Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall: March 20, 2005 - March 26, 2005 Archives
Rep. Tom Delay (R-TX), March 18th 2005: "It is more than just Terri Schiavo. This is a critical issue for people in this position, and it is also a critical issue to fight that fight for life, whether it be euthanasia or abortion. I tell you, ladies and gentlemen, one thing God has brought to us [Since when does Delay speak for G_d's intentions? He ought to have said, "I believe that..." not "I tell you..." This kind of narcissistic-absolutism-speak ought to frighten all of us.] is Terri Schiavo to elevate the visibility of what's going on in America. That Americans would be so barbaric [he sees no room for compassion?] as to pull a feeding tube out of a person that is lucid [Whaa..?] and starve them to death for two weeks. [I read yesterday that starving is not a painful way to die, in fact it has been shown to be a peaceful, painless, sometimes euphoric way to end life--and I'm sure that lots of elderly people naturally chose to do it]. I mean, in America that's going to happen if we don't win this fight.
"And so it's bigger than any one of us, and we have to do everything that is in our power to save Terri Schiavo and anybody else that may be in this kind of position, and let me just finish with this:
"This is exactly the kind of issue that's going on in America, that attacks against the conservative moment, against me and against many others. [He's saying that no one can disagree with his position or it is an attack against conservatism] The point is, the other side has figured out how to win and to defeat the conservative movement, and that is to go after people personally, charge them with frivolous charges,[He's projecting; Republicans do these things in spades and Democrats aren't winning anything!] link up with all these do-gooder organizations funded by George Soros, and then get the national media on their side [What national media is on "our" side? Name one! The national media is on the side of corporate and war interests]. That whole syndicate that they have going on right now is for one purpose and one purpose only, and that is to destroy the conservative movement. It is to destroy conservative leaders, and not just in elected office, but leading. I mean, Ed Feulner, of the Heritage Foundation today was under attack in the National Journal. This is a huge nationwide concerted effort to destroy everything we believe in [He's wrong, we are not trying destroy anything "they" believe in, unless that's discrimination against minorities, a belief that wealth is morally superior to poverty, politicial corruption, etc. Delay is using this victim psychology to make his constituents feel threatened by different opinions. This is fascism, folks, he's trying to divide us]. And you need to look at this [Yes! Wake up America, look at this, and decide for yourself!], and what's going on and participate in fighting back."
I wonder if this means DeLay is about to lose his power. If so, he's a bad sport, obviously, and I just can't get over "The Hammer" acting like a victim of a right-wing-like conspiracy. I guess the left's effort to hold conservative people responsible for their actions is an "attack." Hmmm. I don't even think that's working yet. Does this ridiculous rant mean it is beginning to?! He can't stand transparency in government and that's what we're fighting for; there's nothing essentially wrong with conservatism if it incorporates civic responsibility. We're just not seeing any fair application of civil responsibility.
The Schiavo case is a unique power move and I'm so curious to see whether the Supreme Court has completely become a tool for the White House; I'm hopeful, but very worried about the first-time precedent set by Gore vs. Bush.
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