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Editor, The North Country Gazette:
You not only have the facts and state the facts in the Terri Schiavo case, but you have a very good way of threading the facts together. All of what you say seems to be such basic common sense. It's a shame we live in such a topsy-turvy world where criminals like Michael Schiavo are allowed to run rampant. Apparently that characteristic of feeling entitled to act above the law runs in the Schiavo family, judging from Brian Schiavo's (treasurer) alleged lack of providing financial information about TerriPAC.
There is a recent email circulated by TerriPac. What strikes me is that outright fraud in the way that Derek Newton pleads for the money. He states that unless they get another $20,000, that conservative lawmakers will use the Terri Schiavo case for political purposes. Have you seen any indication of that statement being true? I would say that it's perfectly the opposite case, for all reasons. First, Tom Delay has stepped down and is gone but tempered his earlier comments by apologizing and stating that his initial comments were "inartful".
Second, Bill Frist recently backed down and we can see his comments on a transcription of a Meet the Press show. Mel Martinez put out a story indicating that he changed his mind. Dick Cheney went on the record around the time of Terri's death, basically stating that we shouldn't go after judges. Condoleeza Rice even made such a public statement that she supports "an independent judiciary." Sensenbrenner hasn't backed down but hasn't brought the issue up in a public manner.
But Howard Dean has made direct statements that the Democratic National Committee plans to use the Terri Schiavo case in their 2006 election campaigns. Also about a year ago, there was a videostream of a commercial produced by moveon.pac that made a political issue out of the Terri Schiavo case.
So, the statement that all should give money to TerriPAC on the basis that the Republicans are poised to use Terri Schiavo as a political football is misleading, is disingenuous and the only reality-based indication is that the reverse is true. Michael Schiavo's TerriPAC appears to be attempting a solicitation of funds based on fraudulent reasons to stir fear. Should we be surprised?
Victor Merkel
Tallahassee, Fla.
© 2005 North
Country Gazette
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