Chris Reeve's Death Should Not Be Used Politically By Kerry/Edwards

[ruggerson]

Whether or not we all agree that stem cell research, had it not been limited by shrub, could have prolonged his life or cured him, it is going to seem ghoulish and incredibly opportunistic if ANYONE from the Kerry campaign tries to use this sad event as a campaign point.

Remember the Wellstone funeral and how the press distorted it?

Let the man go in peace. And let us continue to fight for stem cell research and for research into spinal injuries. But let's not leave ourselves open to attacks from either the rightwing or the press on this one by linking this event as anything other than the sad passing of a courageous individual.

[David Dunham]

1. I think Kerry should attend the funeral of his friend.

[AP]

2. On the other hand, he can't totally ignore the man. They were friends and

Kerry talked about him last week.

[still_one]

3. Politically?

There are millions of people who could benefit from embroyonic stem cell research

Reeve's devoted his life to it. If his family want it to be part of the campaign then it should be

[Quixote1818]

7. I agree, leave it up to his family. They may have some harsh words anyway

[serryjw]

33. He gave his last 9 years to this.......

HE WOULD WANT JK to publicize the need to fund this. Like it or not, When Rock Hudson announced he had AIDS it changed everything.

[4morewars]

4. Chris Reeves died ?

When did this happen ? Kerry mentioned him in the debate friday night.

[cheshire]

14. Same question? omg

[4morewars]

27. Im afraid it's true

Check LBN

[geek tragedy]

5. Kerry should be somber and restrained.

Let the press discuss the issue--Kerry should let them talk about it without his participation.

I also don't think John Kerry needs us to tell him that.

He's not Karl Rove.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

6. he was very active in the democratic party

i think that will come in the pieces on tv. people will draw their own conclusions and no one will have to exploit anything.

[onehandle]

22. Yep. nt

[Chichiri]

8. Did he die?!? (n/.t)

[sundancekid]

9. Kerry will remain the super classy person he is. Never would he stoop.

[AngryAmish]

10. If any good can come of it we should use it

The President is killing people.

[cally]

11. Kerry/Edwards should respect the families' wishes

If Kerry attends the memorial or speaks, it will be a political event. If the family wants that than it's OK. I hope the reports are wrong about his death and I hope his legacy lives on if its true.

[argyl]

12. We're not Republicans.

[JI7]

13. what is the purpose of this thread ?

Kerry was a friend of his. he isn't going to use him for his own personal gain. whatever he does will be what he would do for anyone who is a friend of his.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

15. Freepers already waiting to pounce on it

they immediately brought up politics and said to watch for a 'redux of the wellstone memorial"

so these fucks are already trying to politicize it. be on alert for media smears, people

[Chichiri]

20. I'll bet you this is a falsehood, and...

the America-hater Drudge just posted it to try to provoke a reaction out of us.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

16. Where are these reports coming from?

I just checked yahoo and google and found nothing about his death.

[nonconformist]

21. Drudge. *shudder*

I'm waiting for confirmation, but I fear it may be true since he's been in poor health recently.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

24. But he was just in Chicago on Tuesday....

Thanks for your response, appreciate it. Still finding nothing anywhere else online including Reuters, AP, etc.

Here's the link to the story about his appearance at Chicago's Rehabilitation Institute:

http://www.nbc5.com/news/3786304/detail.html?z=dp&dpswid=2265994&dppid=65193

[nonconformist]

17. If this is true (it's still unconfirmed at this time)

I have no doubt that Kerry will be respectful and dignified. If his family makes a statement, that's up to them and completely within their rights to do so. The press will undoubtedly touch on the irony of the stem-cell research that Bush opposes and that Reeve dedicated the last year's of his life fighting for.

We don't need to say a word but our condolences.

[ruggerson]

25. Yep, exactly

[Mr_Spock]

18. Stop saying he's dead. Is he really dead???

I can't belive it. I'm gonna cry.

[are_we_united_yet]

19. Delete

Shit

[MADem]

30. AP has it

...it is dribbling out across the outlets. MSNBC has a banner and nothing more, yet.

[DemBones DemBones]

32. CBS had it a few minutes ago, mentioned at

the end of a commercial break. Details later.

[gardenista]

23. Self delete.

[gardenista]

26. Now confirmed by AP. Very, very sad.

[Barad Simith]

28. and MSNBC (nt)

[Barney Rocks]

29. No matter how

much money we put give in federal funding for this research--there is no way that a cure would have been found in time for him.

I feel very sad over his death, but it cannot be blamed on that. He has suffered for many years--and he fought so hard. I feel very sorry for him and his family. He encouraged lots of other disabled people to fight too.

[nonconformist]

31. It's confirmed.

RIP Superman. You were a true hero to many.

[seabeyond]

34. dems wont "use" it like repugs did with reagans death, but

in honor of christopher reeves and all his courage and what he stood for in life, there isnt a chance i would forget what he was so passionate for either. it wouldnt have saved reeves and reeves himself said that, but he still fought for it, and wanted the hope, and that is what was denied him, and is denied fox and is denied millions of people

[ArnoldLayne]

35. I agree but when Kerry wins we can dedicate it

to Chris Reeves.

