The Rise of the Religious Right in the Republican Party

From Joan Bokaer: I was stunned when the Florida legislature and Governor Jeb Bush, for religious reasons, intervened in a case that belonged in the courts. At that point I began to track events surrounding Terri Sciavo. Never in my wildest dreams did I think the U.S. Congress and President would get involved. The silver-lining in Terri Schiavo's sad death is that it illustrates the basic thesis of this web site: the theocratic right has taken working control of the Republican Party and is using it as a base from which to impose their religious beliefs on the rest of the country.

The articles are in chronological order. The most recent articles are at the bottom.

Terri Schiavo is a victim of the Religious Right's determination to undermine an independent judiciary. Her case also demonstrates a core value of the Religious Right -- to resist dying a natural death.

In the name of God, religious-right legislators in Florida prevailed on Gov. Jeb Bush to intervene on Schiavo's parents' behalf and block her husband's efforts to have her feeding tube removed. In so doing, they played God themselves, and risk wreaking havoc with a health-care system that can ill afford to maintain the beating-heart cadavers that medical science is increasingly capable of producing.

May 6, 2004, New York Times:

In a strongly worded rebuke of Gov. Jeb Bush and the Florida Legislature, a state circuit court judge on Thursday struck down a law that empowered the governor to prolong the life of a severely brain-damaged woman against her husband's wishes.

October 21, 2004, the New York Times:

Florida's Supreme Court declined today a request by Gov. Jeb Bush to reconsider its ruling against a state law designed to keep a severely brain-damaged woman alive against the wishes of her husband and legal guardian.

NYTIMES, December 2, 2004, National Briefing:

December 31, 2004, the New York Times National Briefing:

February 12, 2005, New York Times:

Just when you thought the poor woman would be allowed to die a natural death ... Stay Extended Again in Florida Right-to-Die Case, February 23, 2005.

Florida Steps Back Into Fight Over Feeding Tube for Woman, New York Times, February 24, 2005

Judge Keeps Feeding Tube in Fla. Woman, New York Times, February 25, 2005

Judge Orders Feeding Tube to Be Removed, New York Times, February 26, 2005

March 12, 2005, Associated Press National Briefing

In Schiavo Feeding-Tube Case, Notoriety Finds Unlikely Judge, New York Times, March 17, 2005

Florida House Passes Bill That Could Keep Schiavo Alive, New York Times, March 17, 2005

The Schiavo Case, Washington Post, March 18, 2005

Feeding-Tube Case Roils Washington and Florida, New York Times, March 18, 2005

The Medical Becomes Political for Congress, New York Times, March 19, 2005

Despite Congress, Woman's Feeding Tube Is Removed, New York Times, March 19, 2005

Viewing Videotape, Frist Disputes Fla. Doctors' Diagnosis of Schiavo, Washington Post, March 19, 2005

Schiavo's Feeding Tube Is Removed, Washington Post, March 19, 2005

With Schiavo Subpoenas, Lawmakers Leap Into Contested Territory, New York Times, March 19, 2005

The Schiavo Case, New York Times Editorial, March 19, 2005

Protesters at Hospice Push for Showdown Over Schiavo, New York Times, March 20, 2005

Congress Ready to Approve Bill in Schiavo Case, New York Times, March 20, 2005

Congress Steps In on Schiavo Case, Washington Post, March 20, 2005

Casting Aside the Separation of Powers by John Conyers, Truthout, March 20. 2005

The Midnight Coup, Los Angeles Times, March 21, 2005

Federal Judge Hears Schiavo Case, Washington Post, March 21, 2005

Judge Hears Schiavo Arguments, but Does Not Rule Yet, New York Times, March 21, 2005

Congress Passes and Bush Signs Legislation on Schiavo Case, New York Times, March 21, 2005

U.S. Judge Hears Tense Testimony in Schiavo's Case, New York Times, March 22, 2005

