Michael Schiavo Caught in Serious Distortion of Truth on NBC Interview

Life Site News ^ | March 24, 2006 | John-Henry Westen

[topher]

Michael Schiavo Caught in Serious Distortion of Truth on NBC Interview

By John-Henry Westen

CLEARWATER, FLA., March 24, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Michael Schiavo, who ordered doctors to withhold food and water from his severely disabled wife Terri until she died, and his current wife Jodi were interviewed by NBC's Matt Lauer. Those exclusive interviews based on Schiavo's upcoming book "Terri: The Truth," are to be broadcast on "Dateline," Sunday, March 26 at 7 p.m.. Ironically, despite claiming to speak about 'the truth' concerning Terri, NBC's Lauer catches Schiavo in a serious distortion of truth as the interview begins.

In the interview, Michael responds to Lauer asking why he would not just divorce Terri - since he was already living with another woman with whom he had fathered children - leaving Terri with her own parents who were begging to be allowed to care for her. Michael answered, "When you sit in a courtroom and you hear her father say I'll cut her arms and her legs off, just to keep her alive, why would I want to put their daughter back in their care if he's gonna (sic) do that to her."

At this point Lauer interjects to say, "Let's make sure we understand that statement," with Schiavo trying to cut him off all the while, he adds, "I think the statement was, if she were to develop gangrene, and had to have limbs amputated, he would do that and okay that as long as he could still have her alive. That's a little different than the way you . . ." At this point Schiavo, who had been interrupting Lauer the whole way through his clarification interrupts definitively cutting off Lauer and changing the subject.

The interview is one sided, in that it presents only Michael's point of view and ends with Michael relating through his tears his last moments with Terri, going so far as to say, "She's up there praising me right now... and saying thank you."

Lauer notes that the book is not about honouring Terri, but about settling some scores. To which Schiavo responds, "Oh yes it does."

At another point in the interview, Lauer asks, "People have often asked. Michael why didn't you divorce Terri, you were living with Jodi." Schiavo replies, "Why do I have to divorce Terri? Terri wasn't like a football- an inanimate object you pass back and forth. She was my wife. You mean because your wife gets sick, do you give her back?"

Asked about his decision to remove Terri's feeding tube despite the pleas of Americans, groups from around the world and even the Vatican, Schiavo said, "Yeah, well I guess when it all boiled down, I couldn't understand why these people were so passionate about my life... People are allowed to die every day. Feeding tubes are removed every day."

Schiavo will appear live on "Today," Monday, March 27, and with Jodi on Tuesday, March 28.

To see a preview video excerpt of the interview go here and click on the 'launch' button;

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/11943750/

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage: Terri Schiavo's Husband Re-Married in Catholic Church http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/jan/06012306.html

Ten Year Old Arrested for Giving Food to Terri Schiavo Apologizes

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/aug/05083103.html

[syriacus]

It will be sad but interesting to see if he finds a legal way to murder her and get her insurance money. Cordially,

Maybe My-Kill will be fatally injured in an accident and Jodi will collect on his insurance.

[Elyse]

True conservatives would not cheerlead for any project that involved an alliance between the aclu, the Atheists of Florida, the Fla Right to Die Assn. with REPUBLICANS and the likes of Howard Dean to bump off Terri.

I don't want to offend you, but you are saying a lot and not explaining anything. How exactly are Jeb Bush and Republicans involved in this unholy alliance? I know a lot about Terri's case because the injustice of it all made me sick and I followed it closely, but I can't understand why you are assigning the ultimate blame to Jeb Bush for the outcome.

[syriacus]

For the family to state such a thing tells me they're more concerned with their feelings than that of the one they know will never return

You have an interesting "ability" to judge a situation you aren't involved in.

[floriduh voter]

If you've been following the Terri threads or my user posts, you will see that I am not disclosing oodles of information because there are books coming out. I will not divulge more just to make some posts.

Did you see Jeb's picture on that graphic? No. Jeb played a part though.

[Elyse]

I will not divulge more just to make some posts.

Sorry, I bothered you and took up some of your valuable posting time. I'll remember in the future not to try to have a discussion with you until I've read every post in every thread you've posted in.

[pickyourpoison]

"Terri used to get taken to the mall and the beach, etc"

This was when the Schindlers was using their retirement monies to pay for Terri's rehap, trips, etc..is that correct? After Michael won the lawsuit and had control of Terri and the lawsuit money, the trips and rehab stopped.

Wasn't Michael supposed to replace the Schindlers retirement money if he won the lawsuit?

[Theodore R.]

Michael R. Schiavo can tell all the lies that he wants with impunity, and he knows this and will continue to lie. He is like the man with a reputation as an early riser who can sleep to noon, and no one knows the difference. People in FL and across the nation wanted to believe Michael R. Schiavo so much that they let him lie because his lies fit their world view and their desire for euthanasia for the "undesirables." So, continue to lie, Mr. MRS, and the American people will cheer you. You even won over Senator Frist at the end!

[Theodore R.]

No, the American people who endorse abortion favor euthanasia too. Why? It's a matter of money, as they falsely see it. They want to prevent "unwanted" children from drawing from their bank accounts. And they want to end the life of "loved ones" who have become an emotional and financial burden to them. It's all a matter of dollars and nonsense to the American people as a whole.

[Just mythoughts]

"Seriously, let it go.

Its over."


Really, there was to be a BLOWBACK against anybody who believed what happened here was flat out wrong. Now it's over???

[Theodore R.]

I suspect that MRS, like most of his supporters, does not believe in a "Creator."

[GrandEagle]

Poetic justice....

[StAnDeliver]

"What will Jodi think of him then?"

What could she possibly think of herself after flaunting their adultery in a very public way?

[walford]

"She's up there praising me right now... and saying thank you."

[Nowhere Man]

May Michael Schiavo forever by plagued by the ghost of Terri.

[syriacus]

No, the American people who endorse abortion favor euthanasia too

My hope is that the sleep-walking pro-death thinkers will realize they were lucky enough to escape abortion, but they still can be a victim of euthanasia if they are not protected by our laws.

[Lovergirl]

Hey FV, how are ya? The Schindlers book is already out. I purchased it thru Amazon.com last week. It's a great book. Heart wrenching but great. I finished it in a day.

[brytlea]

What I do not understand is why anyone, even those believing that the decision to remove her feeding tube and let her die, would not STILL wonder about such things as what you posted here.
susie

[Ohioan from Florida]

How clever! Very appropriate!

[Ohioan from Florida]

I don't know if Michael was supposed to replace their money per se, but he was supposed to build a house that they could live in and take care of Terri. It was supposed to go for follow-up treatment at Shands, too, which also never happened.

[Ohioan from Florida]

"What could she possibly think of herself after flaunting their adultery in a very public way?"

Very true. If she had thought anything of herself in the first place, she wouldn't have succumbed to extra-marital sex in the first place. JMHO.