CBS Treats Innocuous DeLay Comments on Schiavo as Scandalous

CBS's Bob Schieffer on Tuesday night noted how "members of Congress deny" their actions on the Schiavo case represented "a political move on their part but," Schieffer charged, "some of their comments caught on tape suggest otherwise." Wyatt Andrews insisted that "there is evidence some Republicans saw a political opening in Schiavo by framing her plight in the context of pro-life or anti-abortion politics." His evidence? One memo with a political point and some comments by Tom DeLay to "a leading Christian group," which Andrews treated as scandalous and characterized as DeLay saying "the Schiavo case was sent by heaven to focus attention on the helpless." As if that's something to be embarrassed about. Schieffer apparently thought so as he soon asked Andrews: "Has Tom DeLay issued any statement since these comments of his became public?" Andrews replied that "he has not" and went on to assert that "there is a lot of buzz here on Capitol Hill that he spearheaded this over the weekend to change the subject from some of the ethics questions that he's facing."

At the top of the March 22 CBS Evening News, Andrews teased his upcoming piece: "I'm Wyatt Andrews. Congress says the Terri Schiavo law was all about principle. But was it really politics?"

Schieffer soon introduced his story: "As Schiavo's case moves through the federal courts, there's a real debate now about the way Congress actually made a federal case out of all of this. Members of Congress deny it was a political move on their part, but some of their comments caught on tape suggest otherwise. Wyatt Andrews has the tapes tonight for this report."

     Andrews began: "With the country sharply divided over the way Congress rushed through a law for Terri Schiavo-"
     Sarah Morris, Georgia resident: "I really just don't think that Congress has any business interfering in such a matter."
     Andrews: "-congressional leaders have insisted their only motivation was saving a life."
     Tom DeLay, House Majority Leader, on Monday: "This is not a political issue. This is life and death."
     Andrews countered: "But there is evidence some Republicans saw a political opening in Schiavo by framing her plight in the context of pro-life or anti-abortion politics. One memo circulating in the Senate last week touted how the 'pro-life base will be excited by the issue.' Republican leaders strongly disavowed that. But on Friday, House Leader Tom DeLay told the Family Research Council, a leading Christian group, the Schiavo case was sent by heaven to focus attention on the helpless."
     DeLay, in audio tape with an echo: "One thing that God has brought to us is Terri Schiavo to elevate the visibility of what's going on in America."
     Andrews: "DeLay also described the stakes behind the Schiavo showdown as personal."
CBS Evening News

     DeLay, from same audio tape: "This is exactly the issue that's going on in America that attacks against the conservative movement against me and against many others."
     Unidentified male protester: "Jesus, we pray right now."
     Andrews acknowledged: "The Schiavo issue does resonate with religious groups who fear a devaluing of life in America. Is Ms. Schiavo's case important to your movement?"
     Tony Perkins, Family Research Council: "Whether it be Terri Schiavo or Jane Smith, it's a human being. It's also important for the culture of life that I think is growing in this country, and that we hope to expand."
     Andrews: "But an overwhelming majority of Americans believe that Congress intervened here out of politics, not out of principle. Most Americans believe this is a private family matter. Bob?"
     Schieffer to Andrews: "Has Tom DeLay issued any statement since these comments of his became public, Wyatt?"
     Andrews answered: "Bob, he has not. He's said to be traveling today. You know, there is a lot of buzz here on Capitol Hill that he spearheaded this over the weekend to change the subject from some of the ethics questions that he's facing. But his office told me today that he really believes there are too many helpless patients not being cared for. And on this one, he wanted to draw the line."

SeeBS is totally irrelevant and has NOTHING to say of any importance or relative truth.

SHUT UP SHIEFFER

2 posted on 03/24/2005 10:48:15 AM PST by kingattax (If you're cross-eyed and dyslexic, can you read all right ?)

This is classic non-news agitprop (agitation and propaganda).

Pull their affiliates licenses now!

Do they have an agenda?

To ask the question is to answer it. :-(

3 posted on 03/24/2005 10:52:02 AM PST by cgbg (Fire the Trustees of the Social Security Trust Fund with no money in it!)

Some thought Schieffer would be better than Rather. What an illusion.

Why must you go to CBS for your news, they are a scum sucking left wing net work. If you are going to look for news may i suggest to you Fox News, Rush Limbaugh for comments. Free Republic, World net Daily, and many other conserative networks. Why should you care what CBS, NBS, MSNBC, ABC and all the other libs are saying.

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