A Blow to the Rule of Law, New York Times, March 22, 2005

Congress's Midnight Frenzy, New York Times, March 22, 2005

Schiavo's Parents Appeal Ruling on Feeding Tube, New York Times, March 22, 2005

Small Law, Big Implications, New York Times, March 22, 2005

How Family's Cause Reached the Halls of Congress, New York Times, March 22, 2005

The Schiavo Case and the Islamization of the Republican Party, Juan Cole, March 22, 2005

Analysts: GOP May Be Out of Step With Public, Washington Post, March 22, 2005 Poll Findings: 63% of Americans support the removal of Schiavo's feeding tube. 70% said it was inappropriate for Congress to get involved as it has. Source: ABC News poll

G.O.P. Right Is Splintered on Schiavo Intervention, New York Times, March 23, 2005. From U.S. Representative Christopher Shays, R-CT:

"My party is demonstrating that they are for states' rights unless they don't like what states are doing. ... This Republican Party of Lincoln has become a party of theocracy."

Appeals Court Refuses to Order Schiavo's Feeding Reinstated, New York Times, March 23, 2005

Federalism Has a Right to Life, Too, New York Times, March 23, 2005

From Americans United for Separation of Church and State, March 23, 2005:

Religious Right leaders are determined to run all of our lives, from the moment of conception through the end of life," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director. "And top congressional leaders are conspiring behind closed doors in Washington to help them do it. It's appalling.

Schiavo Case Puts Face on Rising Medical Costs, Washington Post, March 23, 2005

Schiavo Parents Appeal Again After Panel Rules Against Them, New York Times, March 23. 2005

Full Court of Appeals Turns Down Schiavo Case, New York Times, March 23, 2005

A Political Victory That Wasn't, New York Times, March 23, 2005

Shameless Right-Wingers Exploiting Terri Schiavo, Joe Conason, The New York Observer March 23, 2005

Schiavo's Parents Appeal to the Supreme Court on Feeding Tube, New York Times, March 24, 2005

Schiavo Lesson on Judiciary Trump Card, New York Times, March 24, 2005

Schiavo Case Highlights Catholic-Evangelical Alliance, New York Times, March 24, 2005

A Diagnosis With a Dose of Religion, New York Times, March 24, 2005

Oh my God, we really are in a theocracy. Maureen Dowd, New York Times, March 24, 2005

 For Schiavo, Republicans Invite Federal Activism, Los Angeles Times, March 24, 2005

Gov. Bush Is Rebuffed in Schiavo Case, Washington Post, March 24, 2005

Supreme Court Refuses to Hear the Schiavo Case, New York Times, March 25, 2005

DeLay Quietly Steps Out of the Schiavo Spotlight, New York Times, March 26, 2005

In a Polarizing Case, Jeb Bush Cements His Political Stature, New York Times, March 25, 2005

Schiavo Case Tests Priorities Of GOP, Washington Post, March 26, 2005

The Dangers of Political Theater, New York Times, March 27, 2005

The God Racket, From DeMille to DeLay, New York Times, March 27, 2005

Congressional Malpractice: Bill Frist leverages his medical credentials for political gain. It's only fair to hold him accountable for abusing science. The American Prospect, March 28, 2005

U.S. Appeals Court Refuses to Review Schiavo Case, New York Times, March 30, 2005

Even Death Does Not Quiet Harsh Political Fight, New York Times, April 1, 2005

GOP, Democrats Look for Symbolism in Schiavo Case, Washington Post, April 1, 2005

GOP Goes on Judicial Offensive, Fox News, April 1, 2005

Post-Schiavo Questions Await Congress's GOP Leaders, Washington Post, April 5, 2005

Schiavo Memo Is Attributed to Senate Aide, New York Times, April 7, 2005

Report on Schiavo Finds No Abuse, New York Times, April 16, 2005

Schiavo's Brain Was Severely Deteriorated, Autopsy Says, New York Times, June 15, 2005

Frist Plagued Again by Comments on Schiavo, Los Angeles Times, June 17, 2005

Jeb Bush is Going after Michael Schiavo, dailykos, June 17, 2005

Politics and Terri Schiavo, New York Times, June 18, 2005

Cruel and Unusual. New York Times, June 23, 2005

Gov. Bush Ends Schiavo Inquiry, Associated Press, July 9, 2005