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Dean 'Appalled' That Florida Lawmakers Saved Schiavo
CNSNEWS.com ^ | 11/07/03 | Jeff Johnson

Posted on 11/07/2003 2:31:27 AM PST by kattracks

Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean, who begins his campaign website greeting with the phrase, "As a medical doctor...," claims Florida Republicans should be "embarrassed" for intervening to save the life of Terri Schindler Schiavo last month. Earlier in the year, Dean publicly expressed his support for physician-assisted suicide.

Dean accused Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Republican state lawmakers of interfering in a "private matter" when they passed "Terri's Law," which allowed Bush to have the 39-year-old disabled woman's feeding tube reconnected after it was removed under court order at her husband's request. The former Vermont governor said he was "appalled" by Bush's intervention.

Terri suffered a brain injury in 1990 under questionable circumstances that left her severely disabled. Her husband, Michael Schiavo, his brother and another brother's wife claim Terri verbally expressed her desire not to be kept alive "artificially" should she ever require life support. Terri's parents and siblings, along with her former co-workers, friends, priests and fellow church members dispute that claim.

"I'm tired of people in the legislature thinking that they have an M.D. when what they really have is a B.S.," the Miami Herald quoted Dean as telling about 200 business and community leaders at the Capital Tiger Bay Club in Tallahassee Tuesday.

Bush spokesman Jacob DiPietre said the governor found Dean's remarks "shameful."

"Gov. Bush," DiPietre said, "doesn't think that it's appropriate for a presidential candidate to be so flip about a serious issue that involves not only protecting the rights of the disabled, but also the fundamental right to life that is guaranteed in the Florida Constitution."

Pamela Hennessy - spokeswoman for Terri's parents, Robert and Mary Schindler - called Dean's comments "a monumental display of bad taste in every way imaginable.

"Obviously, he doesn't know every aspect of the case," Hennessy said, "and I think he's using it as platform just to take a swing, verbally, at Gov. Bush."

Hennessy said she is not surprised, however, at Dean's lack of compassion for Terri.

"Mr. Dean is on record as being in favor of physician-assisted suicide," Hennessy explained.

During an Aug. 20 appearance on Oregon Public Radio, interviewer Colin Fogarty asked Dean, "In general, where do you stand on physician-assisted suicide and Oregon's vote on that issue?" Dean said the question posed "a very difficult moral problem," which he believes should be decided by the states.

"I as a physician would not be comfortable administering lethal drugs," Dean explained, "but I think this a very private, personal decision, and I think individual physicians and patients have the right to make that private decision."

By contrast, Hennessy praised Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.), who is competing with Dean for the Democratic nomination and who also commented on Terri's case.

"He [Lieberman] was smart enough and man enough to see that not everything that happens in life is a question of politics," Hennessy said. "He recognized that, and he didn't turn it into a political fight."

Lieberman, who drew criticism during his 2000 vice presidential bid for waffling on pro-life issues, told the Associated Press in October that he supports Terri's Law.

"I feel very strongly that we ought to honor life, and we ought not to create a system where people are being deprived of nutrition or hydration in a way that ends their lives," Lieberman said.

Hennessy noted that, in advocating for, signing and implementing Terri's Law, Gov. Bush did something she is not accustomed to seeing politicians do.

"When [Jeb Bush] campaigned for governor the first time, he told the people of Florida that he wanted to be a champion for the disabled," Hennessy said. "I think he kept his promise."

To view CNSNews.com's long-term coverage of the Terri Schindler Schiavo case click here.

Listen to audio for this story.

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TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Florida
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To: BluH2o
I gather you were not one of us who attended the vigil outside the Hospice where Terri Schiavo was sentenced to die from forced starvation/dehydration for the crime of having become severely disabled, and needing help in securing food?

Bite me.

If you think it correct that the current judicial system of the USA can determine who may lve, and who must die for the good of society, I submit your personal continued physical existance for judicial oversight and judgement.

Justify your right to exist, against my accusation that you would not want to continue to live as a terminally ignorant and useless human being.

Prove to the world that you have worth, or accept that your very life is a subject open to legal debate.

Since it is your life, I am sure you would not burden society with futile arguments as to your worth to the rest of society.We get to vote, dont we?



121 posted on 11/07/2003 8:11:06 PM PST by sarasmom (Pray for TerriSchiavo. Everything I post is my opinion, unless otherwise stipulated.)
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Oh no.... not again!

Time to get back under your bridge, Harry.

122 posted on 11/07/2003 8:19:52 PM PST by Wampus SC
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To: Coral Snake

TROLL ALERT!!!!!

Yup.

I propose a new category for your troll scale:

Type 0 (zero) troll, also known as the Sleeper Troll. The Type 0 has been in place for some time. On signal it activates and turns into a type 1, 2 or 3 troll.

Type 0's are thought to get their orders from Osama bin Trollin'.

