Another indication of just how wildly out of step with public opinion the Bush White House is on Terri Schiavo: Even syndicated talk radio host Neal Boortz, typically a fierce defender of President Bush, is furious over Republicans' "shameless grandstanding" on the issue. Boortz is more Libertarian than right-wing Republican on social issues and the idea of keeping religion out of government, and his bottom line here is states' rights: "From this day on your right to die, your right to instruct your loved ones to not take extraordinary measures to keep you alive if disaster strikes, is a federal matter, not a state one." But the degree to which he denounces the cynical endgame currently being played out in Washington is telling:
"The congress of the United States worked into the early hours of this morning for one reason; to serve the interests of the so-called pro-life movement. This isn't about Terri Schiavo. It's about abortion. The anti-abortion movement saw an opportunity to take Terri's tragedy and turn it into a spectacular pageant in support of life. Quality of life means nothing to these people ... only the fact that some sort of life is present. Please ... keep them away from me if I should ever suffer a tragedy like that which befell Terri Schiavo. The Republicans in Washington have essentially taken Terri Schiavo hostage -- a hostage designed to please their anti-abortion constituency. We've heard much about torture in recent months ... the alleged torture of Muslim prisoners in Iraq. Can it be said that the Republicans are torturing the soul of Terri Schiavo, and doing it for votes?"
Shares