Dean Says Democrats Will Make Schiavo Case An Election Issue

The Los Angeles Times ^ | April 16, 2005 | Michael Finnegan

[MisterRepublican]

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said Friday that his party would wield the Terri Schiavo case against Republicans in the 2006 and 2008 elections, but for now needed to stay focused battling President Bush on Social Security.

"We're going to use Terri Schiavo later on," Dean said of the brain-damaged Floridian who died last month after her feeding tube was removed amid a swarm of political controversy.

Dean, who has called congressional intervention in the Schiavo case "political grandstanding," singled out House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) for his leading role in the matter.

"This is going to be an issue in 2006, and it's going to be an issue in 2008," Dean told about 200 people at a gay rights group's breakfast in West Hollywood, "because we're going to have an ad with a picture of Tom DeLay saying, 'Do you want this guy to decide whether you die or not? Or is that going to be up to your loved ones?' "

Dean, a practicing physician until he became governor of Vermont in 1991, added: "The issue is: Are we going to live in a theocracy where the highest powers tell us what to do? Or are we going to be allowed to consult our own high powers when we make very difficult decisions?"

Before Schiavo's death, the Republican-controlled Congress passed legislation giving her parents the right to take action in federal court to have her feeding tube reinserted, but no judge intervened. Schiavo's husband had fought for years to withdraw the tube, arguing that she would not have wanted her life extended.

[MikefromOhio]

I dont think Capt Insano will be able to make any sort of headway using this tactic....it will only help the Republicans.

[ClintonBeGone]

Yes an issue about their brain-dead candidates. That's certain to appear to swing voters.

[proxy_user]

If they do that, they will just add to their reputation as backward-looking idiots.

Have they heard of a nine-day wonder? Well, the ninth day was last week.

[pcx99]

Yes, this case will fit in quite well with their message of death. Death for the unborn, death for the disabled, death taxes.

[scott says]

Howard Dean is a "bleepng" moron.The more I see of this guy the more I laugh at him, what a fool!

[dufekin]

What will he say? Republicans can't or won't face down death-decree judges. There's plenty to criticize here. They let a state swamp judge kill an innocent woman. They put up a phony and unsuccessful resistance. But the Democrats aren't in a place to play.

[chesley]

God, I hope they do make this an issue. Perhaps they'll find out that they still don't have a clue.

[Politicalities]

Dean is lying, unfortunately. The Republicans should be so lucky, but the Democrats will not be so stupid as to attempt to campaign on this.

I've said all along that, no matter what the polls say, Democratic candidates will not be able to capitalize politically on the Schiavo issue. "My opponent fought to save Terri Schiavo's life, I would have made sure she starved to death!" just doesn't make a good campaign slogan.

[gogeo]

I'm not sure how her "ex" husband Michael would be considered a loved one, more so than her parents.

[N3WBI3]

Hmmm. Republicans have a memo that says this is a political issue and its tackey... Dean says outright they will use it for political gain and its ok..

[upchuck]

Congratulations!

This is the third time this article has been posted today.

I'm sure Michael Finnegan is enjoying all the extra publicity :)

[Darkwolf]

You got there first. I was sitting here thinking "I thought when the Republicans thought of this it was eeeeeevil?"

[builder]

We should be so lucky.

[tertiary01]

It's in his marching orders from the big Moveon.org kahuna financier, who also held fund raisers for Dean during the campaign.

[scott says]

Dean is clueless, as is most of the general population. Pick any topic/issue, people of his mindset are ignorant of facts or reality, they work on a level of warped logic and reasoning. You can't argue or rationalize with them,its beyond their mental capacity.

[Holden Magroin]

God, this guy is a doofus! You just can't teach an old dog new tricks. If Dean keeps it up, Hillary will arrange for him die in a helicopter accident.

[NormsRevenge]

He's just following the Doctor of Dems HYPOCRITIC Oath he swore to get the job.

[wizardoz]

Let's see... do I want Tom DeLay to decide whether I should be allowed to live... or an ex who now has kids with someone else and stands to get some money if I'm gone... hmm... gee... that's a tough one...

[blue-duncan]

"Or are we going to be allowed to consult our own high powers when we make very difficult decisions?"

Well at least Dean is telling us who the Dems gods are, judges!