A recent memo, allegedly written by a Republican staffer, was accidentally leaked to the media. Whether the staffer in question actually wrote the memo is questionable, but it demonstrates in writing what most political analysts already knew: The Republican outcry over Terri Schiavo was a political ploy.
In arguing for the Senate to get involved in the Schiavo case, the memo mentions, \This is a great political issue,"" ""a tough issue for the Democrats"" and ""the pro-life base will be excited."" Contrary to popular belief and Republican platitudes, this debacle is not about Terri Schiavo's life, it is about her death. Which is to say, it is about her death as it relates to GOP electoral fortunes.
Republican leaders knew the case had been going on for a decade and that her parents were out of legal options. They knew federal intrusion into the matter wouldn't pass constitutional muster. They knew that no matter what they did, Schiavo's feeding tube would eventually be removed. They were okay with that because their goal was never to save her. Aside from a few true believers, they have the same goal as her husband: They want her to die peacefully.
To the Republicans, Terri Schiavo is in the same category as gays, God, guns, flag-burning, lewdness on television, John Kerry's war record and Bill Clinton's sex life. Her case is simply the latest in a series of convenient distractions Republicans drum up whenever they're on the losing side of a real issue. Whenever Democrats gain ground by talking about healthcare and the economy, Republicans change the subject to abortion and same-sex marriage.
Naturally, the point is to motivate the Christian Right to turn out for the next election, not to actually solve the issue. After all, if the red herring issues were solved, financially modest Christians would have no motivation to vote Republican year after year. They might even start examining Democratic economic priorities and question why they should vote for pro-corporate Republicans that send away their jobs, break up their unions and slash their unemployment benefits.
Consider what would happen if Republicans somehow succeeded in keeping Schiavo alive. She would simply continue living in her vegetative state, a few true believers would pat each other on the back and the country would resume its focus on social security, budget deficits, deep cuts in popular federal programs and other issues unfriendly to Republicans.
On the other hand, as soon as Schiavo passes away, her name will become a rallying cry for right-wing evangelists all over the country to support what President Bush calls ""the culture of life,"" code for ""this is an abortion issue."" The subliminal message might as well be, ""Don't ever forget what those murderous, baby-killer liberals did to Terri Schiavo! Make them pay for it in 2006! Vote Republican!""
The plan has not quite worked perfectly this time. An ABC News poll shows that 63 percent of Americans support removing Schiavo's feeding tube, and 67 percent believe that elected officials are interfering purely for political purposes. Furthermore, embattled House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, under fire for a plethora of ethics violations, hasn't done himself much good by taking the lead on Schiavo and becoming the public face of federal intrusion into a private matter.
DeLay's foray into the media spotlight, especially with ethics problems and the recent discovery that his own father was taken off life support after suffering irreparable brain damage, could finally bring him down. The case could also have political ramifications for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., a doctor and presumed presidential candidate who pronounced Schiavo cognizant on the basis of a collection of spliced video footage prepared by her parents.
Despite these temporary problems, Schiavo is still political manna for Republicans. Every day they can avoid talking about problematic issues like social security and Medicare cuts is a victory for them. Part of this is the fault of the Democrats, who, as usual, have been unable to convey any coherent or united position on the issue. Their silence is once again letting the GOP control the agenda and deflect attention from serious issues like social security. But for most voters, Terri Schiavo will be a distant memory in a few months, while for the ""Religious Right,"" her death will be a reason to vote Republican. That's what this is really about.
Nick Barbash is a sophomore majoring in political science and international relations. He can be reached at opinion@dailycardinal.com. His column runs every Thursday in The Daily Cardinal.
