GOPers Decrying Obama "Death Panels" Supported Intervention For Schiavo

On a conference call with reporters this week, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas.) repeated what has become the most popular conservative canard about President Obama's health care agenda. The government, Cornyn ominously warned, would end up deciding the "cost and the value of one's life, rather than leaving those decisions in the hands of the family." A "firewall" needed to be put in place to prevent this from happening.

Four and a half years ago, the Texas Republican wasn't heeding any firewalls. He was one of the lead sponsors of unprecedented government intervention to keep the permanently brain-damaged Terri Schiavo alive.

"Congress has a right and a responsibility to investigate this case and explore possible means to protect the defenseless such as Terri Schiavo and others, including those in Texas who are in similar situations," Cornyn said at the time.

The Schiavo case became an embarrassment for the Republican Party and a crucial turning point in the 2006 election. Conservative lawmakers later acknowledged mistakes in their handling of the entire episode, but at the time they defended their actions by framing them as a desire to protect both life and due process.

Some of the same conservative figures taking potshots at Democrats for wanting to fund voluntary discussions about end-of-life decisions between doctors and their patients were leading the charge four years ago to contravene the decision by Schiavo's husband and guardian to remove the feeding tubes from his wife after she had spent 15 years in a vegetative state.

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who this week declared that Obama was trying to set up a situation where the government would decided whether to pull the plug on grandma, missed the vote to give the government control over Schiavo's fate. But he told reporters that he backed the measure.

"I support the effort to protect Terri Schiavo," he said. "It's the first case of its kind, a chance to choose life over death. I gave the option to life."

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), who has also been highly critical of Obama's health care agenda, told constituents in an online forum that he supported the government's intervention into Schiavo's life. "Without knowing Terri Schiavo's wishes," he wrote, "and with so many ambiguities and distortions surrounding the situation, it was right for Congress to err on the side of life."

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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) offered much the same explanation as Boehner. "What Congress did, it seems to me, was not all that extraordinary," he told Fox News at the time. "What we simply did was grant to the courts an opportunity to review the case, something they do in habeas corpus petitions in death penalty cases all the time. It's not unusual for a death decision. And in effect, that's what's happening here."

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who has publicly backed claims that Obama is setting up "death panels," predicted that people would ultimately look back at what the government did on the Schiavo matter "and realize that allowing a family to appeal in a situation like this is a totally reasonable part of the American tradition."

Gingrich, of course, was proven wrong. Polling both during and after that episode indicated widespread public distaste with Congress' efforts to keep Schiavo alive. Prominent Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio produced several studies at the time that found 60 to 80 percent of Americans were opposed to the intervention. Republicans were given a preponderance of the blame.

All of which may currently be contributing to how hard these very same lawmakers are now attacking Democrats and the president for promoting voluntary end-of-life consultations. In a radio interview with the Washington Times in late July, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele accused Obama of promoting a level of government involvement in the health care system that was far more outrageous than what occurred with Schiavo.

"That's the mood the administration is beginning to take," Steele said. "In this case, it is the government controlling the means of providing health care to the American people. It is inserting itself into the very fabric of the decisions that you make, have to make every single day. It'll make the Terry Schiavo case look like a walk in the park."

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Comments

[beyondbitch]

Why do the Republicans think that "death panels" is some new word. The insurance companies have been the "death panels" forever. They decide our fate, by choosing or refusing to pay. Yes, the greedy, insensitive, money grubbing private insurance companies. Ask around, we all know someone who is dealing with a health issue and the insurance companies are balking or trying to drum up a reason not to pay,

[bluerthanblue15]

I'm willing to bet that all but the most anxiety laden, timid and fearful fundamentalist Catholics and fundamentalist Protestants would not, signs and placards to the contrary, put themselves through months, years and even decades of hookups for the purpose of their memberships in their churches.

To this day, I wonder if pope John Paul II didn't refuse all extraordinary and even 'ordinary' means of extending his suffering just prior to his death.

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely ... Lord Acton

[sunnybunny]

Poor Terri Schaivo, from what I know about her - the way she was before this happened, she would have been so horrified to know what was going on. I felt so sorry for everyone involved.

[juxtaposed]

The only reason congress got involved with the Terry Shiavo case was a "right to life issue"
They saw it as an opportunity to link with their base i.e. "Anti-Abortion people" when does life begin and when does it end..
The Republicans felt they had a "hole-in-one" and would be able to overturn "Roe v Wade" with the Shiavo case..
That's the only reason, No other REASON!!!

[mcmutter]

sadly she was a vegetable who responded to light there was no real life there, machines did it all, it was an experiment

[MoeJava]

Only good I saw coming from that Terri S debacle is our family began talking about end-of-life directives. Included on my list is "never take a photo of me to use in furthering political hysteria"
.

[SimianNation]

Do as I say, and not as I do! Typical hypocrisy brought to you by the new face of the GOP!

