Too Much Like Wrong

Even though I spent a good portion of yesterday watching CNN, MSNBC and C-Span as this whole Terri Schiavo sideshow escalated, I just cannot seem the words to write about how wrong this whole thing is at so many levels. Mainly, I cannot believe that the United States House of Representatives intruded into this - particularly when so many in the GOP have sought to pass legislation that seems to be diametrically opposed to what they are doing in this case - which is to pander to the religious right. It's just inconscienable.

"In a statement released early this morning, President Bush said he will 'continue to stand on the side of those defending life for all Americans.' But the facts make it hard to believe that Bush is standing on principle. In 1999, then Gov. Bush signed a law that 'allows hospitals [to] discontinue life sustaining care, even if patient family members disagree.' Just days ago the law permitted Texas Children's Hospital to remove the breathing tube from a 6-month-old boy named Sun Hudson. The law may soon be used to remove life support from Spiro Nikolouzos, a 68-year-old man. Bush has not commented on either case.

At every opportunity, Tom DeLay has sanctimoniously proclaimed his concern for the well-being of Terri Schiavo, saying he is only trying to ensure she has the chance 'we all deserve.' Schiavo's medications are paid for by Medicaid. Just last week, DeLay marshaled a budget resolution through the House of Representatives that would cut funding for Medicaid by at least $15 billion, threatening the quality of care for people like Terri Schiavo. Because the Senate voted to restore the funding, DeLay is threatening to hold up the entire budget process if he doesn't get his way.

Bill Frist has been positioning himself in the media as a champion for Schiavo's interests. Yet, much of Schiavo's medical care has been financed by $1,000,000 from two medical malpractice lawsuits Schiavo won after her heart attack 15 years ago. Frist has been leading the charge to limit recovery for people like Schiavo who are severely debilitated. If Frist is successful, people like Schiavo would not be able to recover any punitive damages no matter how severe their injuries."

Honestly, even though this case has been in the court system for 8 years and they have consistently ruled in the husband's favor, I'm not sure I agree that the feeding tube needs to be pulled. I'm not convinced, based on what I've heard from both sides, that all options have been exausted to rehabilitiate her or to see if there is a chance that she can get better. I guess I don't understand why the husband, who has obviously moved on with a common law wife and two kids, cannot divorce Terri and allow the parents to obtain guardianship over their daughter. He insists that, at 25 years of age, his wife made some comment about not wanting to be sustained if something catastrophic happened to her - a comment made casually while they were watching TV. I don't understand why he cannot just let the parents take over - particularly since they've agreed to foot all of the associated medical costs.

But, still, this is not an issue for Congress. The fact that they've turned this into a dramatic episode - complete with the President (who couldn't even get his butt up out of the chair when 9/11 happened) cutting one of his numerous vacations short so that he could sign the bill at the 11th hour - just turns what could be a good deed into a despicable act of trying to gain political leverage. So, while I would err on the side of the parents as far as keeping their daughter alive, I agree with Michael Schiavo when he said: Jeb Bush and President Bush ought to be ashamed of themselves. The GOP dominated Congress should be too! Scary things are happening people! The party of small government is becoming the party of big brother, daddy and slave master.