Capitalizing on Tragedy, Part II

There are a couple of issues regarding the Schiavo case that particularly worry me. The NYT op-ed above (thanks, NJ) points out the willingness of Republicans to subvert the law and even flaunt the Constitution if it means short-term political gain. Not to mention forsaking their "core value" of less government intervention in people's private lives.

Judging from polls, however, some 70-80% of Americans think they should have kept out of the affair and minded their own damn business-- instead of setting up the big top and bringing in the usual clowns of right-wing pundrity to complete the circus.

Which brings us to the Democrats caving in on this vote. They must've regarded opposition as political suicide, judging from the only 50-odd House Democrats who voted against the legislation. And in doing so, missed another chance to demonstrate that Democrats are the party who share the views of America. This probably isn't the sort of vote that would come back to haunt a Dem like supporting the bankruptcy bill, or helping Bush take the first steps toward dismantling Social Security, but I think it qualifies as evidence that the Dems need to keep fighting against a Republican party that shows no sign of turning away from neo-fascism.