Regarding the Terry Schiavo case, the Republican Party has gone and done what they do best: exploit a sad situation for their political gain. The party's involvement in the case violates their own supposed principles of federalism in undercutting the rulings of Florida judges (not the first time this has happened).
It would take a self-deluding Republican loyalist to believe that the Republican party has the best of intentions in interfering between Schiavo's family. Indeed, a memo circulating among Republicans reveals that getting involved with the Schiavo case is a chance to send a symbolic acknowledgement to their "pro-life" base as well as distract from media focus on House Majority Leader Tom Delay's ethics violations. [In my opinion, there is no reason why DeLay's ethics violations shouldn't be on the front page along with the Schivao stories. As usual, the media fails to investigate Republican scandals the way it does with Democrats.] Anyhow, according to a memo circulating among Republicans about getting involved in the Schiavo case, "The pro-life base will be excited...this is a great political issue...this is a tough issue for Democrats."[2] This story also takes the heat off Tom DeLay, who is facing a number of serious ethics charges and legal scandals.[3]
So let's not even engage the Republican party in debate about pro-life, because we know they're not truly pro-life. After all, a person who supports sending young men and women off to die in a war that was nowhere near a last resort to responding to Iraq, that support cutting health and self-improvement programs for men, women, and children who live in poverty like Medicare and Headstart, this is not a person who truly values life; this is a person who disingenuously advocates for life, usually with the intention of preventing rights of certain people (especially women!).
So, to the Democratic Party, call a spade a spade and demand that the Republicans in Congress and the White House get back to working on what we're paying them to do, which is manage the budget and defend our country. Come to think of it, they're not doing such a good job of that either! Damn! Just tell them to take a vacation and let the Democrats do the real work of this country.
For a good opinion article about the true intentions of the GOP, read this, and also note Bill Frist's plan run for President in 2008.
Schiavo
Politics
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2 comments:
The part that most bothers me at this moment is regarding, as you said, the way that the Republicans "support cutting health and self-improvement programs for men, women, and children who live in poverty like Medicare and Headstart, this is not a person who truly values life." Indeed, I can verify at least one Republican I know who works in healthcare has perceived this rediculous hypocrisy and is no longer a big supporter. Maybe if more people can see just how awful the Republican organization is on this issue, then more people can reject it. Pro-life my ass; they are doing everything they can to stop funds reaching those who need it to live. Why are they helping to cut programs that give formula for kids with genetic disorders who need that formula to survive? Is that the action of someone who wants to protect life so much? In fact, what's with people trying to KILL the husband? Bunch of lousy stupid hypocrites - cutting things people need to live while making a fuss over a vegetable. I know that's mean, but I never claimed to be super-nice. I'm just saying, is all.
I think you're nice to have concern for people who aren't receiving the support they should because of hypocrites who claim to be "pro-life." Thanks for your great post, and that is interesting regarding your Republican friend.
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