# Is Terri Schiavo still a hot topic for republicans? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 4, 2007, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-terri-schiavo-still-a-hot-topic-for-republicans/402788 "2007-05-04T18:54:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-terri-schiavo-still-a-hot-topic-for-republicans/402788/1 "2007-05-04T18:54:57Z")
I heard two commentators bring that up after the debates. I thought that discussion exceeded its 15 minutes of fame long ago. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-terri-schiavo-still-a-hot-topic-for-republicans/402788/2 "2007-05-04T19:00:56Z")
Not for the press - they are hoping to use it to beat Republicans over the head. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-terri-schiavo-still-a-hot-topic-for-republicans/402788/3 "2007-05-04T19:07:03Z")
I think it’s over and the ultimate outcome of that silliness was the loss of Republican seats in last November’s legislative elections. Were the people talking about it very religious? I had pretty much forgotten about it, but I can imagine my religious right wing parents still mumbling about it, between “Bill Clinton’s an immoral sinner” and “He killed Vince Foster”. Yeah, it’s sad, but they still go on about that. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-terri-schiavo-still-a-hot-topic-for-republicans/402788/4 "2007-05-04T19:08:25Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] Not for the press - they are hoping to use it to beat Republicans over the head. [/QUOTE] I thought that catch-all excuse exceeded it’s 15 minutes of fame long ago. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-terri-schiavo-still-a-hot-topic-for-republicans/402788/5 "2007-05-04T19:29:13Z")
“A hot topic” in what way? That conservatives are still upset about it? I don’t think so, with some rare exceptions. I think the case itself still matters - it was the big hubris moment for the religious right, and what Congressional Republicans and Bush did really pissed off the rest of the country. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-terri-schiavo-still-a-hot-topic-for-republicans/402788/6 "2007-05-04T19:51:22Z")
The Schiavo affair comes up fairly regularly (mostly in passing) on James Dobson’s program, and some other right-wing Xian radio shows. And that bunch retains a lot of sway with the pubbies. So, indirectly, yes. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-terri-schiavo-still-a-hot-topic-for-republicans/402788/7 "2007-05-04T20:54:13Z")
You can forgive an incident like the murder of Terri, but you can’t forget it. It will be around a long time, especially among us older people. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-terri-schiavo-still-a-hot-topic-for-republicans/402788/8 "2007-05-04T21:09:41Z")
[QUOTE=lekatt] It will be around a long time, especially among us older people. [/QUOTE] Well, not as long as for younger people, at any rate. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-terri-schiavo-still-a-hot-topic-for-republicans/402788/9 "2007-05-04T21:10:24Z")
[QUOTE=lekatt] You can forgive an incident like the murder of Terri, but you can’t forget it. It will be around a long time, especially among us older people. [/QUOTE] I’m sorry, are you saying that following the wishes of someones living will is an act of murder? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-terri-schiavo-still-a-hot-topic-for-republicans/402788/10 "2007-05-04T21:14:58Z")
[QUOTE=lekatt] You can forgive an incident like the murder of Terri, but you can’t forget it. It will be around a long time, especially among us older people. [/QUOTE] My father in law is 91, and he’d come back and haunt anyone who tried to pull that kind of shit on him. The whole point of the case is following the desires of the person who is ill. You have a problem with that? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-terri-schiavo-still-a-hot-topic-for-republicans/402788/11 "2007-05-04T21:23:18Z")
[QUOTE=dir. dep.] I heard two commentators bring that up after the debates. I thought that discussion exceeded its 15 minutes of fame long ago. [/QUOTE] I think they’re bringing it up because there is a hispanic baby whose life has been deemed futile. I think Schiavo will probably be the poster child for this issue for a long time. > [@](#): > > Children’s Hospital of Austin claims that the boy cannot survive without tubes to help him breathe and eat, that his condition will not improve, and that he should be removed from life support. The family of baby Emilio has unanimously decided that they are not ready to let go of him and want to continue the life support even though they know he is terminally ill. The care for this child is extensive and expensive. This family has Medicaid as their insurance but the hospital claims that money is not an issue in deciding to end this boy’s life support treatment. The family is looking for another hospital to take the baby, but because he’s been deemed futile, no one wants to take him. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-terri-schiavo-still-a-hot-topic-for-republicans/402788/12 "2007-05-04T21:40:51Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] Not for the press - they are hoping to use it to beat Republicans over the head. [/QUOTE] Yeah, it’s a bitch when you do something idiotic and it comes back to rip yer dick off. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-terri-schiavo-still-a-hot-topic-for-republicans/402788/13 "2007-05-04T21:45:24Z")
