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Michael Schiavo joins the fray
Salon ^ | December 7th, 2005 | Michael Scherer

Posted on 12/07/2005 5:02:27 PM PST by eartotheground

Terri Schiavo's husband starts a PAC devoted to defeating the Bible-thumping politicians who used his comatose wife as a football.

By Michael Scherer

Dec. 7, 2005 | At the height of the battle, Michael Schiavo appeared to be a reluctant cultural warrior. His wife, Terri, lay comatose, in her 15th year of vegetative slumber, connected to a feeding tube, but well beyond resuscitation. Around her hospice, a political hurricane swirled.

In Terri's name, President George Bush interrupted his vacation, Sen. Bill Frist played doctor from the Senate floor, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush launched a flimsy criminal investigation, and Rep. Tom DeLay issued ominous political threats to the judiciary. The religious right had turned Terri into a symbolic beachhead in the battle for a "culture of life," and the Republican Party had answered the call.

But Michael Schiavo, who legally controlled his wife's fate, never showed any predilection for the limelight. In fact, he wished that everyone would just leave his family alone. "People are removed from their feeding tubes every day across this country," Schiavo told CNN's Larry King, in a rare interview last March. "The government chose this one to pander for their religious right, pander for their votes."

But now, as the one-year anniversary of Terri Schiavo's death approaches, Michael Schiavo is changing his approach and preparing to enter the political fray. Terri's fate has already been decided. Now her husband wants to claim her legacy. "For 15 years, I have been watching the politicians working their ways into my case. I felt I needed to do something when this was all said and done," Schiavo told Salon on Tuesday. "I didn't ask for this fight, but now I am ready."

This week Schiavo will roll out a new political action committee, called Terri PAC, with the hope of raising money to defeat the politicians who tried to intervene in the legal battle between Schiavo and Terri's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler. "Whatever I can do, I am going to do," says Schiavo, who works as a nurse in the Pinellas County Jail in Clearwater, Fla. Starting in January, he plans to change his work hours to three 12-hour shifts a week, allowing him more time to work on politics.

At the same time, Schiavo is putting the finishing touches on a book, "Terri: The Truth," which is scheduled for release in March. His former in-laws, the Schindlers, have also announced plans to publish a book with their side of the story in March. The Schindlers have been working to establish their own legacy for their daughter. This summer, the couple gave their support to a new seminarian scholarship in Terri's name at the Ave Maria University. "We feel that Terri was chosen by God to combat evil," Bob Schindler told a Catholic news service. "What a fine way to pay tribute to her life."

Terri PAC will not be the first time Schiavo has inserted himself into politics since his wife's death. During this year's Virginia governor's race, Schiavo volunteered his support for the victorious Democrat, Tim Kaine, after his Republican opponent, Jerry Kilgore, said he did "not agree to the forced starvation of any individual." Though Kaine did not trumpet the endorsement, the amount of press coverage it received was encouraging, says Derek Newton, a political consultant at the November Group, in Coral Gables, Fla., who is working with Schiavo. "From the PAC's perspective, Kaine's win was very important," Newton said.

One Florida Democrat, Rep. Robert Wexler, who represents parts of Palm Beach, says that Michael Schiavo could have an impact going into the 2006 midterm election. "Terri Schiavo and Michael Schiavo were some of the most prominent victims of the Republicans' abuse of power," said Wexler. "Michael Schiavo's effort is not only appropriate and timely, but it is also extremely important."

In addition to funneling money to certain political campaigns, the PAC will name those politicians who supported government intervention in his wife's case, as well as those who opposed intervention. Schiavo also hopes to use the Web site to educate people about the importance of living wills. Newton said that Schiavo has no plans to run for political office himself; the two have not yet discussed whether Schiavo will collect a salary from the PAC for his efforts.

In the interview, Schiavo mentioned Rep. DeLay, R-Texas, Sen. Frist, R-Tenn., and Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., as primary targets of the effort. He also said he wanted to be involved in the upcoming Florida governor's race. "We are going to focus on holding these people accountable," Schiavo said.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: euthanasia; felos; judicialactivism; michael; michaelschiavo; righttodie; righttolife; schiavo; schindler; terri; terripac; terrischiavo; terry; wifekiller
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To: eartotheground

Mikey would be better off staying out of sight, but I suspect he and OJ share a need to get back in public, get back moving around. It's not enough to simply get away with murder.


101 posted on 12/08/2005 12:09:01 PM PST by Great Caesars Ghost (History says our political structure and weak stomach will cause us to lose this war.)
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To: eartotheground
Sickening.

. . . the two have not yet discussed whether Schiavo will collect a salary from the PAC for his efforts.

