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To: T'wit; amdgmary
I am of the opinion that the Democrats are crazy to use Terri as an "issue."

I would agree completely except that I have already heard identically-scripted talking points crop up from at least four Dems on C-span in the last six weeks: VA Gov. Mark Warner at some fundraising dinner; Leahy and Durbin while grilling Alito; and someone else I can't recall right now. And Mikey's PAC is part of the plan somehow. The talking points are always about how right-wing religious zealots want a theocracy to intrude into people's private family matters and keep everyone alive forever, and how Terri was an example of the Right's "judicial activism," LOL. That's their script, apparently they really ARE crazy. But I'm convinced they're going to try to use Terri as a campaign issue for the Dems, because I've heard those exact same talking points from several places in the last few weeks.

If this Lakoff guy who was just on C-span said anything about Terri, I missed it. Must have been at the beginning when I was only halfway listening because I thought he was just someone introducing the main speaker. I'll check the tape.

415 posted on 02/05/2006 4:19:50 AM PST by TheSarce (The Silent Majority is finding its voice. It goes to ELEVEN!)
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To: TheSarce
Oh, I agree that they are already using Terri scripts and plan to do more in the campaigns. But I think they have tin ears about what resonates with voters. Lurid tales about theocratic Right-Wingers only play for the Angry (and very stupid) Left. A decent sampling of more intelligent leftists fought for Terri. Nat Hentoff did an outstanding job of telling the truth about Terri in the Village Voice. Others who spoke up for her or at least expressed rational misgivings included Sen. Tom Harkin, Alan Dershowitz and Gloria Allred, plus an appearance by Jesse Jackson that unfortunately didn't seem too sincere.

Furthermore, to speak to voters, you want a nice simple message of right and wrong; of moral principle. The Democrats will have to make a very complicated, murky argument to say that the Right is guilty of summoning vast state powers to oppress one unsavory-looking guy surrounded by expensive lawyers making a "private" medical decision to snuff his wife. What's the bumper sticker you make out of that?

421 posted on 02/05/2006 5:27:01 AM PST by T'wit (As they say: If you like the law, sausage or Bill Clinton, don't watch them being made.)
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