Yes, it's another Schiavo diary. Sort of.
Today's Houston Chronicle story on the stink clinging to Tom DeLay is remarkable for a number of reasons. First, because it exists; the Chron doesn't always do a first-rate job of covering DeLay's less savory antics, in my opinion, but here is a story that covers not just the antics, but the growing reaction to those antics.
Second, it features the rather feeble rationalization for why it was okay to withdraw life support from DeLay's father but sacrilege to do so with Terri Schiavo, quoting DeLay spokesman Dan Allen:
"As much as the press would like to make this a comparison between Congressman DeLay's father and Terri Schiavo, there is no comparison," said Allen.
The elder DeLay was "in a coma and not responsive and being kept alive by machines," he said. Schiavo "is awake, the family says she knows when they are with her, and she was receiving what every human being needs to survive."
So when DeLay does it, it's stopping his father from having to be kept alive by machines. When Michael Schiavo does it, it's taking away what every human being needs to survive. (Although, of course, it was machines delivering "what every human being needs to survive" in both cases.)
The difference between a persistent vegetative state and a coma is one, I admit, I am not completely clear on. Reduced brain activity seems to be one commonality. People do seem to come out of comas sometimes, while the word "persistent" in persistent vegetative state implies that it isn't likely to change--that goes against DeLay's view, though. Perhaps it's just that Schiavo's eyes are open that worries DeLay?
Apparently, the more important point is that the DeLay family didn't "say (Charles DeLay) knows when they are with (him)". If the family makes up things or has impossible beliefs, that means countermanding the patient's wishes and all medical knowledge in order to keep the illusion of life going is okay.
I only hope that people are seeing what extremely thin ice DeLay is on.