Schiavo circus hurt the GOP [Anybody got another opinion?]

San Diego Union-Tribune ^ | April 1, 2005 | by Ruben Navarrette Jr.

[johnny7]

San Diego -- NOW THAT Terri Schiavo has died, many of the questions the country has been wrestling with are moot.

It no longer matters which doctor had the right diagnosis, or whether Schiavo's husband or parents had her best interests at heart, or whether the federal government should have been involved, or whether this was a case that was best handled by doctors and family members as opposed to politicians and judges.

[pollywog]

Amazing that upholding the Constitution is now presented as causing harm....

I couldn't have said it better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Fenris6]

Pres Bush can invade countries half way around the word but cant direct forces to rescue a woman in the state his brother is the chief executive of?

Correct.

He could have sent the hostage rescue folks down there and moved her to a place where the killing would not have occurred. He would have dismissed the black robed hooligans ruling, but who would have prosecuted him for that? NO-ONE

Just curious - do you think there would have been any reprecussion for such an act?

[mtntop3]

It's never wrong to do the right thing. I don't think this will hurt the GOP at all.

Well said, Veronica. Your reply is as beautiful as your name.

[doc30]

I don't know if hurt is the right word. I've definintely seen a split with people saying either Bush brothers did too much or didn't do enough. I don't know if it hurt the GOP on a national level, but there is cause for concern in Florida. I live in Pinellas Park and the hospice is around the corner from where I live. Many GOP supporteers I know are questioning their support after this incident. Most people I know are more upset with direct government intervention than anything else. This will definitely hurt Jeb's future political ambitions, but not as much for the party as a whole.

[pollywog]

Hannity was the only media personality who championed Terri's side effectively.

Wrong! Rush Limbaugh has never been more articulate or more convincing.

Not only Hannity, and yes, RUSH, but Laura Ingrahm, and Mark Levin, Glen Beck.......and on and on. Of course the likes of Larry Elders........who I will never listen to again, came around with the bashing clubs!!!

[Mark in the Old South]

The GOP's actions sure has me pissed at them. I got rid of my TV, the only radio I listen to is Rush, and other "conservative" talk shows and Free Republic so you can not blame BIG MEDIA for my attitude. You can make the claim till you are purple but as far as I am concerned BUSH LIED TERRI DIED.

How many of you think the DNC has the needs and problems of the Black community dear to their heart and how many think they feed into their fears, resentments, and weaknesses? How many think the DNC really wants to end bigotry and how many think they stoke the fire?

Now how many think it just isn't possible the GOP is doing the same with the prolife crowd?

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Exactly.

[Jrabbit]

"pro-lifers" aren't conservative? News to me. So what does the RNC classify me as? Whack-job is one definition I've been called by my fellow freepers. Other endearing terms have been bible thumper, fringe element, religous zealot...

On the other side.....those same name callers have been called death mongers, Nazis, death cult and worse.

It was the same during Elian here on FR. Republicans seem to eat their own. Over and over and over.

And Terri is still dead. And Elian is still gone. I was on the losing side both times. I still voted for Bush. I'm still pro life.

[Marysecretary]

I think it hurt democrats more. They just stood silently by, except for Jackson, and said and did nothing.

[Rodney King]

James Taranto at the WSJ has been documenting the dramatic shift of sentiment of "disabled" people from 2000 through the present. In the end, there is virtually nobody who will vote against a republican because of this issue alone, but there are potentially a few million disabled and left leaning catholics who will now view the GOP more favorably. See Taranto's op-ed in today's WSJ.

[Bones75]

"Agreed. The circus hurt the GOP and made them look like out of touch extremists."

The whole thing is a disaster. I have lost a lot of respect for people who I had great respect for before. People who I greatly admired for *intellectual honesty* have thrown that out the window with the most rabid and foolish DUmmie-esque rants, that I could not believe my ears.

It's amazing how we turn into exactly what we have been criticizing when things don't go our way.

and by "we" I mean "them", not me. :-0

Bones

[Marysecretary]

So did Joe Scarborough.

[ElPatriota]

One thing is important here. Let's acknowledge, that not all of us agreed with Terri's situation! - We are not all 'religious' per se; and if we are, we maybe in degrees, which is another way of saying we all do not feel about all issues with the same passion. I will tell you something, yesterday, when I heard Terri had died, I felt profound sadness, and I think I understood the pain of those who so desperately fought for her. But... I actually created my living-will, with power-of-attorney and the whole thing [smile], I would not want to live like she was, period. Also, I could not get over the Jessie Jackson thing [half - smile]. After acknowledging this, we better get 'together' again to keep fighting for other issues coming down the pipe. To me, the MOST IMPORTANT issue right now, more than SS, or Immigration even, is the choosing of the right people for the SUPREME COURT, and if that means we have to use the nuclear, Bird option, whatever the name, we MUST use it, and if Terry's death, helps in some way to give us the strength to fight for this cause, then she will become a figure for the history books. On the other hand, if we lose our unity and sense of purpose to advance our conservative goals, then, we will have all been defeated... sadly to say.

Please, let's let things settle down a bit... let's get back to be one army.... let's do it for Terri so that her death won't be in vain!

[mugs99]

We know the Dems weren't hurt...they have no feelings

Your statement shows how this hurts the RP. This is not a partisan issue. Just as many Republicans as Democrats opposed the political grandstanding. Rush is still railing against the Dems like they are responsible for the death of that girl, when the fact is that many of her supporters were Democrats. Demonizing only makes enemies, it never brings people over to our side.
...

[Conspiracy Guy]

No permanent damage to GOP. I don't hear the DNC trying to make hay on this one. I don't think they will either.

[I still care]

People elected Republicans and Bush into power to change things. They are frustrated to see that when push came to shove, in a supposedly small, unimportant matter, that their champions were powerless.

It is a principle that people respect the strong. When the strong appear weak, they lose respect. Why vote at all, when the men you elected, the strongest men on earth, can't save an abused woman in their own backyard?

Not advocating it, but I think some have this attitude.

[jwalsh07]

Most people I know are more upset with direct government intervention than anything else.

Tough, there are guarantees in the Constitution regarding the right to life, assembly and free speech. If you and your neighbors were inconvenienced by those rights, you'll just have to see the therapist.

[antiRepublicrat]

How can you be 'hurt' advocating for life?

By doing a 180 on the position that the feds should stay out of state affairs.

[Marysecretary]

Too bad we don't have a strong Conservative Party. sigh

[ClintonBeGone]

YOu can start by asking those ready to throw Jeb under the bus for "not doing enough."

Fools and tools of the culture of death. That's what those people are.