Originally Posted - December 11, 2005

return home

Michael Schiavo's announcement that he had formed a political action committee to get even with the Republicans and in particular for trying to save his wife's life created a lot of comments this past week.

For over 12 years, Schiavo engaged in a vendetta against Bob and Mary Schindler, parents of his wife, Terri who became brain damaged in 1990 in suspicious, still unexplained circumstances with only Michael present.

We felt it was somewhat appropriate that Schiavo's latest promoter, Derek Newton of the November Group, even took his cause to Crooks and Liars with this posting on their forum:

"Please go to www.TerriPAC.org and do what you can.
We really need you to get this going.
We can't afford to let it fail. If Michael is sticking his name and neck back out there for us, we need to stand with him!
Come on, don't let me down.
Derek Newton
TerriPAC
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/12/07.html#a6215

Sticking his neck out?

Schiavo says that "politicians in Washington, DC and Florida abused their public trust by forcing the government in the middle of my family tragedy and the personal decisions that were rightly between me and my wife and our god". You're wrong, again, Michael. It wasn't your family tragedy, it was America's disgrace.

Terri's decision was to live, Michael. She so desperately tried to express that as the tube of life was removed from her. You lied again and how dare you even mention the word "god" in your opportunistic pandering. For you to even mention God in your propaganda is blasphemous.

Schiavo, who has aimed his campaign at House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, who helped lead congressional efforts to keep Terri Schiavo alive, says that by contributing to his PAC which has his brother, Brian Schiavo as the treasurer, that "we can hold these politicians
accountable".

It's not the politicians who need to be held accountable. It's Michael Schiavo---held accountable for the murder of his wife.

Although Schiavo announced his new website and TerriPAC on Wednesday, strangely enough it didn't show it was registered with the Federal Elections Commission until over the weekend. Are government employees working on the weekend to update the registration because questions were already starting to be raised about the Schiavo accountability with the PAC formation? It wasn't in the FEC database late Friday night but suddenly Sunday, it appeared. http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/com_detail/C00417576/

No wonder Derek Newton's on Crooks and Liars pandering for money, according to the report, no one's contributed yet----or else Michael Schiavo and his treasurer haven't reported any contributions.

Ken Connor, the attorney who represented Gov. Jeb Bush in Terri's Law seemed to sum up the whole situation the best when he said that "Michael Schiavo's starvation of Terri Schiavo represented the ultimate triumph of social Darwinism. Not content merely to succeed in depriving his wife of the right to life, he now seeks to put at risk other frail and vulnerable people. It never ceases to amaze me the lengths to which the strong are willing to exploit the weak for their own purposes".

Connor called Schiavo the "classic opportunist". We'd say Connor struck the nail right on the head.

Schiavo got one thing right in his statements on the website. "If our political leaders have taken no lessons from their shameless exploitation of Terri, and the public outcry against it, I have". He exploited her for 15 years and he's still doing so. It's not about Terri, it's all about Michael. But then after all, considering the investigation that's ongoing of him regarding the false statements and misrepresentations made in the guardianship application and his employment application to be a nurse at the county jail, he might need a new funding source if his nursing license is revoked. He spent all the malpractice money.

"TerriPAC is a federal political action committee and will be able to endorse or oppose candidates for federal office - including members of Congress", Schiavo and Newton claim.

In response to Schiavo's attack on the congressman, DeLay spokeswoman Shannon Flaherty said that "this won't be the first time the euthanasia lobby has attacked a consistently pro-life leader life Tom DeLay. If their goal is to educate voters, this is a waste of their time and money because everyone in the Congressman's district knows he stands on the side of protecting life".

And we like DeLay's position about the judiciary.

It's virtually a given that Schiavo's next announced target will be Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa, who sided with Terri's parents in trying to save her life and joined with DeLay in suggesting the federal judges who ruled against the Schindlers should be impeached. We could start in Florida by impeaching probate court judge George Greer. If Schiavo is so concerned about officials who violate the public trust, he better take a real hard look at the Georges in his life---both Greer and Felos.

Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Fla, proposed the House legislation which resulted in the vote to reinsert Terri Schiavo's feeding tube which offended Schiavo and threatened his quest to kill his wife. Weldon said that Schiavo's PAC struck him as a "political stunt" because it focused on Republicans but not Democrats who voted for the bill.

Well, what do you expect? Newton is a Democratic political consultant. Don't bite the hand that feeds you. Take a look at Newton's past clients. John Kerry, Ron Saunders, Jimmy Morales---bunch of losers but Newton sure knows how to spend money.

Newton has been quoted as saying the organization is nonpartisan. That means that they're not ashamed to take money from anyone. "Its leaders will pick races where they can make a difference and where candidates were outspoken in the controversy over life and death issues such as Ms. Schiavo's", Newton said.

So, how much is Newton getting paid for his exploitation of Terri Schiavo. Who are "its leaders"? Michael and Brian Schiavo-both of them known for their explosive temperaments" Sounds more like a grudge match then a well-reasoned selection and just how much are the Schiavo brothers going to be paid for their judgment in selecting these candidates?

Hmmmmm. Brian Schiavo as in registered agent and owner of Credible Marketing? Credible???? Accountable????

Newton says they're going to use most of the money raised for advertising in about 10 to 12 races nationally and 10 to 12 in Florida. Well, maybe they ought to consider registering with the Florida Division of Elections if they're going to be diddling around in state elections.

In one report we read, Newton was quoted as saying Schiavo wouldn't be pocketing any of the money but yet at the "election center" on the site it says "your donations being put to work to pay for television and radio ads, direct mail or personal appearances for Michael Schiavo in the states and districts of political leaders who chose their own political gain over personal privacy and the rule of law".

Michael Schiavo's going to make all these personal appearances for nothing? Isn't there a Truth in Advertising Law?"

One observer made these comments last week in an email about the comments made by Schiavo on his new website. "I'm also curious as to why he mentions 'sanctity of marriage' as one of his mission points when he was making digs and babies with one person while still being wed to someone else. Why isn't the press challenging him on that point? Speaking not as an advocate for Terri Schiavo, but only as a woman, that doesn't sound like marriage to me. That sounds like ownership. Stranglehold even.

"I've read through Schiavo's website and, it seems to me, his only vision statement is accepting monetary padding to publicly attack the people who ticked him off this past March.
I would hope people of good conscience could find better causes to toss their discretionary income at, but that's just me. "Pay me to be a big mouth" just doesn't come off as a worthy public policy cause", the observer continued.

"I'd quite like to see his paperwork or anything that might legitimize his cause as being anything but a cosmetic and self-serving outlet. But, I won't hold my breath. This guy has gotten a pass for not filing mandatory guardianship plans, annual reports, plans of care, etc. so I can't imagine anyone will come down hard on him for raising money under the guise of public servitude.

"Still, I cannot imagine any political candidate of any social grace willingly accepting a ham-handed slap on the back from a wife killer, irrespective of their views on medical killing. It just ain't good 'face'.

"Michael Schiavo needs to get on with his life, having successfully ended one and destroying a few more in the process. He should gather up his marbles and go the hell home". 12-11-05

© 2005 North Country Gazette