Husband Takes Schiavo Fight Back to Politicians (with Lamont at his side)

[im10ashus]

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The curtains are still drawn tight at Michael Schiavo’s home on a quiet cul-de-sac here, and in some ways he remains as private and unknowable as when his wife Terri was the focus of a fervent national debate last year about life and death.

Yet Mr. Schiavo, who won a scorching legal battle to remove his brain-damaged wife’s feeding tube, also remains furious at lawmakers in Tallahassee and Washington who intervened in the case. Hence the creation last winter of TerriPAC, a federal political action committee aimed against politicians who tried to stop Ms. Schiavo’s death, and the debut of Mr. Schiavo, a newly remarried, self-described normal guy, as a political weapon in this year’s midterm elections.

He is an unpolished speaker, sometimes abandoning sentences midstream or grasping for the right words. He did not vote or follow the news until recently, he says, and had never heard of a PAC until strangers suggested he start one late last year.

Still, Mr. Schiavo flew to Connecticut last month to help Ned Lamont, who defeated Senator Joseph I. Lieberman in the Democratic primary. Mr. Schiavo reminded voters that Mr. Lieberman had supported an emergency bill asking a federal court to consider reinserting Ms. Schiavo’s feeding tube days before she died in March 2005. Ms. Schiavo’s parents, who adamantly opposed her death and rejected Mr. Schiavo’s claim that she would have wished it, had pleaded with Congress and President Bush to intervene.

cont'd...

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/16/washington/16schiavo.html?hp&ex=1155787200&en=87077282f26c049e&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[warrens]

1. I love it

Bunch of showboating demagogues now have to live with their disgusting pandering.

[Donnachaidh]

2. good for him

I think the american public has to be reminded of the lies and BS perpetrated by the thugs. And the reminder needs to build to an all-encompassing roar in November.

[gratuitous]

3. An inconvenient man

I'm pretty sure that Dr. Frist and the rest of the opportunists would very much like to forget all about this little bit of legislative legerdemain. I'm glad that Mr. Schiavo is reminding them of their pandering ways. Lieberman shamefully ran straight into the embrace of some of the most unamerican, most repressive elements in our society on this subject, knowing full well who he was supporting and what bad medicine he was practicing. And if he didn't know, then even more shame on him.

[im10ashus]

4. I'm so glad he isn't letting Frist et al. off the hook.

They need to be reminded of their idiocy from time-to-time.

[TheFriedPiper]

5. Idiots should have the letter "I" tattooed on their foreheads

That way we know not to hire them, ask them for directions, or leave any important decisions up to them.

Fortunately, in the South at least, most idiots oblige by flying the confederate battle flag to prove they are as racist as their neighbors.

[anderbre]

19. Idiot tattoos

Confederate flags and W stickers are a very good indication of an idiot behind the wheel. That and anyone who has "Support our Troops" stickers all over their vehicles as if there are people out there who aren't supporting the troops.

Of course, if the sticker-makers want to take these people's money, I'm all for it. Personally, I find it hilarious that DeLay took all that campaign money and will use it for legal fees.

[Balderdash]

6. I don't know...

The Schiavo debacle is a very emotional issue for a lot of people. In some ways maybe too emotional
for people to be rational. I remember how irrational that mess was and the circus atmosphere out side of Terri's hospice and the loons that flocked to it. I feel for Michael but he may be too hot an issue and may represent an issue that will be too divisive. Maybe I'm wrong about this but I know many normally smart and sane people that were pretty irrational during the Terri Schiavo mess. JMHO

[stop the bleeding]

7. simple:

Gov't stay out of our bidnezz

[libhill]

25. Isn't ironic -

that the so called party of "small government" wants the government to insinuate itself into every aspect of our lives....

[RaleighNCDUer]

9. And in my humble opinion, the smart and sane people were on

one side and the pretty irrational were on the other. Just how rational is it to think a person whose brain has atrophied will recover?

I say, more power to him for not letting people forget what those asshats did to him, his wife, and his personal medical decisions.

[riderinthestorm]

13. I'm curious, what do you mean by "irrational"?

That they supported Frist and Delay's position on this? To legislatively intervene?

That they felt Micheal shouldn't follow his wife's wishes and let her go?

