February 08, 2005
Jeb! and the far right profit from Terri's artificial life
Courts have found that Terri Schiavo made it very clear to her husband that she would not want to be kept alive in circumstances such as she is now in. Michael Schiavo is legally and ethically responsible for his wife, and his wish is to let her die peacefully.
But Terri’s parents, the Schindlers, just wont back down. They are being egged on and manipulated by right wing extremist organizations who are attempting to profit form their association with this very questionable cause, as well as our own Jeb!, who may well force his way back into the fight if he feels it will benefit him politically.
State officials are examining whether a foundation set up by the parents of Terri Schiavo is operating illegally by taking donations to defray legal costs in the decadelong battle to keep their daughter alive.Posted by Norwood at February 8, 2005 04:53 AMThe Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation, created by Robert and Mary Schindler, seeks donations to "offset some of the expenses associated with protecting Terri," according to its Web site, terrisfight.org.
Nonprofit groups that solicit contributions in Florida are required to register with the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs. Registered groups also are required to file an annual report of contributions and expenses, although contributors' names are not required.
The Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation filed with the state Department of Corporations as a Florida nonprofit on Feb. 8, 2002, but according to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, has never registered to solicit contributions.
State records show that the Schindlers' attorney, Cristin Conley of Tampa, told Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs officials the foundation would be registered by Dec. 4. According to state records, that paperwork was never filed, and the Schindlers now face a $1,000 fine and could be ordered to stop collecting donations on the Web site.
While the Web site says the donations help offset legal expenses, the majority of the Schindlers' representation during the protracted legal struggle with their daughter's husband, Michael Schiavo, has been paid for by two anti-abortion groups — the Life Legal Defense Foundation and the Alliance Defense Fund — according to the Schindlers' current attorney, Barbara Weller.
The Terri Schiavo-Schindler Foundation and the Life Legal Defense Foundation are the only organizations authorized to raise funds on behalf of Terri Schiavo and the Schindlers, according to the Schindler foundation's Web site.
The Life Legal Defense Foundation is a California-based anti-abortion group that collected more than $440,000 in 2002, according to thefederal tax records.
The organization became involved in the case about three years ago, according to Executive Director Dana Cody, and has spent at least $300,000 on legal fees and associated costs on behalf of the Schindlers.
Much of the support for Life Legal Defense Foundation comes from the Alliance Defense Fund, which collected more than $15 million in private donations in 2002, according to federal tax documents.
Alliance Defense Fund "is funding litigation that is going on to confront and challenge the radical legal agenda advocating homosexual behavior, defending parental rights, and to restore the Constitution's guarantee of free exercise of religion," IRS documents read.
......Michael Schiavo's attorney, George Felos, said that he has received about $340,000 in legal fees, which came from a $1.2 million medical malpractice settlement awarded to Michael Schiavo on Terri's behalf. That amount does not include court fees, which could be extensive given the longevity of the case. Felos estimated that Schiavo has less than $60,000 left of the award.
Gov. Jeb Bush ordered Terri Schiavo's feeding and hydration tubes to be reinserted in 2003 after state lawmakers enacted legislation authorizing him to do so at his request.
After a court struck down the law, Bush continued to fight on Terri's behalf by trying to persuade first the Florida Supreme Court and then the U.S. Supreme Court to rule in favor of the 2003 law. The Florida Supreme Court ruled that the law was unconstitutional and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case.
Bush was represented in the Supreme Court case by Ken Connor, the former head of the Family Research Council, a Washington-based conservative organization.
Bush has since promised to "do whatever I can" to keep the 41-year-old severely brain damaged woman alive.
Anti-abortion advocates asked Bush this week to use his authority to take Terri Schiavo into protective custody. Bush's spokeswoman said Friday the governor continues to explore what legal avenues are available.