[QUOTE=Voyager] My father in law is 91, and he’d come back and haunt anyone who tried to pull that kind of shit on him. The whole point of the case is following the desires of the person who is ill. You have a problem with that? [/QUOTE] Don’t want to redebate this issue, but no I have no problem with following the wishes of the person who is ill. That was not done. She left no living will. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-terri-schiavo-still-a-hot-topic-for-republicans/402788/14 "2007-05-04T22:09:11Z")
[QUOTE=lekatt] Don’t want to redebate this issue, but no I have no problem with following the wishes of the person who is ill. That was not done. She left no living will. [/QUOTE] And the end result was that, rather than let her family deal with it, Republican leaders tried to ignore and then rewrite the law to get the outcome they wanted. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-terri-schiavo-still-a-hot-topic-for-republicans/402788/15 "2007-05-04T22:24:12Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] And the end result was that, rather than let her family deal with it, Republican leaders tried to ignore and then rewrite the law to get the outcome they wanted. [/QUOTE] The rights of the citizens are ignored at the government’s whim - that’s been proven quite extensively, lately. Why would this one case be any different? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-terri-schiavo-still-a-hot-topic-for-republicans/402788/16 "2007-05-04T22:29:00Z")
[QUOTE=lekatt] You can forgive an incident like the murder of Terri, but you can’t forget it. It will be around a long time, especially among us older people. [/QUOTE] This brings up a question. I seem to recall that, in your belief system, the brain doesn’t actually do anything, and a person’s consciousness is actually contained in an immaterial magical something in another dimension. Something like that. So why didn’t Ms. Schiavo just hop out of bed? How could she let a little thing like a missing neocortex get her down? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-terri-schiavo-still-a-hot-topic-for-republicans/402788/17 "2007-05-04T22:30:16Z")
[QUOTE=Merijeek] The rights of the citizens are ignored at the government’s whim - that’s been proven quite extensively, lately. Why would this one case be any different? [/QUOTE] I may be wrong, but I thought at the time that it was going to be a problem for the religious right because they’d alienated so many people - most people could see this was a private matter and not one the government should have been involved in. You’ll notice Bill Frist isn’t running for President ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-terri-schiavo-still-a-hot-topic-for-republicans/402788/18 "2007-05-04T22:37:37Z")
[QUOTE=lekatt] Don’t want to redebate this issue, but no I have no problem with following the wishes of the person who is ill. That was not done. She left no living will. [/QUOTE] Paperwork or no, if you were convinced that her wish was not to be maintained, you’d be fine with stopping feeding? If so, that’s fine - it becomes a matter of evidence, not ethics. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-terri-schiavo-still-a-hot-topic-for-republicans/402788/19 "2007-05-04T22:40:07Z")
[QUOTE=Baldwin] This brings up a question. I seem to recall that, in your belief system, the brain doesn’t actually do anything, and a person’s consciousness is actually contained in an immaterial magical something in another dimension. Something like that. So why didn’t Ms. Schiavo just hop out of bed? How could she let a little thing like a missing neocortex get her down? [/QUOTE] Good point. And I can add, how do immaterial souls age? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-terri-schiavo-still-a-hot-topic-for-republicans/402788/20 "2007-05-04T23:37:27Z")
[QUOTE=Baldwin] This brings up a question. I seem to recall that, in your belief system, the brain doesn’t actually do anything, and a person’s consciousness is actually contained in an immaterial magical something in another dimension. Something like that. So why didn’t Ms. Schiavo just hop out of bed? How could she let a little thing like a missing neocortex get her down? [/QUOTE] And since when is it “murder?” Murder is a legal term, in this context. She was not murdered any more than aborted embryos or fetuses are murdered. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-terri-schiavo-still-a-hot-topic-for-republicans/402788.md?page=2)