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?”