123 posted on 11/07/2003 8:32:00 PM PST by Wampus SC (Just a Southern guy with a pickup truck.)
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To: Thumper1960
I hope the Rats nominate Dean. 'Rat behind will then be kicked into outer space in 2004.
124 posted on 11/07/2003 8:33:55 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck ("Across this great nation people pray -- do not put out her flame" -- DFU. Go Godsquad!!!)
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To: Wampus SC
A lot of the Terri Troopers would class saveterri1 as a Class 0 troll. "Harv" could be a well intended, Eeyore like, gloomy yet loyal person. But he talks about things we can't verify and that look pretty fishy in that light.
125 posted on 11/07/2003 8:36:15 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck ("Across this great nation people pray -- do not put out her flame" -- DFU. Go Godsquad!!!)
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To: MSCASEY
Generally if she locks the door we tell her to unlock it and there is no problem!

Switch your doorknobs to one with a master key peg. The next person to get locked in there might not be a live toddler but a dying adult.

126 posted on 11/07/2003 8:40:00 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck ("Across this great nation people pray -- do not put out her flame" -- DFU. Go Godsquad!!!)
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To: pram
Other people see the purpose of life as something deeper, that can be fulfilled or served even while lying in bed unable to care for oneself.

B-I-N-G-O.

If life is simply the sum of the actions an individual can undertake, and the value of one the value of the other, we are all in danger of the next fad of "usefulness" to come down the road. It's a kind of social suicidal depression. It's of the Devil.

127 posted on 11/07/2003 8:43:52 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck ("Across this great nation people pray -- do not put out her flame" -- DFU. Go Godsquad!!!)
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To: patriot40068
"Howard Dean really showed himself"

Personally, I hope he extends his "mouth across the south" tour. He is pure comedy.

128 posted on 11/07/2003 8:47:57 PM PST by sweetliberty ("Having the right to do a thing is not at all the same thing as being right in doing it.")
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To: Wampus SC
Who'se picture would you propose for this type 0 Troll.
Currently I'm using George Felos for Type 3 Trolls, Gen. William T. Sherman for Type 2 Trolls and Adolph Hitler for Type 1 Trolls. 3 being the least dangerous on my scale and 1 being the most dangerous.
129 posted on 11/07/2003 8:50:59 PM PST by Coral Snake (deathculture(HospiceOf TheFlorida$uncoast == Andersonville + Aushwitz)
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To: The Other Harry
"No, the government should. Not nature."

I believe you left this over at the DU.

.


130 posted on 11/07/2003 9:37:36 PM PST by sweetliberty ("Having the right to do a thing is not at all the same thing as being right in doing it.")
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To: HiTech RedNeck
When I wrote that, I was mostly thinking of the one who suddenly popped up on this thread.

They could be plants from somewhere else, or just individuals acting alone. I really don't know.

Some sleeper trolls might be in place to troll specific issues. Others might just wait until they see a lot of Freepers become emotionally involved with an issue, then surface to troll for the opposite point of view.

131 posted on 11/07/2003 9:40:23 PM PST by Wampus SC
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To: MSCASEY; sweetliberty
Don't they have "OnStar" for bathrooms, yet???
132 posted on 11/07/2003 9:42:00 PM PST by FatherOfLiberty (Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.)
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To: Johassen
MD or not, just who does he think he is?

Like all secular humanist liberals: He thinks he's God.

133 posted on 11/07/2003 9:43:22 PM PST by shhrubbery!
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To: FatherOfLiberty; MSCASEY
The problem isn't with knowing where they are....it is with extracting them from where they are. LOL!
134 posted on 11/07/2003 9:44:07 PM PST by sweetliberty ("Having the right to do a thing is not at all the same thing as being right in doing it.")
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To: Coral Snake
"Who'se picture would you propose for this type 0 Troll."

I think Osama would be a good choice - a reference to sleeper cells.

Maybe Quisling? Probably not enough face recognition.

Jumpin' Jimmy Jeffords?

135 posted on 11/07/2003 9:44:45 PM PST by Wampus SC
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To: The Other Harry; agrace; FatherOfLiberty
"I am relying on news accounts that she has been in "vegitative state" since about 1991"

I think we've found the root of your problem.

136 posted on 11/07/2003 9:45:49 PM PST by sweetliberty ("Having the right to do a thing is not at all the same thing as being right in doing it.")
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To: pram
OK, what is going to happen when the government chooses to rule against "your side"? Have you even thought about such a thing? What you are advocating is not conservatism; you sound like a Democrat from years ago, wanting the government to protect your social agenda. I'm tired of this.
137 posted on 11/07/2003 9:49:11 PM PST by huck von finn
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To: RandallFlagg
Dean is an idiot and an a$$hole.But then, he's a ploitician.
138 posted on 11/07/2003 9:50:02 PM PST by philetus (Keep doing what you always do and you'll keep getting what you always get)
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To: HiTech RedNeck
False analogy again.
139 posted on 11/07/2003 9:51:47 PM PST by huck von finn
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To: sweetliberty
did you see this one?
140 posted on 11/07/2003 9:54:40 PM PST by tutstar
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