Dana Milbank (Washington Post): Schiavo Case Rife With Political Symbolism

[Jack Rabbit]

From the Washington Post
Dated Friday April 1

Schiavo Case Rife With Political Symbolism
By Dana Milbank
Washington Post Staff Writer

Terri Schiavo is dead, but the passions stirred by the fight over her life will shape the political debate for a long time to come.

Republicans say the Schiavo case has mobilized their conservative base for the struggles over judicial nominations and a likely Supreme Court vacancy this summer. In defeat, they hope to make Schiavo's death into a rallying point for a broader "culture of life" movement to secure judges and a justice who would restrict abortions.

The diverging interpretations reflect larger electoral strategies by both parties. Democrats, following a traditional approach, believe they can return to power by staking out ground as the party of the center. Republicans, using a strategy employed successfully by President Bush in the 2004 elections, believe the key is not in appealing to the middle but in motivating its active conservative base.

The battle over Schiavo's symbolism has already begun. Tony Perkins, president of the Christian policy group Family Research Council, issued a statement after Schiavo's death blaming the judiciary (even though it was mostly conservative judges who rejected the intervention by Bush and Congress.) "This is a tragic and unfortunate event that should awaken Americans to the problems in our court system," he said. "As many in the nation mourn the passing of Terri Schiavo, we should remember that her death is a symptom of a greater problem: that the courts no longer respect human life."

Read more.

[BattyDem]

1. How can a "culture of life" include ...

being pro-war and pro-death penalty? :shrug:

[shraby]

2. When over 80% of the people

said "butt out" how can they possible call their movement a culture of life? Less the 20% agree with them, sounds like its a "dead movement".

[BattyDem]

4. hehehe .. good point

:toast:

[roguevalley]

3. political symbolism (adjective) to exploit and demean, to use for

personal gain, to DeLay

[BattyDem]

5. Awwwwwwwwwwww ... your doggies are soooooo cute!!!!!!!

:D