Schiavo goes to Musgrave

Michael Schiavo, center, delivers a letter to the office of Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Colo., on Wednesday, July 12, 2006, in Loveland. (AP / Loveland Reporter-Herald)

Michael Schiavo and Angie Paccione went to Marilyn Musgrave's Loveland office today. Michael delivered a letter about Marilyn's loony speech last year.

Text of Michael Schiavo’s Letter to Marilyn Musgrave

Dear Congresswoman Musgrave,

I had hoped to meet with you today to ask you a few questions about your past actions and words regarding myself and my family. I am hand-delivering this letter to your office because you and some of your colleagues have gone too far in your attempts to infringe upon the rights of and violate the privacy of Americans.

Your outspoken and misguided attempts to have Congress overrule the legal courts and overturn the private medical decisions made by my family and my wife, Terri, were entirely inappropriate.

Why do you and Tom Delay think it is a national priority to inject yourselves into the private lives of Americans, as you did with your disgraceful behavior around Terri’s tragic situation?

Last year you said you were “offended” by discussion of Terri’s state. Well, Ms. Musgrave, I’m offended by your lack of respect for my rights and my family’s rights. On the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, you dared to render a medical opinion on Terri’s condition, even though you had never met her, and despite your admitted ignorance of medical science and of the law. Ms. Musgrave, I am offended that you would attack others out of ignorance.

You ignored Terri’s wishes, the expertise of countless doctors, the authority of the law, and the principles of our nation. I am offended by such indifference. I continue to believe that you took advantage of my family’s situation for political gain without regard for who you hurt. While I sought only dignity for Terri, you played to the camera, and you played to a waiting crowd of political extremists.

I’ve heard you claim to be for less government. But how is it less government when you misuse the power of Congress to place your own opinions ahead of the actions of my family?

Simply put, Ms. Musgrave, who gave you the authority to speak for me, my wife or my family, and to play politics with such a tragic situation?

Don’t you think it is time for you and other members of Congress to promote family values by protecting the rights of American families instead of trampling on them? Would you not agree, Ms. Musgrave, that enough is enough?

I await your response.

Sincerely,

Michael Schiavo