BuzzFlash Reader Contribution

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Tom DeLay, the Bug Spray Man

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
by Chuck Muziani

Which part of the United States Constitution 'separation of powers' concept do Tom Delay and his fellow republicans not understand? Or, better yet, choose not to understand?

Once again, a hijack attempt was made on America. Not by a stolen election this time, but by a stolen marriage. Tom DeLay and many republicans decided that the Schiavos' marriage was not valid. DeLay and company decided they were actually married to Terri whilst she lay in a persistent vegetative state, and that they would empower themselves to make decisions for her. Michael, Terri's devoted husband of more than 15 years, was chastised and demonized by right-wing talking heads as the republican-heavy congress passed a law specific to Terri Schiavo. That was illegal, of course, but republicans seem to have done away with the rule of law. The law was intended to allow (read: force) the judiciary to decide to re-insert a feeding tube in an effort to allow more time for further judiciary review of her case. At least, that was their stated intent.

It would appear DeLay and his fellow republicans simply ignored a particular fact. The Schiavo case had been reviewed in court not once, not twice, but five times, and with each review concluding Michael Schiavo had the right to make decisions for his wife, Terri. Now, did Tom DeLay and the republicans know this before they began their charade? Of course ... but they gambled, and lost. DeLay was certain America would fall in lockstep behind the republicans, bolstering their feigned crusade of defending a 'culture of life'. DeLay believed he would steal America's consciousness because Americans had been watching Terri's face splashed across their T.V. screens during the weeks previous to their planned tirade. He believed all of America would simply melt and cry, and support their tainted effort. Well, guess what! BZZZZZZZT Wrong, Mr. DeLay.

Of course, the bigger picture involved not saving Terri Schiavo from dehydrating to death ... DeLay could not care less about Terri. His goal was to set up a demonization tactic against democrats (he believed only democrats would oppose the republican motion). Too bad for buggy Tom that more than 70% of America, which included republicans, were against interfering in the Schiavo case.

They say power corrupts, and ultimate power corrupts ultimately. The situation of Tom DeLay provides yet further proof of that notion. Indeed, DeLay has been very successful for many years at getting his way by bulldozing over issues and making downstream contributions to fellow republicans to elicit favors, that I'm sure he must feel invincible. Heh. I'm sure the cockroaches DeLay once chased across kitchen floors in Texas, during his pest control company days, must have felt a similar invincibility after having munched fallen cake crumbs for hours on end, and not knowing a spritz of poison was coming their way. And so it is with Tom DeLay. Having been drunk with power for so long, DeLay felt he could stoop so low as to use the personal tragic situation of a single American family in an attempt to further his own political agenda.

I want to make this statement: If any politician sees fit to interfere with any personal and private life or death situation involving anyone in my family, so help me I will fund any campaign against that politician with every penny I could find. I will speak out against their interference. I will use my First Amendment right to the fullest extent. Tom DeLay, stay away from my family. Someone might spritz metaphorical bug spray on you if you should decide to once again overstep your bounds. But then again, I no longer worry over you ... it seems your fellow bugs are about to eat you alive ...

Chuck Muziani
Pittsburgh, PA

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION