Revisionist history strikes a beat; Into your heart it will seep: Latest example, a materially false opinion piece in the Atlanta Journal Constitution by Jay Bookman. First, Bookman says he was appalled by “political overreaching,” the second of which involved Terri Schiavo. From “Rick Santorum and the Terri Schiavo Disaster:”
The second, and far more egregious, was the Terri Schiavo affair, in which Congress attempted to directly intervene in a family dispute in Florida involving a clearly brain-dead woman.
Bookman is displaying his own ignorance. Schaivo was no more “brain dead” than Bookman is. Brain dead is “dead.” She was profoundly disabled, either unconscious or minimally conscious–but able to live without most medical treatments other than a feeding tube. No kidney dialysis. No respirator. Just food and water. When was the last time you saw a corpse swallow her own saliva, for example?
I bring all this up because the person perhaps most responsible for that shameless act of political narcissism is now a leading candidate for the GOP president nomination. Back in 2005, then-Sen. Rick Santorum helped turn the Schiavo tragedy into a national morality play, with himself and a few others self-cast as its heroes.
Well, that bill in the Senate received unanimous consent in the Senate. Barach Obama did not object. Had he, and Terri’s Law as it was called, would never have passed. Ditto, Hillary Clinton. Ditto Harry Reid. Ditto Tom Harkin, and every United States Senator in office at the time. And 45% of the House Democrats voting approved for the bill, as well.
In actuality, Terri’s Law was one of the most bipartisan during the Bush Presidency. This revisionism is about using poor, dead Terri Schiavo as a political pawn in the very way that the critics complain about. It is political demogoguery and mendacious finger pointing. Nothing less.
I think this issue bears revisiting, if just for the sake of clarity and truth in advertising.
February 15th, 2012 | 1:38 pm
The media routinely misrepresents information. It’s been less than a month since the last time I saw a supposedly objective news sight saying that Jared Lee Loughner was motivated by right wing politics.
I don’t know what else can be done, except to repeat the other side – and hope that eventually people do learn from the past.
Kathleen Lundquist Reply:
February 15th, 2012 at 4:32 pm
@Blake,
Hope springs eternal, Blake.
February 15th, 2012 | 3:40 pm
What’s more, all the disability groups were behind Teri. I can’t find the number but if I’m not mistaken they felt she was discriminated against because of her feeding tube.
Accusing Santorum of narcissism for trying to help a helpless woman whose husband had been shacking up for 10 years with another woman and who stood to benefit from her demise is not just bizarre, it’s idiotic and it harms public discourse to lie like this. But then again maybe there’s animus here on the part of the writer for the way Santorum wiped the floor with Barbara Boxer (D-people’s republik CA) during their famous partial birth abortion debate where she said, “I’m not answering these questions.” Or maybe Jay is just shilling for the feminist movement who stood on the sideline while a man disposed of his wife. Maybe Santorum reminds him of that.
Don Nelson Reply:
February 15th, 2012 at 10:32 pm
@Don Nelson, Not Dead Yet’s Steven Drake and Diane Coleman said there were “26 national disability rights organizations” that had “adopted a position in support of Terri Schiavo’s right to continue to receive food and water.” http://www.notdeadyet.org/docs/schiavostatement032005.html
February 15th, 2012 | 4:46 pm
[...] his own ignorance. Schaivo was no more “brain dead” than Bookman is. Brain dead is “dead.” (continue reading…) Share this:FacebookTwitterEmailLike this:LikeBe the first to like this [...]
February 15th, 2012 | 8:53 pm
“…as a political pawn in the very way that the critics complain about.”
So, are you saying that Rick Santorum did use Terri Schaivo as a political pawn?
He’s the cosponsor for the bill.
If I recall, it was only a handful of Senators who voted for the bill in a voice vote on a Sunday – Santorum and Frist. No wonder it passed unanimously in the Senate – fewer than 5 people were present.
Wesley J. Smith Reply:
February 16th, 2012 at 12:58 am
Ignorant David, the bill had unanimous consent. With no objection, pased by voice vote, as agreed with Dem leadership.
Peter S Reply:
February 17th, 2012 at 2:10 am
@David, Sometime, when you get a chance, look up the word “quorum” so that you can understand why it is that five senators cannot “pass” a bill, let alone by voice vote on a Sunday.
February 15th, 2012 | 9:06 pm
I agree with all here, but let’s not just play Echo Chamber: write Mr. Bookman to correct him and leave copious factual posts on the message boards for said opinion piece.
holyterror Reply:
February 16th, 2012 at 10:28 am
@bmmg39, Yeah, I went over there to do just that….but, to be honest I am flagging the last week in my ability to deal. The sheer levels of stupidity, and the seeming unending nature of it, has me down.
Plus that writer is a hack. I read the whole thing and stared at his picture and thought, “I just don’t have the energy to waste.”
Some activist I am turning out to be lately.
:(
Wesley J. Smith Reply:
February 16th, 2012 at 10:46 am
I feel your pain, ht.
February 15th, 2012 | 11:13 pm
supposedly objective news sight
Whoops! I meant site, not sight.
February 16th, 2012 | 1:50 am
Bookman is displaying his own ignorance. Schaivo was no more “brain dead” than Bookman is.
Game, set, match.
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