There is no doubt he will. It just doesn't fit his victim image to admit it right now.

102 posted on 12/08/2005 12:15:30 PM PST by djreece ("... Until He leads justice to victory." Matt. 12:20c)
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To: robertpaulsen; Dane

Sound of the Trumpets, the horses neighing. The smell of the leather, and of the blood, the clashing of steel and the screaming of men.

The battle is joined. Tis good to be back. Just like old times, it is. Just like old times.


103 posted on 12/08/2005 12:15:52 PM PST by Great Caesars Ghost (History says our political structure and weak stomach will cause us to lose this war.)
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To: AZ_Cowboy
< snip > During this year's Virginia governor's race, Schiavo volunteered his support for the victorious Democrat, Tim Kaine, after his Republican opponent, Jerry Kilgore, said he did "not agree to the forced starvation of any individual."< snip >

Why would anyone agree with someone being forced to starve against their will? I thought Schiavo's routine was always to insinuate that it WAS her will. Are they shifting the goalposts or do they want to go on the record in support of forcing people to starve to death?

Good catch!

104 posted on 12/08/2005 12:18:44 PM PST by djreece ("... Until He leads justice to victory." Matt. 12:20c)
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To: AZ_Cowboy
Actually, that makes him an adulterer, not a bigamist. He would have tried to legally marry her and pass it off to be a bigamist.

We shouldn't start down that road. Because if we do then that brings up the little matter of what that makes the children. Now, I agree they are blameless, but the fact remains that if they are born of parents that are not married, they are something that starts with a B and ends with a D.

OTOH, if he's a bigamist, you can't legally be married twice so they are B-Ds either way, but nobody cares about such things anymore, right? We're far too "toooolerant" for that. Riiight?

105 posted on 12/08/2005 12:23:18 PM PST by Great Caesars Ghost (History says our political structure and weak stomach will cause us to lose this war.)
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To: Central Scrutiniser

Michael used her up.


106 posted on 12/08/2005 12:28:12 PM PST by Great Caesars Ghost (History says our political structure and weak stomach will cause us to lose this war.)
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To: robertpaulsen

Right. He was in the wrong state. In Texas he'd be common law married, but Fl doesn't have it. In fact, that's how he was able to get away with the murder in plain sight, or at least part of the scheme, because they couldn't force a divorce through because he wasn't bigamizing the other B.


107 posted on 12/08/2005 12:31:53 PM PST by Great Caesars Ghost (History says our political structure and weak stomach will cause us to lose this war.)
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To: eartotheground

To hell with that wife murdering scum!!!


108 posted on 12/08/2005 12:32:40 PM PST by Irish_Thatcherite (~~~A vote for Bertie Ahern is a vote for Gerry Adams!~~~)
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To: blueriver
While it is possible that they did this only for votes

Gee, ya think?

As it turned out, though, they lost rather than gained politically. Karma's a bitch.

109 posted on 12/08/2005 12:39:04 PM PST by steve-b (A desire not to butt into other people's business is eighty percent of all human wisdom)
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To: billbears
Contrary to the yankee warped view of history, the Declaration of Independence does not, will not, and never did hold any legal value. It was a document, well written by a great man BTW, reiterating the American colonies reasons for secession. Nothing else.

How about the 14th ammendment:

U.S. Constitution - Amendment 14 - Citizenship rights 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

110 posted on 12/08/2005 1:04:45 PM PST by blueriver
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To: robertpaulsen; WasDougsLamb
Now, I can understand where nosy, busybody, right-to-life fanatics might not like him. But decent people? Nahhhhh.

Sadly, this nation is mired in a culture of death. Actually, it is a hard left ideology.

One need not be nosy, busybody, right-to-life ... or even a fanatic ... to question whether or not Terri Schiavo had ever verbally expressed any opinions about having her own life terminated. Certainly, it is clear and incontrovertible that she did not put those desires into written form where they would have proven to us what she really wanted.

Many decent people have questioned whether or not Michael Schiavo merely said that Terri expressed a desire for her own death because it would be a convenience for him.

Terri Schiavo is now dead. Michael Schiavo has not covered himself with glory at any stage of this ordeal ... and, obviously wants to profit from Terri's tragic story.

Terri Schiavo is a bit of a martyr ...Michael Schiavo comes across as more of an opportunist. Some of his actions toward Terri's family can only be described as contemptible.

Perhaps it is time for everyone ... including Michael Schiavo ... to allow poor Terri Schiavo to rest in peace.

Decent people can agree to disagree on this one. God alone will sort this one out in the end.