[Roland99]

36. Superman is dead. :(

[Borgnine]

41. Too bad this isn't a comic book.

We could expect Mr. Reeve to come back to life in a few months... as a robot, a teenager, a man in a suit of armor, and an emotionless vigilante.

We'll have to settle on keeping his memory, and what he fought for, alive instead.

[atre]

50. Poignant tribute

nm

[Warren DeMontague]

37. "Used"? No. But what better way to honor the man and all he fought for

than to fight like hell to make sure that scientists, and not fundamentalists like Pat Robertson, are making decisions about medical research.

The Stem Cell debate is crucial to one of the central questions in this election- do we want to live in the 21st Century, or the 14th? Do we want to live in a pluralistic, free society, or a Theocratic "Christian Nation"?

And you know what? He believed Stem Cell Research- the kind that Bush is holding back- promised him hope. Therefore, his involvement with the issue predates his death. We shouldn't "use" his connection in a ghoulish fashion, but neither should we fail to mention it.. This is what the guy wanted, this is what he believed in.

The Wellstone Funeral was a 100% media spin-fest. (The whole Wellstone thing still stinks to high heaven, to me.) No, "we" don't hijack the memory of a great american and, yes, a courageous human being. But if the people making the decisions about his image and his estate want to use Chris's position on stem cell research to remind folks how important the issues involved in this election are, I am certainly not one to try to advocate silencing the memory of a recently passed man. We owe him more than that, we owe him a voice.

[Maddy McCall]

39. Beautifully Said. I agree 100%.

[LTR]

38. I think his death speaks loudly enough about stem cell research

Only mention Kerry should make of it is to extend low-key condolences to the family.

[JCMach1]

40. I expect the moderator will bring it up in the next debate...

[meg]

42. Nor should Kerry talk about Iraq or the economy

Bush might lie and distort

[MoonRiver]

44. Heh, heh. I think Kerry should just keep his mouth shut

and focus all his attention on bush*s arse. Wtf is going on when we get DU "warnings" not to mention key issues because it might offend the Repukes?? Reeves life practically revolved around making stem cell research main stream medicine in this country. No way should Dems not keep promoting his cause, even if it means, HORROR, mentioning Reeves name!
:wtf:

[The Stranger]

43. Wrong, ruggerson.

Reeve stood for something and what he stood for has been undermined and scuttled by the current Administration. The torch has been passed. Do not silence what Christopher Reeve said now that he has passed.

[BlueNomad]

45. This could be very touchy....

It's sad and so uncanny that he just referred to "Chris Reeves, my friend" when discussing the stem cell issue in Friday's debate....

This would only be a productive situation for him if the widow issued a release-- that she had asked Senator Kerry to attend on her, the family and Chris's behalf. That Reeves would have wanted it that way and she appreciated his taking time out of the campaign to be there in their final farewells to him....

That of course, though poignant, would also be positive. I suspect only a rabid schizoid hound like Ann Coulter would proceed to piss all over the widow.

[depakid]

46. Unfortunately, it is political

and the media is already playing it, and will continue to play it, regardless of the family's wishes. The Kerry camp doesn't have a choice as to how that goes... but they do have to respond, and they have a duty to respond appropriately. You can't simply ignore the fact the Christopher Reeves was an activist or that he spoke at the Democratic Convention in 1996.

Stem cell research was a campaign issue well before he developed the infection that ultimately killed him... and it's just moved several rungs up the ladder. To simply punt and do or say nothing would not only be profoundly bad politics- potentially hurting the movement, but would be disrespectful to the man's memory and all he fought for.

So I WHOLEHEARTED and unequivocally disagree with you.

[spooky3]

47. May he rest in peace. A strong, intelligent, good man is lost.

[donhakman]

48. His life was cut short politically. His death has political meaning!

To suggest the Christopher Reeve Bill now in Congress should not influenced by his death is lunacy.

What in the hell do you think he would want?

[merh]

49. If his widow wants it to be political, that is her right.

It is up to the family, as they know what his wishes were. He made his health battles public and his beliefs in stem cell research were well known.

[donhakman]

51. yes it is good that

the right wing did not use Reagan's death politically.

[Carolinian]

52. The greatest tribute the Democratic party can pay to

Christopher Reeves is to continue to fight for stem cell research. Mr. Reeves was the most famous spinal cord injury in modern times and anyone who supports stem cell research would be crazy to walk away from the publicity. I feel certain he would have wanted it that way.

[kodi]

53. agreed.

.

[JusticeForAll]

54. This is idiotic

Chris Reeves spent the past decade fighting for this issue. Why would he NOT want his legacies to continue to promote and push it to the hilt?

Ronald Reagan is totally different, by the time he was afflicted he was incapable of stating any position on the argument.

Chris Reeves, on the other hand, actively spoke and fought for this cause - It is very doubtful that his family will stop, and neither should we.

[spotbird]

55. The problem is that if the Democrats worry about press distortions

they would have to stay home and hide in the closet. Press distortions are a fact of life.