November 2, 2005 Contact: Derek Newton
Derek@NovemberGroup.net 786-499-898
?Many voters remember the political spectacle that emerged surrounding deeply personal family decisions about my wife, Terri. Even after the headlines have faded, I remain profoundly troubled by the self-righteous and self-serving politics that allowed unprecedented political interference into my family?s personal decisions.
?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.?
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EDITOR?S ATTACHMENT
Michael Schiavo Statement
Page 2 of 2
Below is a transcript of a portion of the October 9, 2005 debate between
Tim Kaine and Jerry Kilgore
Larry Sabato: ?Do you think a Governor should intervene in cases like Terri Schiavo, as Governor Bush in Florida did, where there?s a dispute between a family about whether or not life support should be removed??
Tim Kaine: ?Governor Bush did intervene in Florida and so did Governor Gilmore, ah Jerry Kilgore?s campaign Co-Chairman, when he was Governor ? intervened in this difficult matter for families. Larry, I don?t think governors should use their PR grandstanding to intervene in these cases. Ah, we have a court system, a juvenile and family court system, where family members come and with some dignity and confidentiality get a chance to air these difficult issues ? the most difficult issues that families have to make. We have the ability, once a court has made a decision, for there to be appeals but when governors try to make political hay on the backs of family members under tragedy it?s a terrible thing.?
Larry Sabato: ?Mr. Kilgore.?
Jerry Kilgore: ?A Governor should look at the facts. That?s what reasonable governors do. Ya know I?m not gonna agree to the forced starvation of any individual if that individual hasn?t had a say. But as Governor, I?m gonna lead ? n ? talk with Virginians about entering medical directives very early on to encourage individuals to talk with their parents to talk with their spouses and children and let?s enter and sign these medical directives so that families make those decisions together early on. Ninety-nine percent of the time families agree on these very heart wrenching decisions.?
An on-line video of the exchange can be seen at:
http://www.virginiabusiness.com/magazine/yr2005/oct05/gov_audio.shtml