The
LA Weekly is reporting that even before actor Christopher Reeve's body is cold, Republicans in Congress are playing politics with the
Christopher Reeve Paralysis Act, which has already passed in the House in a 418 to O vote, and, prior to this week, was expected to sail easily through its Senate vote.
What would the bill do? Basically make life a little better for about two million paralysed Americans without costing anything.
So why the delay? Apparently Christopher Reeve is being punished (yes, you'd think being paralysed from the neck down and then dying would be enough, but no) for speaking out a little too loudly in support of stem-cell research. There's nothing about stem-cell research in this bill, but that's apparently not the point.
Further, the Christopher Reeve foundation believe the Senate Republicans wouldn't have dared do this had Christopher Reeve not died.
So the cause he spent his post accident public life working on takes a hit to prove a point. Just when you think they can't sink any lower. Maybe this could be a good example of "Compassionate Conservatism" in action?
Little wonder that his widow, Dana Reeve, today announced that she'll be supporting John Kerry.
Me too. I just wish I got to vote twice. Once for Kerry and again against Bush.