Republican senator says he was mistaken on Schiavo debate

[NNN0LHI]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FL_MARTINEZ_SCHIAVO_FLOL-?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Nearly a year after calling for federal involvement to keep a brain-damaged woman artificially alive against her husband's wishes, Republican U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez has said it was a mistake to become involved.

Martinez, who has just completed his first year in office, led the Senate charge pushing a bill that would have given federal courts jurisdiction to reinstate Terri Schiavo's feeding tubes.

"If I had to take one lesson away, it's perhaps decisions of this nature really belong in state courts, not federal courts," Martinez said in a taped interview for "Political Connections" that aired Sunday on Bay News 9.

"Perhaps this was not in the realm of federal concern. It may have been better left to state courts to deal with it," Martinez said.

[berner59]

1. They're dropping like flies...

Seems in this last week - GOPers are running as far away from Bush as they can... Maybe they're sensing the end is coming...wishful thinking I know...

[abluelady]

3. Elections in 9 Months!

[Norquist Nemesis]

7. Ding! Ding! Ding! They're planting their seeds now

for the hope it gives birth in that time period. Martinez must be in one of those not-so-safe districts.

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. This guy isn't up for reelection for another four years

[Roland99]

9. He's not up for re-election, though. Just served his 1st year.

[abluelady]

12. There are congressional elections in nine months.

These people are trying to distance themselves from the GOP if they hope to campaign for others in their communities. This is the beginning of the Repuks facing reality.

[sui generis]

2. political leaders need to be right more often than wrong

and certainly they need to be right a lot more often than their median constituent (all parties considered).

In a media era where all you have to do is give your party what they want and tearfully recant later, I would call that either a mistake, or a political manipulation. Either way, voting to destroy the environment on a party line vote and then tearfully recanting it a year later means you're either dishonest or incompetent.

Fire the bastard.

[MrBenchley]

4. Martinez was the imbecile who handed the "talking points" memo to Harken

and then tried to deny it.....

It had been written by a former NRA lobbyist who worked for him....

[CoffeeCat]

5. So, I take it that Mel is apologizing to Michael Schiavo personally?

What really upset me most about the Terry Schiavo situation, was the willingness of these rightwingnut jobs to throw Michael Schiavo under the bus.

In order for them to appease the Fundiefascists, they positioned Michael as a wife murderer. murdering. They all intimated that Micheal just wanted his wife out of the way. Remember Terri's delusional siblings who went on Larry King to suggest that Michael delayed calling 911 after her initial collapse? They also insinuated that he was eager to "pull the plug" and that he did not try to help Terry. All of that was a major pack of sick lies.

All of these political clowns were on the same bandwagon--and they all owe Michael Schiavo an apology and compensation for intentional infliction of distress.

I believe that Michael Schiavo was a hero. He went to extraordinary measure to get Terry the care she needed. He knew she would not want to live life like that--and he stood his ground--despite the circus media show and political pressure that waited outside his door. He remained silent throughout much of this, and when he did speak out--he told the facts and didn't get nasty.

You sure can't say the same for Terry's family, or for the political wolves using this issue to kow tow to the radical`1 wing of their party. Terry initially collapsed due to years battling an eating disorder. The doctor who treated Terry and the medical examiner said that her potassium levels were consistent with someone who had bulimia for years. Yet, the media rarely talked about this.

The fact is--the seeds of many eating disorders are planted in controlling, manipulative families. We all saw how Terry's family acted. What an abomination. They released very private photos of her to the world--just to get their way. They acted like a group of lunatics, hell bent on getting their way. Michael, however--seemed to be the only sane one who honored Terry and her privacy. He was a good husband to Terry. He could have given up and allowed the family to keep her alive--blind and with half a brain.

Michael honored Terry's wishes and I hope he is doing well today.

Sorry to climb up on a soapbox, but I really hope that people NEVER forget how outrageous and out of control the Republicans acted during the Schiavo situation.

[Karmageddon]

6. He's still mistaken

"decisions of this nature really belong in state courts, not federal courts," Martinez said

No, dumbass. Decisions of this nature belong in NO courts at all. They are personal decisions to be made by those whom the person in question (in this case Terri) has left entrusted to make these decisions (in this case her husband).

What happened to republicans being the party of less government?

[LiberalPartisan]

13. Bingo!....n/t

[MyNameGoesHere]

10. Senator Martinez

Madame DeFarge is knitting and it is too late to remove your name. Day of reckoning will be upon you and all the traitors soon enough.

[noonwitch]

11. I changed my mind on the issue, too

I saw the video the family had put out, and damn, if it didn't look like she was responding. Then I found out that the video had been staged.

I still have a problem with starving/dehydrating someone to death. I personally think a painkiller overdose is more humane, but that would be crossing the line into euthanasia, and there would definitely need to be some type of consent involved in that case.