Maybe it just runs in the family–a strong support for unborn children, that is.
First, there’s pro-life President George W. Bush, who has been a faithful champion not only in his first term in the Oval Office, but also when he was governor of Texas. The Abortion Establishment loathes him for the very same reason our Movement adores him: President Bush is helping to change the culture of death into a culture of life.
Then there is his brother, Jeb Bush, the governor of Florida. Reading the local Florida papers online, it strikes me that they are even more vicious in their cutting denunciations of Jeb Bush than the national press is of his brother, President Bush.
Gov. Bush is absolutely fearless. As most of you know, he has been under unrelenting assault from the Usual Suspects for his role in the case of Terri Schindler-Schiavo, who suffered severe brain damage in 1990. Her husband wishes to remove the tube through which her nourishment is administered, according to the Associated Press. Her parents vigorously disagree and have fought the husband in court for years.
A few months ago, Terri’s feeding tube was removed by court order. She was within days of a death by starvation and dehydration.
Gov. Bush saw that a grievous wrong was being committed and worked with the Florida legislature to pass legislation to allow Terri’s feeding tube to be reinserted. Had he not, Terri would now be dead. Against all odds, “Terri’s Law” was passed at the eleventh hour.
Since that time Gov. Bush’s office has vigorously defended Terri’s Law and has creatively attempted to persuade various courts that her parents are correct in wanting their daughter to be fed and in insisting that Terri be given vigorous physical therapy. The case–and therefore Terri–is still very much alive.
As many Today's News & Views readers will remember, last summer Gov. Bush again showed his compassion, concern, and conviction in the case of a young severely mentally disabled woman known in proceedings only as “J.D.S.” Then 22 years old, tragically, she had been raped while living in a group home and became pregnant.
Circuit Judge Lawrence R. Kirkwood appointed a guardian in June to help make medical decisions for the mother, including what would happen to her unborn baby. There were inklings that an abortion might be performed and calls arose for the appointment of a separate guardian for the child. An Orlando-area woman, Jennifer Wixtrom, asked to be appointed but was rebuffed.
Gov. Bush joined in Wixtrom’s appeal to the Fifth District Court of Appeals. Just after a three-judge panel heard arguments, JDS gave birth to a healthy 6-pound, 7-ounce girl known as “Baby S.”
Earlier this month, the court of appeals panel rejected Wixtrom and Bush, 2-1. Undeterred, Gov. Bush is already lining up key supporters, including State Rep. Sandra Murman, to secure legislation to allow “legal guardians to be appointed for fetuses whose mothers are incapacitated,” according to the Tallahassee Democrat.
"”It's an important issue," Murman, who plans to sponsor the bill, told the Democrat. Murman (who, according to the newspaper “also was in the middle of the Schiavo fight”) said, "It's the right thing to do...Terri Schiavo could have benefitted from a guardian early on. I haven't taken the temperature of our members, but I think it's a critical issue."
Not unexpectedly, State Senate President King opposes the legislation. "I think the courts have already decided that," he said. "I don't see any reason to run into that, nor do I want to." King added that he would not rule out allowing such legislation, but warned, "I would be a very reluctant participant,” according to the Democrat.
However King’s opposition has not dampened the governor’s enthusiasm, a Bush aide said Tuesday.
"The governor thinks this is a very important issue," press secretary Alia Faraj told the Democrat. "The governor is seeking a legislative solution so there is clarity in this matter. This legislation would only apply to very unique cases where a mom can't make a decision about the unborn.”
We’ll take a look at the panel’s legal reasoning in a day or two. Its arguments, presumably, will help shape support for and opposition to Gov. Bush’s proposed measure.
Stay tuned! This is an important fight.
posted by: newbie (reply)
post date: 01.30.04 (10:05 am)
Shrub's KILLED more people than the number of abortions in a year in many nations of the earth.
Don't you give a damn about LIFE OUTSIDE OF THE WOMB?
Maybe it just runs in the family–a strong support for unborn children, that is.