Posted on 03/21/2005 11:31:10 AM PST by Dont_Tread_On_Me_888
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. An upstate Republican congressman says federal lawmakers shouldn't have gotten involved in the Terri Schiavo (SHY'-voh) case.
Sherwood Boehlert of Oneida County didn't return to Washington for today's vote on a bill to give the brain-damaged woman's parents the right to ask a federal judge to order doctors to reinsert her feeding tube.
Boehlert told Binghamton radio station W-N-B-F that -- in his words -- "Congress has no business injecting itself" into the case. He said he would not have voted for the bill had he been at the unusual early-morning House session.
Boehlert noted the Schiavo case has been before Florida state courts many times over the past several years.
Boehlert said the decision to have the House vote shortly after midnight was a "crazy way to schedule the whole thing." He said the only way he could have made it back to Washington in time for the vote was to charter a plane -- which he said he wasn't about to do.
(Bob Joseph, WNBF, Binghamton)
What I find odd is that most of us at FR believe in our founding principles, especially "States' Rights". This case was argued repeatedly over many years in Florida.
What in the world is Congress doing if it is not stripping more states' rights away, something most members here at Free Republic normally get very angry about?
SCOTUS recently used European law as a basis to strike down the death penalty for jueveniles. That took a piece out of our sovereignty.
Then SCOTUS actually upheld states' rights by rejecting a a request to hear the Schiavo case, but Tom DeLay and other Republicans bypassed SCOTUS by passing a new law.
It is clear that all three branches of government are doign their part to strike down the U.S. Constitution and strip rights away from the states.
Yes, the Terri Schiavo case is sad, but I do not see how supporting more destruction of states' rights is a good thing for those of us who are conservatives and believe in limited government and states' rights.
I would like to ask those of you (of which there are many) to explain how you justify supporting putting the feeding tube back in Terri, but at the same time you believe in states' rights (normally, that is--not in this case). If you believe that the Florida litigation was complete and thorough, and took ALL facts into account, then your comments would be interesting. However, if you honestly believe Terri said "I want to live" and that she is not brain dead, then there is no need to respond since that explains your position on face value.
What would be interesting is to hear from those of you who believe the Florida litigation was complete and covered all the facts, and that Terri has no cognitive ability (as the medical professionals have testified), yet you still believe that Congress is right to bypass SCOTUS and it is right to strip states' rights away. These are the people I would like to hear from.
It is hard to argue with Congressman Boehlert--Congress has no business getting involved, unless you do not believe in the separation of powers and states' rights.
I look forward to some good comments, and being that this is an emotionally charged issue, I hope that we all respect each othes opinion.
Thank you.
It's odd that I ever find myself in agreement with Boehlert when he is at odds with other Republican legislators. But, this time, I believe he is right. I feel sorry for Mrs. Schiavo's family and for her and their situation. I'm not even arguing that removal of the feeding tube is the right thing. But I don't think this is an issue for Congress.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Your post, in many ways, sums up my feelings about this exactly. Listening to Rush and others on our side rationalize what Congress has done takes me aback. I respect everyone's opinion and I too wish her husband felt differently about this.
But my reaction through all of this has been -- "what does the law say"?
Those on our side living off emotions in this instance is striking to me because it is normally our side that poke wholes at the left for their hyperbole and emotion. Please, don't anyone here get me wrong I don't "want the bitch to die" as some have charged that people that feel the way I do think; I just think the law should take its course.
Some of us remember that the right to life is self-evident and that there are limits to states' rights.
Trying to murder Terri Schiavo is indeed a pittiless way to kill a human being. I would not do this to a dog or a cat.
I would not want this done unto me either! God forbid!
Earlier this month, the Vatican's point man on bioethical issues, Monsignor Elio Sgreccia, said removing Schiavo's breathing tube would be a direct act of euthanasia and "a pitiless way to kill."
Maybe so, but in this case I believe he is correct. Let me ask you as I requested in my post: If you believe Congress was correct in bypassing SCOTUS, how do you justify that? I am assuming that you are a conservative who believes in states' rights and separation of powers.
If so, and if you believe the tube should be put back in by order of a new law from Congress, how do you justify that huge clash between believing that and at the same time believeing is states' rights and the separation of the three branches?
If the law took its course, Michael would have been removed as her guardian long ago. It is clear he no longer (if he ever did) has Terri's best interest at heart. Do a little research on the background of this case. See if you still side with Michael.
Earlier this month, the Vatican's point man on bioethical issues, Monsignor Elio Sgreccia, said removing Schiavo's breathing tube would be a direct act of euthanasia and "a pitiless way to kill."
Your point?
Wouldn't that be up to God to decide?
I agree with you in large part, but don't expect to get too far on here. I think the majority weight of opinion is against us on this one.
BUMP
That is the crux of it. We hold the Democrats' feet to the fire over trashing states' rights, separation of powers, trashing the Constitution, etc.
But what are we doing here? Are we not doing the same thing? It is clear that we are indeed.
Like you say--"What does the law say".
Our own Republican Congress just bypassed SCOTUS. Setting the emotions aside re Terri, this is a striking and blatant trashing of conservative beliefs.
Even when the State is clearly in the wrong? Even when states follow morally reprehensible laws, or state laws which lead to reprehensible situations? States should have autonomy from the Federal government but it's not an absolute.
At least for me, it's not a question of agreeing or disagreeing with Michael, but a question of what business does Congress have telling Florida how to run the show?
Florida has its law, and, according to the state of Florida, it's followed its law. Now, what power does Congress have to re-write the law of Florida?
"Trying to murder Terri Schiavo is indeed a pittiless way to kill a human being."
You think this is unusual in the United States? Happens all the time.
Have they bypassed it though? Won't this simply take the matter to the Federal courts and then possibly to the SCOTUS?
Why don't you make this same vapid comment on every last Terri thread?
Oh, that's right-you already have. Go back to DU, troll.
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