[mrportman]

Love your avatar!

[jennylynn]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/aug/16/obamas-mad-science-adviser/

Maybe we better open our eyes on BO's choice for Science and Technology Advisor, you will see the big picture.

[CJWebber]

Are you posting this all over HP? ROFL

The gullibility of the American people never ceases to amaze me, ROFL

[newpantaloons]

I like to say: You can never underestimate the STUPIDITY of (many of) the American people.

[Bude]

Thanks to the Terry Schiavo case, there are several right wingnuts, who are no longer in politics. Thank you Terry.

[impatient]

I have to tell you Sam Stein, I normally love your work. But there are alot of far lefters out there like me, who thought that the Terry Schiavo debacle was appalling. First of all, her parents were totally willing to assume her hospital care if her a$$hole husband would only divorce her. He meanwhile had had a long term relationship with another woman by whm he fathered two children. There were many concerns over a possible role he may have played in her demise, with many of the health care workers casting suspicion as well.

That he was willing to say, "No, I want her dead" and have that be the way it goes, wihtout renewed investigation into his motives, and when other options were available and when it was NOT a simple matter of shutting off a respirator, but required a two week ordeal of starving her to death, is in my mind, just appalling and not at all what I think the left should support.

Frankly, I think the entire line of thought was flawed.

[LaurieAnn]

Please, Keep the Religious Right Out of my Hospital Room!

[codycap]

I hope they do leave the "advanced directives" i.e. living will out. I saw it being estimated to add 2.75 billion dollars to the cost over 10 years.

We don't need it. It's been around and well known for years. It doesn't take but a minute for the doctor or even his secretary to mention it and hand you the forms with everything explained to read and decide at your leisure

That's how it was done with my father, mother, brother before their deaths. I was given a living will on a routine office visit.

Why add that cost

[Bude]

Sounds simple enough.

[tiredofthesameoldstuff]

Funny it's said that the living will directive if made uniform will actually save billions of dollars since futile end of life care won't be done in hospitals but in hospices which serve the dying better.

[codycap]

That is probably true if they don't have a living will but in my experience they just treated it as matter of course before any kind of operation. I did not bring it up. It seemed to be just a part of the routine.

When a operation was scheduled they would inquire if I had one and if not did I want one. Pretty simple.

[clearlythinking]

Ohhhh, I get it. They don't want us to have advanced directives so that they can decide if we live or die regardless of whether it is in line with our personal wishes. See the health care legislation encourages and pays for people to make their own decisions. I thought this was the party that wanted less government in their lives. I guess that only applies to less democratic government, not less republican government. Silly me.

[Whitley2009]

In 2005, I wrote:

"The do–gooders demonstrating in Florida were really involved in the “right to life” abortion issue as well as the insertion of their churches in our state houses and courts. Terri Schiavo became the convenient tool of choice for these evangelicals who would tyrannically dictate to the rest of us how we conduct our civil affairs regardless of our federal laws, state laws, and constitutions. As God’s policemen, these people showed little respect for Florida civil or criminal laws.

In their 11th hour quest for power, Congress and these do–gooders also slandered and libeled the highly qualified physicians, attorneys, and judges of the State of Florida who labored on the Schiavo case for 15 years. Those professionals (Democrats and Republicans) ruled, and the CT Scan shows it, that Miss Schiavo’s brain had “liquefied.” Somewhere between 60 and 90% of her upper brain was missing. No one in medical history has ever recovered from such extensive upper brain damage."

The Republican right-to-lifers engaged in what Terri's husband called "congressional thuggery."

IF TERRI SCHIAVO HAD ENJOYED END OF LIFE PLANNING, NONE OF THIS THUGGERY WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.

THIS HAS TO BE ONE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S GREATEST DISGRACES.

See the entire article: http://www.thecolumbiastar.com/news/2005/0407/Opinion/019.html

[BillForObama]

You are absolutely right. If Terri Schiavo had a Directive to Physicians (living will), we would not know her name.

Medical authorities would have quietly released her without any fanfare. Living on tubes and wires is not living. It is unnatural.

While I believe in the sanctity of life, I don't want to be kept alive on a tube. I want to have access to the best doctors who can diagnose my case and based upon MY WISHES (despite what family, the religious right may feel) to be honored.

[clearlythinking]

I couldn't agree with you more. End of Life Planning protects you from greedy relatives waiting for you to kick off so they can divvy up your stuff! I

[SimianNation]

Have these people no shame?

[mcmutter]

none that we can find - perhaps they need an autopsy

[Cambridge9]

I think its shameful that this poor woman, and her husband and family, should once again be at the center of attention. She should NEVER HAVE BEEN the center of a political debate and interference.

This really is the best reason for folks to have that 'end of life' discussion with their doctor and set up a living will and, while it is currently optional in the Congressional bill, it should become mandatory when the insurance coverage is bought (private consultation) with updates allowed every few years as lives and conditions change.