Michael Schiavo Caught in Serious Distortion of Truth on NBC Interview

Life Site News ^ | March 24, 2006 | John-Henry Westen

[topher]

Michael Schiavo Caught in Serious Distortion of Truth on NBC Interview

By John-Henry Westen

CLEARWATER, FLA., March 24, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Michael Schiavo, who ordered doctors to withhold food and water from his severely disabled wife Terri until she died, and his current wife Jodi were interviewed by NBC's Matt Lauer. Those exclusive interviews based on Schiavo's upcoming book "Terri: The Truth," are to be broadcast on "Dateline," Sunday, March 26 at 7 p.m.. Ironically, despite claiming to speak about 'the truth' concerning Terri, NBC's Lauer catches Schiavo in a serious distortion of truth as the interview begins.

In the interview, Michael responds to Lauer asking why he would not just divorce Terri - since he was already living with another woman with whom he had fathered children - leaving Terri with her own parents who were begging to be allowed to care for her. Michael answered, "When you sit in a courtroom and you hear her father say I'll cut her arms and her legs off, just to keep her alive, why would I want to put their daughter back in their care if he's gonna (sic) do that to her."

At this point Lauer interjects to say, "Let's make sure we understand that statement," with Schiavo trying to cut him off all the while, he adds, "I think the statement was, if she were to develop gangrene, and had to have limbs amputated, he would do that and okay that as long as he could still have her alive. That's a little different than the way you . . ." At this point Schiavo, who had been interrupting Lauer the whole way through his clarification interrupts definitively cutting off Lauer and changing the subject.

The interview is one sided, in that it presents only Michael's point of view and ends with Michael relating through his tears his last moments with Terri, going so far as to say, "She's up there praising me right now... and saying thank you."

Lauer notes that the book is not about honouring Terri, but about settling some scores. To which Schiavo responds, "Oh yes it does."

At another point in the interview, Lauer asks, "People have often asked. Michael why didn't you divorce Terri, you were living with Jodi." Schiavo replies, "Why do I have to divorce Terri? Terri wasn't like a football- an inanimate object you pass back and forth. She was my wife. You mean because your wife gets sick, do you give her back?"

Asked about his decision to remove Terri's feeding tube despite the pleas of Americans, groups from around the world and even the Vatican, Schiavo said, "Yeah, well I guess when it all boiled down, I couldn't understand why these people were so passionate about my life... People are allowed to die every day. Feeding tubes are removed every day."

Schiavo will appear live on "Today," Monday, March 27, and with Jodi on Tuesday, March 28.

To see a preview video excerpt of the interview go here and click on the 'launch' button;

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/11943750/

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage: Terri Schiavo's Husband Re-Married in Catholic Church http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/jan/06012306.html

Ten Year Old Arrested for Giving Food to Terri Schiavo Apologizes

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/aug/05083103.html

[floriduh voter]

[GadareneDemoniac]

Do you know any severe diabetics? Because of poor circulation in their lower extremities, sometimes they get gangrene and are forced to lose limbs.

I'm not saying that this was the case for this unfortunate lady, but to say that you'd rather "cut off the power and go home" is disingenuous at best.

Your profile and tag line indicates to me that you honor your Confederate ancestors, as I do mine. I can tell you from personal research that they fought with inadequate food, ragged uniforms, and no shoes because they valued FAMILY, HONOR, and WHAT THEY BELIEVED WAS RIGHT, not for personal convenience. If they worshipped the 20th century trinity of "me, myself, and I" they would have gone over to Lincoln's army and gotten paid with real money and been fed plenty of taxpayer-provided food.

"Deo Vindice" as I translate it means "God will vindicate" and believe me, He will. He will.

[floriduh voter]

Crist is totally worthless. His AG staff lie on the phone all the time. Do you recall when Jeb's office would tell people to call the JQC or to call Crist's office and if people did, they'd refuse to take calls? It was a real round robin. This is why it was clear the fix was in. Further, constituents who called DCA and ACHA also got passed around. Poor Terri.

Posters who say the law is the law have no idea of all the abuses of the law before the final assault on Terri. Public servants were afraid to lose their jobs and some public servants had to be getting kickbacks to make it worthwhile for them to join the assault on Terri.

[floriduh voter]

Some truth for you: Judge Greer is tied to the Sembler family who are real pals with the Bushes. That's why he's not been held accountable. He was so incompetent at first and then I think he started to enjoy being in the spotlight and he tortured Terri until she died. There's nothing legal about that. If your friend was Mr. GOP, you'd avoid jail time too. Mel Sembler was Mr. GOP (a real title) and his wife Betty was Jeb's 2000 campaign manager. It's the Bush loyalty thing that we already know about in play protecting George Greer.

[8mmMauser]

Pinged from Terri March Dailies

8mm

[marajade]

Quote from the article:

"Michael Schiavo, who ordered doctors to withhold food and water from his severely disabled wife Terri until she died, and his current wife Jodi were interviewed by NBC's Matt Lauer."

Right here tells me the author hasn't a clue about Terri's medical condition. She couldn't medically eat food or drink water because she didn't have enough brain capacity.

