Great Minds Think Alike

Last night I left two comments on Greg Sargent's The Plum Line blog. First I left this one:

I just want to know how much longer its going to take before the White House and Democrats in Congress decide to go on the offensive and invoke the name Terry Schiavo. It should be a no brainer. Every single time these death panel questions or comments come up they should answer with, “Well as you know we had a situation in florida where a man was trying to make a personal decision about his wife. And Republicans decided to make such a personal decision a political football and stood between this man and his wife and their doctor. Thankfully after much unnecessary grandstanding this man was able to carry out his wife’s last wishes. If they had a living will this never would have happened and what we want to prevent is another family being used by politicians in their local state or national government. Thats why its in the bill and thats why we all support it”

Cmon Dems, get in the frikking game why don’t you!

Then later I followed up with this:

You want to know the quickest way to get a Republican to STFU? Just mention the name Terry Schiavo. And I am talking about a Republican voter, a republican local official all the way up to a Republican Senator. As much as Republicans like to say they lost the country because of Bush and the Iraq War, I can’t tell you how many people I know who said they would never vote Republican again after how they abused government power in the Terry Schiavo case. John Cole over at balloonjuice has said several times that the Schiavo case was the final straw for him

I can promise you that if Dick Durbin or Chuck Schumer or Pat Leahy or any Dem with half a spine gets in front of a microphone and brings Terry Schiavo up, every Republican will go running for the hill and that will be the LAST time you hear anything about any death panels.

One more thing, what would REALLY do the trick is if they asked Terry Schiavo’s husband to come forward and speak to the need for living wills and what can happen if you don’t have one and you need one.

Im just sayin

Now I realize that a lot of people on the left don't believe in playing hardball politics so it might strike them as wrong to invoke Terry Schiavo in this healthcare fight. I, on the other hand, have no such hangups. For one that story is very relevant to this health care reform fight, specifically the whole "death panel" cannard. For two I believe we have a moral imperative to get health care reform passed this year and that means if it requires breaking a few eggs then so be it.

Tonight I was pleasantly surprised to see this clip from The Rachel Maddow Show

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We should be shouting from the hills reminding people of the way Republicans intruded into the Schiavo case and the hypocrisy they are showing now. Better yet we should point out that without the provision for end of life consultations they may well end up being the GOP's next cause celebre.

Its right there in front of us, now its time for somebody to take the ball and run with it!