Terri Schiavo’s Brother Upset by Barack Obama Justice Department Selection
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
January 7, 2009
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — The brother of Terri Schiavo, the woman whose former husband subjected her to a painful starvation and dehydration death, is upset that Barack Obama has chosen a top Justice Department lawyer who was the attorney for the man who condemned her to death.
Obama has named Thomas Perrelli, who won an award for representing Schiavo’s former husband Michael, as the third highest attorney in the Justice Department.
Perrelli will be an associate attorney general, but the news isn’t something Bobby Schindler likes.
Schindler, Terri’s brother and one of Terri’s family members who fought to be given the right to provide her appropriate medical care and rehabilitative treatment, told LifeNews.com the appointment shows how Obama has little regard for the value of human life.
“Sadly, the appointment of Attorney Thomas Perrelli as an associate attorney general is what many of us have feared in regards to an Barack Obama presidency," Schindler said.
"Not only does it appear that President-elect Obama has no regard for the value and dignity of human life, but it also appears the same holds true for those he is appointing to be part of his administration," he added.
Perrelli provided Michael Schiavo with legal advice during his response to the Congressional bill that President Bush signed allowing the Schindler family to take their lawsuit seeking to prevent Terri’s euthanasia death from state to federal courts.
He led the legal team that developed the legal briefs for Michael opposing appeals and he ultimately received the Albert E. Jenner, Jr. Pro Bono Award in October 2006 for representing Terri’s former husband at no cost.
Obama’s selection of Perrelli as a top Justice Department attorney is no surprise given his comments on Terri’s painful 13-day starvation and dehydration death during the presidential campaign.
During his debate with Hillary Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary, Obama said his biggest mistake was voting with a unanimous Senate to help save Terri.
Since Terri’s death, the Schindler family has established a foundation to help disabled and elderly patients obtain proper medical care and legal and other assistance when they are denied it.
Related web sites:
Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation – https://www.terrisfight.org
Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com
Daily Pro-Life News Report Twice-Weekly Pro-Life
News Report Receive a free daily email report from LifeNews.com with the latest pro-life news stories on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here. Receive a free twice-weekly email report with the latest pro-life news headlines on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here.