Why bother reading the rest of it.

[floriduh voter]

Thanks, 8mmmauser. Wishing the Schindlers, et al the very best. They will be richly blessed for their work against pure evil.

[8mmMauser]

Here is the picture again. What was it, a year or two while she was on her road to recovery, when Mikey entered the next phase after winning the malpractice jackpot?

Terri after the attack and before Mikey's quest.

[marajade]

"The wedding violated some church doctrine but they let it slide because Mikey is da man, don't you know."

So what? And the Catholic Church granted a Kennedy an annulment after years of marriage. What's your point?

[8mmMauser]

The more I read and learn about Michael Schiavo the more I would classify him as a psychopath. One that takes pleasure in the suffering death of another while watching her family suffer a heartache no parent should go through.

Here is a partial list of characteristics of a sociopath. I could post the whole thing but it makes for a long post. You can find it on Google.

Profile of a Sociopath

A number of mind-manipulating cult leaders may exhibit many of the behavioral characteristics of a sociopath--an outstanding ability to charm and seduce followers. Since they appear apparently normal, they are not easily recognizable as deviant or disturbed. Although only a trained professional can make a diagnosis, it is important to be able to recognize the personality type in order to avoid further abuse. These traits also apply to a one-on-one cultic relationship.
     
Glibness/Superficial Charm

Language can be used without effort by them to confuse and convince their audience. Captivating storytellers that exude self-confidence, they can spin a web that intrigues others. Since they are persuasive, they have the capacity to destroy their critics verbally or emotionally.


Manipulative and Conning

They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They dominate and humiliate their victims.
    

Grandiose Sense of Self

Feels entitled to certain things as "their right." Craves adulation and attendance. Must be the center of attention with their own fantasies as the "spokesman for God," "enlightened,"  "leader of humankind," etc. Creates an us-versus-them mentality

[floriduh voter]

I was posting to somebody who was talking about the wedding so the children wouldn't be bastards any more. I wasn't posting to you.

[floriduh voter]

the jpeg is from 92/93. Terri was making great progress. When Terri was at the mediplex in Bradenton, FL, that city had a Terri Schiavo Day.

Too bad she didn't stay in Bradenton but Mikey moved her to Largo. Maybe Bradenton wouldn't have murdered her being she was celebrated for her excellent progress.

[prairiebreeze]

Oh geeze! I just knew this vermin was going to write a book and capitalize on this murder he orchestrated. He'll be on the lecture circuit before we know it.

[8mmMauser]

Ok, it was 92/93 when the picture was taken and she was clobbered on February 26, 1990. So she was on her way to recovery and doing relatively fine. That alone smothers a bunch of the mantras we see regularly posed by the Kool Aid crew.

Terri a couple years after the attack and before Mikey got serious.

[floriduh voter]

Terri used to get taken to the mall and the beach, etc. She didn't become a prisoner until Michael Schiavo found out that he could control every aspect of her life including that he could judge shop to kill her.

[billbears]

Do you know any severe diabetics? Because of poor circulation in their lower extremities, sometimes they get gangrene and are forced to lose limbs.

Diabetes runs in my family. Of course none of them are a vegetable with no hope of recovery or even simple recognition either. For the family to state such a thing tells me they're more concerned with their feelings than that of the one they know will never return

Your profile and tag line indicates to me that you honor your Confederate ancestors, as I do mine. I can tell you from personal research that they fought with inadequate food, ragged uniforms, and no shoes because they valued FAMILY, HONOR, and WHAT THEY BELIEVED WAS RIGHT, not for personal convenience.

And for the rights of the separate and sovereign states to be upheld in the face of a damned invader who believed decisions should be made in Washington instead of the separate capitols. That's all I ask. That this issue, as with all issues not specifically outlined in the Constitution be decided in the correct place. The states

[floriduh voter]

I think they have run out of dialogue. We win tonight.

goodnight.

Me

[Brytani]

They did have a pic of him beside the definition, correct?

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Basically, Michael claims that Terri's father Bob Schindler wanted to cut off Terri's arms and legs.

I'm not sticking up for the guy, but this misrepresents what he said. From what this article quotes I understood him to mean what Lauer says Bob Schindler said. IF it had to be done to keep her alive, not that he arbitrarily wants to cut her arms and legs off.

Becky

[supercat]

If his wife was a burden, he could have divorced her and left her to her parents care and been happy living with his second wife. It wasn't that hard a choice. He could have a man about it instead of making her family look like the villains in what followed.

Early on, Michael would have stood to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars from doing so. Later, he had a different problem: if Terri were given to someone else and started thriving when given such bizarre treatments as sunshine and compassion, what would that have shown about Michael's care?

As long as Michael could argue that nothing he could do would improve Terri's condition, he could not very well be charged with neglect. But if even giving Terri ordinary care would have improved her condition, it would be hard to argue that Michael's willful failure to do so did not constitute criminal neglect.

Note that the threat isn't that Terri might recover enough to say how she collapsed--rather, the threat is that any significant recovery would expose Michael to criminal charges.