Nader, Jesse Jackson, many other libs condemn starvation death

[blueaguave]

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 25, 2005

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Support for Terri Schiavo and her parents efforts to prevent her painful starvation death isn't just limited to conservatives, Republicans, Catholics or pro-life groups. A number of Democratic lawmakers and liberal political advocates want to protect Terri or, at least, allow her parents to have hearings in federal courts on their case.

Former presidential candidate and consumer advocate Ralph Nader says a "profound injustice is being inflicted on Terri Schiavo" and he is urging Florida courts to allow Terri to stay alive.

According to CNS News, Nader released a joint statement with noted author and attorney Wesley Smith condemning the forces causing Terri's death.

They said the courts have imposed a "slow death" on Terri and noted that attempts should be made to allow Terri to eat or drink on her own before starving her to death.

"Terri swallows her own saliva," Nader and Smith said. "Spoon-feeding is not medical treatment. This outrageous order proves that the courts are not merely permitting medical treatment to be withheld, it has ordered her to be made dead."

Meanwhile, civil rights activist and former presidential candidate Jesse Jackson has chimed in as well.

Jackson called on Florida Governor Jeb Bush to step in and help Terri.

"I think the feeding tube should be reinstated," Jackson said in a statement and adding that she is "brain impaired" not "brain dead."

"They're dehydrating her to death, and that raises profound ethical questions," Jackson explained. "It's not right to starve her to death. That's not right ethically."

Senate Democrats have also issued their support for Terri and her parents.

Senator Majority Leader Bill First, a Republican, said Harry Reid, the Nevada senator who leads the Democrats, played a key role in helping to pass the law that allowed Terri's parents to take their case to federal courts.

Sen. Bill Nelson from Terri's home said Terri's parents deserve a chance in court to have the case "reviewed and decided in a timely manner."

"Her parents want to give her a chance. I think of my own daughter. We ought to give her a chance," added Democratic Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota

Rep. Jose Serrano, a New York Democrat who is a veteran of the civil rights movement said courts "should err on the side of giving the family a chance to let her live."

Another liberal Northeastern Democrat, Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, told the Associated Press the "human side" of the dram inspires his position.

"I felt the position of the parents was particularly compelling. I have a daughter, so I understand how powerful that kind of love is," he said.

[whitequeen96]

I'm a liberal (and proud of it!), but I don't like the way this is going. I do not think the fed. gvt. should be involved in this. But more importantly, I think it is inhumane to let any creature die of thirst or starvation. You could go to jail for treating a dog like this!

There are other, more humane ways to let a person die. Doctors can do something they call "snowing" a person. That's where they give a person (who is in misery and is incurable) enough morphine or other pain killer to let them "drift away." It can even be a normal dose, but too much for someone who is in such a weakened state. I read that the doctors for King George IV of England (father of Queen Elizabeth II) did something like this for him.

This is something that used to be widely practised as an open secret in the U.S. (I come from a long line of doctors on my mother's side), and that is openly practised in parts of Europe now. I'm not sure about Terri's case, because she does not have a living will, nor is she able to speak for herself. I'm just saying that we should offer a humane way for people to die, just as we would for a pet animal.

And yet Dr. Kevorkian sits in prison, probably for the rest of his life, branded a murderer. Ironic, isn't it?

[CagedTroll]

It's been practiced, but with "plausible deniability". We, as a society, always knew it was going on, but we were (and remain in) denial. Given the amount of attention Terri Schaivo is getting, there's almost no way to slip her a fatal dose of anything out in the open, although I think I heard she is currently recieving morphine for any pain she might (possibly) be feeling.

[blueaguave]

[QUOTE=CagedTroll]although I think I heard she is currently recieving morphine for any pain [QUOTE]
I heard this too, yet the morons at the New York Times print a propaganda news story "Starvation death painless way to die"

[blueaguave]

Jesse Jackson Visits Terri Schiavo's Hospice, Backs Schindlers
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 29, 2005
Pinellas Park, FL (LifeNews.com) -- Longtime civil rights activist and former presidential candidate, Rev. Jesse Jackson, made his first public foray into the debate surrounding Terri Schiavo. He visited Terri's hospice on Tuesday and said he supported Terri's parents' efforts to stop her painful starvation death.
"I feel so passionate about this injustice being done, how unnecessary it is to deny her a feeding tube, water, not even ice to be used for her parched lips," Jackson said. "This is a moral issue and it transcends politics and family disputes."

"While the law is important, the law must be tempered with mercy to have justice. We ask for justice today," he said.
Jackson called what is happening to Terri a "violent" execution and a "great moral and ethical crisis that we should address."
"This woman's being starved and dehydrated to death," he complained. "Eleven days -- no food and no water. This is not right."

"She is not brain dead," Jackson noted. "She is brain impaired. All her vital signs are working."
"And to cut off her food and water his heartless," he explained.

Jackson's remarks drew praise from pro-life groups backing the Schindlers.

"There is nothing for Jesse Jackson to gain here except respect for having done the right thing," said Reverend Rob Schenck of the National Clergy Council.

"This is a rare expression of moral courage from a partisan and we applaud him heartily for it. We pray that it is taken seriously and acted upon urgently by all those with the power to save Terri's life," Schenck added.
This is the second time Jackson has commented on the controversial situation.
"I think the feeding tube should be reinstated," he previously said. "It's not right to starve her to death. That's not right ethically."
Talking about Terri's medical condition, Jackson commented, "But you know she is brain impaired, she is not brain-dead. And right now they're starving her to death. They're dehydrating her to death, and that raises profound ethical questions."
Bob and Mary Schindler invited Jackson, president of the RainbowPUSH Coalition, to talk and pray with them outside of Woodside Hospice, where Terri lives.

[janelle144]

Where were these liberals when they first talked about pulling the feeding tube? I think they are a day late and a dollar short. Coming in at the eleventh hour to grand stand when they see some polls say people are outraged. The are covering both bases. Playing politics again.

If they really wanted to help Terri like they say now, they would have been there from the first when the judges were deciding to pull the feeding tube. I don't believe they were trying to help, just helping themselves look good,

[blueaguave]

Originally Posted by janelle144

Where were these liberals when they first talked about pulling the feeding tube? I think they are a day late and a dollar short. Coming in at the eleventh hour to grand stand when they see some polls say people are outraged. The are covering both bases. Playing politics again.

If they really wanted to help Terri like they say now, they would have been there from the first when the judges were deciding to pull the feeding tube. I don't believe they were trying to help, just helping themselves look good,

then why didn't the great GOP Congress enforce their own subpeona on Terri Schiavo, which would have had her feeding tube re-inserted to take her to DC.
I rarely agree with Jesse or Nader, but they were sincere.