15 years ago the wife of Michael Schiavo was left severely brain damaged and living off life support after a tragic medical problem developed. Court battles, political maneuvering involving Jeb Bush, and a family fight involving Michael Schiavo and his in-laws have kept Terri Schiavo medically alive. Michael Schiavo has repeatedly asked for life support to be removed – something he believes his wife would want. This should have simply been a difficult family decision. But Governor Bush – having no authority to act and with a re-election campaign looming - rammed a state law through the Florida Legislature to reinstall feeding tubes after they were once removed. The courts ruled his actions unconstitutional and the US Supreme Court refuses to hear Bush’s appeal. Finally, Terri Schiavo will be allowed to die with some measure of dignity left.
However, an anti-abortion group that supports the Bush brothers in their efforts to curtail women’s reproductive rights is now launching protests at the home and workplace of Michael Schiavo in an attempt to intimidate him. “The gloves are coming off with Michael Schiavo," Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry said. Terry’s group has been accused of inciting violence against medical practitioners of women’s health services. Operation Rescue is now part of the far right extremist group Operation Save America. The group has compared the court decisions involving this case to the Nazi Holocaust. “Yes, murder has become the answer for everything in the land of the free and the home of the brave,” states their web site.
You can bet that “taking the gloves off” is a veiled threat against the physical well being of Michael Schiavo. The Bush brothers, who have helped fan the flames of this situation, should intervene and stop Operation Save America from getting anywhere near Michael Schiavo. The politics of intimidation shouldn’t be allowed to overcome the rule of law that President Bush and Governor Bush have taken an oath to uphold.
Related Post: Operation Save America Protests At Eden Theological Seminary
Related Post: Update: Anti-Abortion Group Reports On Seminary Protest
