Terri Schiavo’s Estranged Husband Michael Forms Political Organization 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
December 8, 2005
Clearwater, FL (LifeNews.com) — Unhappy with how elected officials sided with Terri Schaivo’s family and tried to stop him from ending her life via euthanasia, Michael Schiavo weighed in on Virginia’s race for governor this November. Now he’s formed a political action committee to support candidates who oppose government protecting the lives of the disabled.
"The easiest thing would be to move on and let the headlines fade," Schiavo said in a statement announcing the creation of the political action committee obtained by LifeNews.com.
"But my experience with our political leaders has opened my eyes to just how easily the private wishes of normal Americans like me and Terri can be cast aside in the destructive game of political pandering," he said.
Schiavo said his political group would support or oppose candidates depending on where they stood on the debate surrounding Terri’s right to live.
Pro-life advocates applauded when Florida lawmakers passed a measure to prevent Michael from killing Terri and were supportive when Congress, in an overwhelming bipartisan vote, approved a bill asking the courts to reevaluate Terri’s parents’ request for new trials.
However, the courts ultimately sided with Michael and Terri died from a painful two-week starvation and dehydration death in March.
So far, pro-life Texas Congressman Tom DeLay is the only elected official Michael’s web site currently has targeted but Michael says pro-life Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum will be added to the list.
Michael has named his new political action committee TerriPAC, in what her family considers a slap in the face.
Before Terri’s death, the Schindler family said Michael was exploiting Terri for a chance to obtain the remainder of a legal settlement and it appears now Michael is exploiting her again for political gain.
Michael said his political group will also encourage Americans to obtain living wills, documents pro-life groups caution against using because they invite doctors to assume patients don’t want lifesaving medical treatment.
The PAC will raise money for television and radio ads for or against candidates and pay for Michael to travel the country speaking on candidate’s behalf.
University of Central Florida political science professor Aubrey Jewett said she’s not surprised Michael has entered the political fray, telling the Associated Press, "I guess he’s trying to leverage his time in the spotlight."