That they supported the family who revved up the religious right wing media circus machine to descend upon a nursing home where other families were dealing with their own dying friends and relatives? (maybe they got off on seeing those poor folks running the media gauntlet every day?)

Really. What do you mean by irrational? I really would like a fuller explanation of how Schiavo's support of Lamont in any way, shape or form could be interpreted as anything but positive.

[Balderdash]

21. You pretty much covered

all the irrational stuff. In my opinion only after having lived through that period of time and having spoken to many other Democrats and Republicans there were many normally rational and intelligent people that were consumed by the emotional side of Michaels plight. Right here on DU there were many arguments and name calling. I'm just saying that in my opinon (only mine) that MS could be a divisive influence. I like the guy, I defended him and tried to break through some of the emotional stuff, I am in no way against MS.

[riderinthestorm]

24. Something like 80% of the population supported MS

So I'm not sure how he could be perceived as divisive. His position crosses political lines and if he can lend a presence and a voice (and $$) to point out those politicians that were such asses, then I say go for it.

Also I don't agree that "emotional" is the same as "irrational".

[Balderdash]

26. Umm

You said, "Also I don't agree that "emotional" is the same as "irrational".

The emotion caused the irrational, I never said they were the same thing. So, it's cool that you don't agree with me, I'm just one person, just one opinion. :grouphug:

[riderinthestorm]

31. Sorry, your whole post #6 was all about how emotional = irrational

as far as I can see.

Whatever.

I know you are just one person, one opinion but the whole point of the article was that Micheal Schiavo represents way more (like 80% more) of the population who understands and agrees with his position. If you are going to assert that Micheal Schiavo is some kind of divisive figure, you had better have better support than just your opinion. Noone's demanding lockstep but one of the bedrock fundamentals for a real democracy would seem to demand acknowledgement of basic privacy barriers between the state and the individual such as was attempted to be breached with the Schiavo case. We may not particularly like individuals who put themselves on that front line and fight these kinds of fights, but these people are worthy of our support nonetheless.

FWIW, I find it fascinating that Yahoo and Aol and the other major internet front pages are all playing Micheal Schiavo's involvement in races like Lamont's (v Lieberman who sided with Terri's parents) as "revenge!". Oh, the drama!

[Balderdash]

36. Fug it!

My whole post was about irrational caused by emotional and it's getting weird that you keep punishing me for having different thoughts than you. They're just thoughts that I'm sharing with supposed like minded people to be taken for what they're worth.

[LostinVA]

17. It wasn't a divisive issue, that was the whole point

The GIGANTIC majority of Americans were on Michael Schiavo's side, and really disliked what the Repubs were doing... even the majority of Republicans. The gigantic majority of Americans agrees with Schiavo on this matter. It's way less divisive than probably any other political platform plank.

[Bob3]

23. Yes it was emotional but the polls showed maybe 20% support

for the intervention, the rest of the country was utterly appalled at the intervention of the government into a private affair. We can't shy away from paint these people in a very bad light - that nightmare was their idea, let them reap the rewards.

We are in emotional times, these are divisive times. If we want to restore the republic to some semblance of what it was before 2000, hot issues like Terry Schiavo, like the Iraq war, like what to do about terrorist organizations, like the abrogation of power by the executive, like the corruption that seems to have taken up permanent residence in DC are going to have to be squarely faced. To not do so a) prevents the Democratic party from stating who they are and what they stand for, and b) it allows * and the cult of right wing madmen (and women) that have surrounded him to pretend that they are in the main stream, cause the issues that show how out of step they are won't be talked about. It's why they screamed like banshees when Lieberman lost - if the war is an issue they lose. If Democratic candidates trying to look beltway safe don't say anything about it, they can start hooting about gay marriage or immigrants or flag burning.

The more outraged they are, the better we are doing.

[rexcat]

27. The majority of Americans were appalled by what the...

repukes did. If my memory is correct Americans were split 65-70% for Michael Shiavo and 30-35% for the repukes. I see this as a winning proposition! The more this type of pandering is kept in the news the better.

And welcome to DU!

