Politicians can't win in Schiavo case
By Bill Schneider
CNN Political Unit
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 A federal appeals panel declines to order Terri Schiavo's feeding tube reinserted.
 A defense attorney explains the federal appeal in the case.
 A judge rules against restoring Terri Schiavo's feeding tube.
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- No one can make political gains out of the Terri Schiavo case because any move that looks political is instantly discredited.
When Congress and the president intervened in the Terri Schiavo case last weekend, they insisted their motives were not political.
Senate Majority Leader Tom DeLay said, "It has nothing to do with politics, and it's disgusting to suggest it."
Their opponents begged to differ.
Rep. John Lewis, D-Georgia, said in a March 20 House floor debate, "This is not about values; this is not about religion. It is pandering for political gain."
But in the latest CBS News Poll, nearly three quarters of Americans believe Congress acted for political reasons.
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is not supposed to have political motives. He can't run for governor again, and he says he's not running for president.
But some suggest there's politics involved.
Gov. Bush even has critics on the right who claim his failure to do more is driven by politics.
Paul O'Donnell, spokesman for Terri Schiavo's parents, said, "He still has the power to take Terri into protective custody. Now, he may not want to do that because of public image and how that would look."
The courts claim to be non-political. But by disagreeing with the governor, the state legislature, Congress and President Bush, judges have made themselves a juicy political target.
Religious activists who claim to be driven wholly by moral concern sound awfully political.
The American public has a loud and clear message: Keep politics out of this.
Democrats have by and large stood aside. But that's brought them criticism from liberals who claim they're being timid. And there's no evidence it's done Democrats any good politically.
Has any good come out of this wrenching personal tragedy? Perhaps this: Half of Americans say that, as a result of the Schiavo case, they have discussed with friends or family members what they would want done if they were in the same situation.
That's something.
We can put the lesson in religious terms appropriate to the season. In this case, it's a sin to be political.
