, President George Bush interrupted his vacation, Sen. Bill Frist played doctor from the Senate floor, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush launched a flimsy criminal investigation, and Rep. Tom DeLay issued ominous political threats to the judiciary. The religious right had turned Terri into a symbolic beachhead in the battle for a "culture of life," and the Republican Party had answered the call.
But Michael Schiavo, who legally controlled his wife's fate, never showed any predilection for the limelight. In fact, he wished that everyone would just leave his family alone. "People are removed from their feeding tubes every day across this country," Schiavo told CNN's Larry King, in a rare interview last March. "The government chose this one to pander for their religious right, pander for their votes."
But now, as the one-year anniversary of Terri Schiavo's death approaches, Michael Schiavo is changing his approach and preparing to enter the political fray. Terri's fate has already been decided. Now her husband wants to claim her legacy. "For 15 years, I have been watching the politicians working their ways into my case. I felt I needed to do something when this was all said and done," Schiavo told Salon on Tuesday. "I didn't ask for this fight, but now I am ready."
This week Schiavo will roll out a new political action committee, called Terri PAC, with the hope of raising money to defeat the politicians who tried to intervene in the legal battle between Schiavo and Terri's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler. "Whatever I can do, I am going to do," says Schiavo, who works as a nurse in the Pinellas County Jail in Clearwater, Fla. Starting in January, he plans to change his work hours to three 12-hour shifts a week, allowing him more time to work on politics.
At the same time, Schiavo is putting the finishing touches on a book, "Terri: The Truth," which is scheduled for release in March. His former in-laws, the Schindlers, have also announced plans to publish a book with their side of the story in March. The Schindlers have been working to establish their own legacy for their daughter. This summer, the couple gave their support to a new seminarian scholarship in Terri's name at the Ave Maria University. "We feel that Terri was chosen by God to combat evil," Bob Schindler told a Catholic news service. "What a fine way to pay tribute to her life."
Terri PAC will not be the first time Schiavo has inserted himself into politics since his wife's death. During this year's Virginia governor's race, Schiavo volunteered his support for the victorious Democrat, Tim Kaine, after his Republican opponent, Jerry Kilgore, said he did "not agree to the forced starvation of any individual." Though Kaine did not trumpet the endorsement, the amount of press coverage it received was encouraging, says Derek Newton, a political consultant at the November Group, in Coral Gables, Fla., who is working with Schiavo. "From the PAC's perspective, Kaine's win was very important," Newton said.
One Florida Democrat, Rep. Robert Wexler, who represents parts of Palm Beach, says that Michael Schiavo could have an impact going into the 2006 midterm election. "Terri Schiavo and Michael Schiavo were some of the most prominent victims of the Republicans' abuse of power," said Wexler. "Michael Schiavo's effort is not only appropriate and timely, but it is also extremely important."
In addition to funneling money to certain political campaigns, the PAC will name those politicians who supported government intervention in his wife's case, as well as those who opposed intervention. Schiavo also hopes to use the Web site to educate people about the importance of living wills. Newton said that Schiavo has no plans to run for political office himself; the two have not yet discussed whether Schiavo will collect a salary from the PAC for his efforts.
In the interview, Schiavo mentioned Rep. DeLay, R-Texas, Sen. Frist, R-Tenn., and Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., as primary targets of the effort. He also said he wanted to be involved in the upcoming Florida governor's race. "We are going to focus on holding these people accountable," Schiavo said.
Where was she found by the medics that night?
Because YOU thought it best. That's arrogance.
Forgot? You know this?
How do you know he "forgot" she didn't want to live in a vegetative state? Did he ever say anything to the contrary?
No.
You just made this up like you Terri-bots make everything up. What are you doing on FR? That's what I'd like to know.
I am a bit stunned by people that have zero respect for life of any kind. If the parents were willing to care for her, what is the harm in that?
I guess ripping babies out of the womb is okay to for these folks - if it's imperfect or inconvenient - kill it, kill it NOW!
The entire legal record reflects that inquiry - "finding Terri's wishes." There is a not-uncommon, but false belief that the law was enforcing Michael's orders or wishes, or that the guardian has a right to impose or withhold medical treatment that is contrary to the patient's expressed wishes.
The legal system found (incorrectly, IMO) that Terri expressed a wish to die.
It was wrong for Judge Greer to place as guardian this estranged husband who had a live-in mistress and two illegitimate children. Just too much of a conflict of interest. Judge Greer further denied Terri due process - she never even had a lawyer.
At least three books have been published about Terri, the most popular one, "Silent Witness" by Mark Fuhrman.
"You hate FR, because, it is dominated by "Bible thumpers." Just leave."
Didn't know that you owned Free Republic and could tell someone to leave. Perhaps you are a little too big for your britches.
"America hates you for what you did."
No, the vast majority of the American population was on Michael Schiavo's side, not the Schindlers. All the polls showed that a large percent (anywhere from 60 to 80 percent) of Americans were on the husband's side. So, your statement about "America hates you" is sheer hyperbole and does not reflect the truth of the matter.
Its always about the money isn't it Michael ?
Actually, that is the Schindlers you must be speaking of, as they have been feeding off of the financial trough of their daughter's death on a still continuing basis. I know, what's good for the goose isn't for the gander, right?
I might have a possible answer. Teri was used as a football when she was drop kicked down those stairs on that fateful night, February 25, 1990.
Guess you must get off on lying through your teeth based on no actual fact. Typical.
WHAT???? He said no such thing. Buy a friggin' clue.
"Suddenly after he received the award, he claimed to recall she wanted to die."
Why would he want that? He had his money. The parents offered to care for her.
Second, you're implying that he forgot. Where's your proof that he forgot then remembered. You got none.
"I heard him say on TV that they were young and he has no idea what Terri would have wanted."
Then you heard him wrong.
First of all, Michael, and others, testified under oath, under penalty of perjury, in front of an impartial judge, exactly what Terri would have wanted.
Second, that statement was made by Cindy Shook, claiming Michael said it.
"The manner how Terri was killed was barbaric, not even allowed to the worst of criminals or rabid dogs."
Correct, the reason being that criminals and rabid dogs have an intact cerebreal cortex.
"We, as a people, have so shamed ourselves, that we cannot look Mary Schindler, Terri Schiavo's mother in the eye, and give her one good reason why WE did not allow her to give water to her dying child."
No, WE didn't. But the doctor did. Terri would have drowned if given water orally.
You got a point? Make one.
So if I make it clear that I wouldn't want to be kept alive in a Persistent Vegetative State, you would deny me this and force upon my family the emotional and financial burden of keeping me alive.
Or are you saying you would do that for my family? I'm unclear as to how strongly you feel about the sanctity of life.
It is a fact that Michael recalled that Terri allegedly wanted to die only after he won the lawsuit. And certainly you have no way of knowing what was in Terri's mind.
You have to admit that Michael is one sadistic person. He even tried to prevent the parents from knowing where Terri was buried.
But it was Michael that was greedy. Uh-huh.
Your link has about 4,000 links. As I don't have the time to read them all, DO YOU HAVE A POINT?
I don't own it. I am simply inviting someone to do what a whole bunch of other irreligious libertarian extremists and suqishy middle big tent moderates did back in the day, during the Schiavo issue. They said FR was too right wing for them, gave their opus and said adios.
No, Terri would not have drowned if water or a sliver of ice had been placed on her lips. You appear to oppose that water for Terri because then she allegedly might drown - in other words, you preferred a slow, horrible death? Read your statements - you come across demented.
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