[PinkyisBlue]

32. A lot of lies were flying around during that whole episode.

One lie that particularly irritated me was when Mrs. Schiavo said that Terri was able to swallow and was only on a tube feeding "for the convenience of the staff". I know this was untrue, as people are NOT put on tube feedings for the convenience of the staff. Of course, Terri couldn't swallow, as she was unable to take any liquids or solids once the tube came out. And we also know she wasn't able to track anything with her eyes, as essentially she had no brain function.

I know that the Schiavo's weren't intentionally lying, as they were in a heightened emotional state and were not thinking rationally about the condition their daughter and sister was in. But that's why we have doctors who can offer expert medical analysis and courts that can look at all the info. and come to a sane, unbiased conclusion. The politicians that raced to "save" Terri Schiavo have no excuse for their shameful behavior. I'm glad that Liebermann was on the wrong side of this issue, as it gives me yet another reason to dislike and distrust him.

[LeahMira]

33. Right to Privacy...

I'm glad Mr. Schiavo is ready to get "out there." We all have the right to be left alone in our personal lives.

Just today there was something on the a.m. news about a young man who has been "given the right" to refuse chemotherapy in favor of "natural" treatments of some sort. Although I was not entirely awake this a.m. when the news was on, the fellow looked mature enough to make his choices for himself. Yes, he is conscious, but that's not the point. The point is that each of us has the right to privacy, that Terri's husband was responsible for her care, and that his right to privacy in his and her personal business must be respected... whether or not we agree with the decision ourselves.

Of course, once we reache a certain age we plan our funeral arrangements and write our wills, but how really sad that we have to draw up another legal paper in order to be allowed to die in dignity.

Republicans, and DINOs, need to govern the country and keep their pointy noses out of our personal lives.

[brentblack]

8. Frist is a moron

But I always had doubts about Mr. Schiavo's motives. I mean, you have a woman (who was, of course, beyond repair) that was loved by her family. They wanted to take on her care because they believed (mostly irrational hope) that Terri was improving or at least concious of her surroundings. Her mother was devestated when she lapsed into a coma and then had to deal with her, basically, dying again.

How would it have hurt Mr. Schaivo to let the family take over care and continue to pray for a miracle? At the least, he could have had let her family have the body so she was not buried next to his next wife - she was buried in a Schiavo family plot.

I am an athiest with a living will to avoid such situations. However, this one was blown up by self serving so-called rightous people with no care other than good press. This applies to both sides in this story.

I am ambivilant about Lamont, but I have strong feelings about Mr Schiavo and his actions during and after the death of his wife. I would not count his endorsement as a win.


All that said....I restate that Frist is a moron.

[riderinthestorm]

10. Micheal Schiavo was following his wife's wishes

"How would it have hurt Mr. Schaivo to let the family take over care and continue to pray for a miracle?"

And he was her husband which legally means he is the one who makes the decisions for his wife. He spent 7 years (!) caretaking her intimately, becoming an RN for chrissakes in order to do it properly, before he came to the conclusion that she was so devastatingly brain damaged it was time to follow Terri's wishes.

It wasn't ever about Micheal or Terri's family or who would be "hurt". It is about Terri.

You say you have a living will but how would you feel if a contingent of your family decided to just ignore your wishes?

Personally for me, I hope to hell my husband would be my defender and act as strongly as Micheal Schiavo.

[ProfessorGAC]

11. Are You Married Brent?

The reason i ask is that if i were in his situation, and i KNEW FOR SURE that my wife would have wanted to be allowed to die, the reason i wouldn't let the family "take over" is because it isn't what SHE wanted. Do you think your wife's wishes would not take precedence over that of a mourning, but delusional family?

That's what he said. His position was legally and medically valid. I have no reason to doubt his word on that matter.

The parents on the other hand, had no legal standing, weren't privileged with the information the wife gave the husband, and they weren't entitled to it.

So, he SHOULDN'T have had to explain any further. His wife told him not to let her be kept alive like that.
The Professor

[ima_sinnic]

14. Terry Schiavo was not an object for her parents to "pray over"

--by all legal definitions her HUSBAND superseded those cretins as having the final say in her care and in what was BEST FOR HER. I fully support Michael Schiavo in whatever he does; he and Mrs. Schiavo were vastly wronged by the fringe element that has stealthily (or maybe not so stealthily) taken over what used to be a nice country.

