by
Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 29,
2005
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- First Lady Laura Bush spoke
up this afternoon on behalf of Terri Schiavo's parents and a Congressional
effort to help them prevent her starvation death. Her comments came
on the same day as activist Jesse Jackson weighed in to support Bob
and Mary Schindler.
"I
just feel like the federal government has to be involved," Mrs.
Bush said on the plane during a trip to visit Afghanistan. "It
is a life issue that really does require government to be involved."
"I am not surprised over the debate," Mrs. Bush said, according to an Associated Press report. "I think it's an issue that, you know, everyone is concerned about and interested in."
"I'm sorry for the family that it has to be so public. This is such a very, very difficult time for them and for everyone who watches Terri," Bush added.
AP reported that the First Lady said it was encouraging to hear that the debate has prompted millions of Americans to discuss end of life issues and the kind of medical care and treatment they want in a similar situation.
"I think that is really good," she said. "The president and I have living wills and, of course, our parents do. They wanted us always to be aware of it. I think that it is important for families to have opportunities to talk about these issues."
Also on Tuesday, Jesse Jackson visited Terri's hospice on Tuesday and said he supported Terri's parents' efforts to stop her painful starvation death.
"I feel so passionate about this injustice being done, how unnecessary it is to deny her a feeding tube, water, not even ice to be used for her parched lips," Jackson said. "This is a moral issue and it transcends politics and family disputes."
"While
the law is important, the law must be tempered with mercy to have justice.
We ask for justice today," he said.
Related
news stories:
Terri
Schiavo's Parents' Last Motion on Terri Saying "I Want to Live"
Terri Schiavo Case Reveals How We Treated Disabled Americans
Neurologists:
Terri Schiavo Not in Persistent Vegetative State
Terri
Schiavo's Hospice Nurses Want Her to Die, Dissenter Fired
Related
web sites:
Terri Schiavo's parents - http://www.terrisfight.org
