Supporters Praise Bush's Swift Return to Washington [View All]

[Rose Siding]

For days, President Bush kept his public distance from the Terri Schiavo case and let his spokesman deliver mild statements suggesting that the president did not want Ms. Schiavo, who has severe brain damage, to die. But on Saturday night, when Mr. Bush made the rare decision to interrupt his Texas vacation and rush back to Washington to be in place to sign a bill that could restore Ms. Schiavo's feeding tube, the White House said that the issue had become one of "defending life," and that time was of the essence.
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"Look, this is a symbolic move, for sure," said Richard Cizik, the vice president for government affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals. "It's his willingness to interrupt his vacation to make a statement. And not just to make a statement, because we're not playing games here, but to make a difference, too."

Nonetheless, White House officials acknowledged that the final bill could have been flown to Mr. Bush in Texas, a round trip of six or seven hours that probably would have made no difference in whether Ms. Schiavo lives. Doctors say she can survive for up to two weeks without the liquid meals that have sustained her for 15 years.

"That would have been acceptable," said Mr. Cizik, referring to Mr. Bush signing the bill at his ranch. "But this president seizes opportunities when they come his way. That's what makes him a good politician."

Others said that Mr. Bush was eager to join with religious conservatives on an issue they could agree on, particularly since he has not promoted a constitutional amendment to outlaw abortion, as they would like.

http://nytimes.com/2005/03/21/politics/21bush.html

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