[LeahMira]

34. When you marry...

... you leave your family of birth and belong with your spouse.

Of course most of us manage to acquire another family... the in-laws... but the marriage begins a new family. The "old family" has no place there except as the "new family" wants to include them.

Unless the laws are changed... is that how it is? Seems like some politicians want to make the decision about who my husband and I include in our family. Those politicians may cordially kiss off!

[bleedingheart]

16. Most people I know would want to be pulled off support after

a reasonable time (around a year..but not more).

I told my husband and I made it known legally I don't want to be kept on as a living paperweight.

I read a bunch about the Schiavo mess and to be honest it was the money that was the issue.

Michael move in with her parents while they were fighting to bring her back. He had her flown outside the state for second opinions...but when he won money to take care of her in a lawsuit...the issue became more "who gets to control the cash for Terri"...

Now by the time she died all that money had been exhausted...it is terribly expensive to keep someone like Terri in the state she was....and her husband directed all that money to her care.

If Terri had no cash and had been a welfare recipient without a legal trust...she would have been unplugged without the fanfare...

[Rosemary2205]

22. you sure got that right.

"If Terri had no cash and had been a welfare recipient without a legal trust...she would have been unplugged without the fanfare..."

The same righties that were screaming about Mrs Schaivo are the same ones that support the Texas medical futility law.

[IdaBriggs]

28. I think the "family" were awful people, who probably caused Terri's death.

If you remember, she suffered from bullemia, she was estranged from them, and according to the law, she was PROTECTED from them because the person SHE CHOSE (her husband) was the one legally entitled to make medical decisions for her, and she had told him what she wanted. The mother testified in court that she really didn't care what Terri wanted -- she wanted to keep her "alive" -- it wasn't about Terri's wishes with those selfish, evil people -- it was about THEM. They got mad when the husband used the settlement to pay for Terri's medical care (reportedly the feud didn't start until the father said they were entitled to money for their loss, and the husband said it was going to take care of his wife), and have been taking money from the right wing whackos ever since.

I applaud Mr. Schaivo for protecting her against her evil, money grubbing family. It took a lot of courage for him, which makes me think he loved her very much. As for them, while I might have felt pity for the loss, I can only pray that a merciful God delivers to them the justice they truly deserve.

[LeahMira]

35. After years and years...

... I'd imagine the Schindler family was not operating as well as they might have. I think that all along they held on to the thought that Terri would eventually recover at least partly, and they couldn't accept the fact that it was really over. Truthfully, who wants to authorize pulling the plug on anyone? It's hard for the doctors, too.

I don't think it was about the money, but that money was one more argument to drag in to keep from having to agree to what the Schindler family didn't want to do anyhow. Too bad... really tragic for the Schindlers that the right wing politicians and right wing fundamentalist religious extremists got involved.

It may help the rest of the nation in a strange way, though. If we hadn't already, we know for sure now just how much our lives are worth to any of them. We can all die for what they would care... unless they can use our deaths to make political and/or religious points.

Notice that they don't much care about our lives when stem cell research is mentioned. Hmmm..... wonder if someone might have been able to use embryonic stem cells to regenerate new brain tissue for Terri?

(OK, now I'm getting really sci-fi. Still... )

[durrrty libby]

12. Repukes make a mess and a mockery of everything

they touch

People need to be reminded of this everyday and twice on Sunday.

:freak:

[ima_sinnic]

15. unfortunately it appears that the Rs' little "social experiment"

(i.e., the Contract on America put out in the 80s by Puke Gingrich) has come to fruition. We The People here on DU and other politically aware are "reminded of this everyday and twice on Sunday," but many are still not fully aware of what is going on. I'm afraid it will have to go to its totally messed-up and invevitable violent and bloody conclusion before anything changes.

[BOHICA06]

18. Little or No Impact

Voter's memories are not that long .... it will only excite the already excited in either camp.

Mike needs to go home and become that average guy.

[lies and propaganda]

20. hes a wonderful man.

Hes fighting for the woman he loved well after she was able to know it. They exploited them just like they do everyone else and now their getting called on it. Beautiful.

[MadashellLynn]

29. Here is the link to teri's pac

If anyone wants to donate.



http://www.terripac.com/

[lonestarnot]

30. kick