Demagogue

In Florida, court appeals continue over whether a man can remove the feeding tube from his wife, Terri Schiavo, who is severely brain-damaged and in a vegetative state. Troy Newman of Operation Rescue is part of the "pro-life" contingent watching events in Florida, and he made this statement yesterday:

"We're not going to stand idly by while she is starved to death. This wouldn't happen to a dog; you wouldn't do it to your pet."

Yes, you're right, Mr. Newman -- this wouldn't happen to a dog. To my knowledge, there's no dog in any animal shelter that has been kept alive for some 15 years through the use of a feeding tube.

Without question, this wouldn't happen to a dog. The fate of a dog is not the subject of lengthy court hearings and appeals. Dogs don't have a governor and a legislature eager to intervene on their behalf.

There aren't many political points to be scored by intervening on a dog's behalf. That may partly explain why powerful people don't seem to be as "pro-life" when it comes to man's best friend.