Who can forget the Terry Schiavo case that embroiled the nation back in the spring of this year? And who can forget -- or forgive -- the outrageous intervention by the Republican Congress, the Bush White House, and of course Florida Governor Bush in the most personal of family matters? Finally, who can forget how upset and angry this made the American people, 82% of whom felt that Congress and President should stay out of it. Well, Terry Schiavo's husband, Michael Schiavo, has NOT forgotten. And now he is speaking out, with the specific objective of preventing the Bush clone, Jerry Kilgore, from being elected governor of Virginia and acting the SAME WAY as the Bush brothers did towards him. Just a few minutes ago, Schiavo -- a lifelong Republican and a Roman Catholic, by the way -- released a powerful statement on the Virginia governor's race, endorsing Tim Kaine and blasting Jerry Kilgore. Below are key excerpts (bolding added). The full statement can be read here).
"?I have seen first hand what can happen when a Governor disagrees with a single citizen. In Florida, Governor Jeb Bush abused the power of his office in an attempt to replace my personal family decisions with his own opinions and political grandstanding.?Even though I am not a Virginian, I care deeply about the outcome of this election because one of the candidates for Virginia Governor has said publicly that he would follow Jeb Bush?s lead in similar cases.
?Jerry Kilgore is wrong to follow the example of a governor who did not respect me, my family or the rule of law and I fear what may happen to unsuspecting Virginians when Mr. Kilgore disagrees with their deeply private family decisions.
?My comments are not partisan. I was a life-long Republican before Governor Bush decided my decisions about my wife didn?t matter.
?But my comments are personal. Every citizen deserves elected leaders who respect individual rights, honor the role of families and follow the rule of law. Having heard each of the candidates? thoughts on what happened to me and my family, Mr. Kilgore will not do that so I implore Virginia voters to elect Tim Kaine Governor.?
This is exactly right. I would just add a few points. First, I would remind everyone that Virginia had its own famous "Terry Schiavo case," that of Hugh Finn. Here's Hugh Finn's widow, Michele, commenting in the Washington Post on yet ANOTHER Republican governor's interference in a personal family matter:
The widow of Hugh Finn, who became the center of a national debate over a brain-damaged patient's right to die, today accused Virginia Gov. James S. Gilmore III and other state officials of "trampling" her right to remove a feeding tube from her husband so the politicians could pursue "their own personal and political agenda."Michele Finn, testifying before a legislative panel here today, accused Gilmore and two other Republicans, Attorney General Mark L. Earley and Del. Robert G. Marshall (Prince William), of trying to impose their "personal view of morality" on her rights as Finn's spouse and legal guardian to carry out his wishes to end his life.
This is relevant not just because Jerry Kilgore thinks just like Jim Gilmore, but also because Jim Gilmore is an honorary Co-Chairmen of Kilgore's gubernatorial campaign.
Second, I would point out that President Bush's nomination of a right-wing judge to the Supreme Court means that we could very well be seeing a lot more Terry Schiavo and Hugh Finn fiascos in coming years. What we have here is the frightening potential for the government to start interfering with our lives in MANY different areas - right to die, personal privacy, right to reproductive freedom, religious freedom, etc. Given the Scalia/Scalito Supreme Court, do you really want a Governor like Jerry Kilgore telling you what to do in Virginia?
Finally, I would just remind people that Jerry Kilgore keeps saying "I trust the people", but when it comes down to a matter of life and death, he categorically does not. Don't believe me? Just ask Michele Finn...or Michael Schiavo.