Jeb Bush: The Al Sharpton of the Right...

[carpe diem]

Sliming the Innocent

Web Exclusive Commentary
By Jonathan Alter
Newsweek
Updated: 4:08 p.m. ET June 20, 2005


June 20 - I’ve never agreed with Florida Governor Jeb Bush on much, but I’ve always respected his integrity and the sincerity of his conservative views. Until now. His latest gambit in the case of Terri Schiavo is despicable. In fact, it calls to mind what another craven opportunist without regard for human decency did in the Tawana Brawley case in the late 1980s. Jeb Bush is acting like the Al Sharpton of the right.
...................................

Bush has a daughter who, sadly, is a convicted drug abuser. When she passed out (as all drug abusers do), did he immediately call 911? Does he remember the exact time of the call? Was there a gap between the time he first saw that she might be ailing and when he took her for treatment?
....................................

Bush is doing this for transparent political reasons. In March, he disappointed the extremists by not using state police to storm the hospice where Terri Schiavo resided and forcibly reattach her feeding tube. Actually, Bush was planning to do just that—in total violation of the law—when the head of the county police (determined to uphold the law) warned the governor’s office of an armed confrontation if he did so. When Bush backed down, he was pilloried by the extreme right.
....................................

I can understand why Michael Schiavo, after years in court, would not want to sue Jeb Bush. But he might have a good case. Here’s a governor using the power of his office to suggest—with no evidence—that a heinous act occurred 15 years ago. It’s called slander.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8292690/site/newsweek/
________________________________________________________________________________________

the really scary thing is that Jeb, unlike Sharpton, is in a position of power and his brother is the president and they have both shown a complete lack of a conscience and sense of decency when it comes to getting their way...Jeb can f**k up Schiavo's life in a way Sharpton couldn't begin to dream about...

[cleveramerican]

1. I like Al

He might not be able to get elected to anything but I like his style and his willingness to take his (sometimes crazy) positions to the public. The guy is as brave a politician as you'll ever see.

[demokatgurrl]

2. Please, and I am NOT being snide when i say this-

do not insult Al Sharpton. He may be a little bit of a loose cannon sometimes but he cares about the right things.

[Ikonoklast]

3. Al Sharpton may be a lot of things

but on this one Ol' Jeb is in a league by himself. If this issue had anything to do with me or my family, I would camp out on Jebbys' doorstep and confront him to his face. He would definitely need the State Police then.

[ecstatic]

4. Sharpton did nothing wrong

The girls said they were raped. He believed them.