111 posted on 12/08/2005 1:05:42 PM PST by caryatid (Jolie Blonde, 'gardez donc, quoi t'as fait ...)
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To: blueriver
And as I pointed out in my original post the intent of the 14th Amendment was not to incorporate the Bill of Rights (which includes the 5th Amendment) to the states
112 posted on 12/08/2005 1:14:13 PM PST by billbears (Deo Vindice)
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To: Great Caesars Ghost
...that brings up the little matter of what that makes the children.

Many states once had laws prohibiting bastards [the actual, proper legal term] from having rights of inheritance. This would have been as recently as, perhaps, the 1960s.

Does anyone know if any states still have laws like that on the books? Not likely in today's "enlightened" world.

113 posted on 12/08/2005 1:32:49 PM PST by caryatid (Jolie Blonde, 'gardez donc, quoi t'as fait ...)
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To: djreece; eartotheground
. . . the two have not yet discussed whether Schiavo will collect a salary from the PAC for his efforts.

Oh, yes, they probably have ... they have just not found it convenient to announce that he will.

114 posted on 12/08/2005 1:34:17 PM PST by caryatid (Jolie Blonde, 'gardez donc, quoi t'as fait ...)
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To: caryatid
"... to question whether or not Terri Schiavo had ever verbally expressed any opinions about having her own life terminated."

The judge had "clear and convincing" evidence as to her wishes. You have a problem with our legal system? You'd be happier with a poll?

Who will resolve your question? Someone must make a decision. Who?

"whether or not Michael Schiavo merely said that Terri expressed a desire for her own death"

And he convinced two others to lie under oath with him and risk being charged with perjury. Why would they do that? Would you?

115 posted on 12/08/2005 1:35:24 PM PST by robertpaulsen
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To: robertpaulsen
You have a problem with our legal system?

Yes, I do have a problem with our legal system. It has been overrun with "activist judges", who are hard left ideologues, and believe that "the end justifies the means". I certainly am not painting all judges with that brush ... it appears to be a generational thing, and the ones I deplore tend to be younger ones who came out of law schools after, say, about 1975 [after the hard left had infiltrated the law schools and were teaching bad [hard left] ideology in them.

How closely have you observed the legal system over the past forty years? If you had, and if you were objective, you would understand what I am saying.

Regrettably, many of today's judges are not capable of being objective. Tragically, "clear and convincing" to many judges today means ... as it does for people like Michael Schiavo ... and, perhaps, you as well ... what they want to believe to produce the outcome they desire.

Judicial Activism is a reality of our time. It is "outcome based" ... just as surely as Outcome Based Education is ... and, it starts with a desired concept and proceeds toward that end.

And he convinced two others to lie under oath with him and risk being charged with perjury. Why would they do that?

Moral relativsm has been taught in the public schools for decades and often, with a large dose of secular humanism is taught in lieu of religion in the churches of today, as well.

Tragically, there are a couple of generations of people who have no clearcut concept of good/bad, evil/divine, right/wrong ... all of their values are relative and mutable ... unless they have learned their values elsewhere ... usually at home.

False witnesses are procured all the time. Some have been convinced by someone to say something false while believing it to be true ... or, sometimes, they simply want to do a friend a favor ... or, for some unknown reason, someone testified under oath to a Congressonal committee the other day that she saw someone blow up the levee in N.O.... and, sometimes, testimoney is simply bought and paid for. It happens all the time.

Perjury charges are seldom brought. There is not much risk there.

Would you?

No, I would not. Regardless of the outcome, or detriment I might incur, I would not lie under oath.

116 posted on 12/08/2005 2:12:42 PM PST by caryatid (Jolie Blonde, 'gardez donc, quoi t'as fait ...)
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To: WasDougsLamb

WDL, I meant to include you in Post No.115.


117 posted on 12/08/2005 2:14:18 PM PST by caryatid (Jolie Blonde, 'gardez donc, quoi t'as fait ...)
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To: WasDougsLamb
Correction, WDL, I meant to add you to my Post No.116, a response to Post No.115.
118 posted on 12/08/2005 2:21:25 PM PST by caryatid (Jolie Blonde, 'gardez donc, quoi t'as fait ...)
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To: caryatid
"Yes, I do have a problem with our legal system."

And your alternative is ... what?

119 posted on 12/08/2005 2:27:45 PM PST by robertpaulsen
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To: robertpaulsen
"Yes, I do have a problem with our legal system."

And your alternative is ... what?

My "alternative" [your pathetic choice of word] is what every true conservative aspires to accomplish:

to remove judicial activists from the judiciary and judicial activism from the legal system ... thus, to restore sanity, honesty and integrity to a once adequate system.

120 posted on 12/08/2005 2:56:14 PM PST by caryatid (Jolie Blonde, 'gardez donc, quoi t'as fait ...)
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