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Wednesday, March 30, 2005

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  Jackson, who has run for president as a Democrat and championed many liberal causes, spent more than three hours talking and praying with activists outside Schiavo's hospice. He also telephoned black members of the Legislature in a last-ditch effort to win approval of a bill requiring that sustenance be restored.

"I feel so passionate about this injustice being done, how unnecessary it is to deny her a feeding tube, water, not even ice to be used for her parched lips," said Jackson, who was invited by Schiavo's parents. "This is a moral issue and it transcends politics and family disputes."

As Jackson departed, activists said "God bless you, Reverend" and "I'd vote for you." Although Schiavo has become a cause for anti-abortion and conservative groups and politicians, her family said such considerations were not behind their invitation to Jackson.

"I think he is a man of integrity," said Schiavo's sister, Suzanne Vitadamo. "He sees that you don't starve people to death."

Anti-abortion and conservative activist Randall Terry, who supports the parents, said Jackson's visit illustrated that the case "crosses all lines. It's not a political issue."

Despite the flush of publicity generated by Jackson's visit and a new plea for action from Schiavo's mother, Mary Schindler, the Legislature seemed unlikely to act.

The Schindlers also lost another round in the courts Tuesday when the 2nd District Court of Appeal upheld a pervious ruling by Judge George Greer that blocked the Department of Children and Families from intervening in the case.

Saying her daughter "does not want to die," Mary Schindler urged lawmakers to reconsider a bill that would prohibit severely brain-damaged patients from being denied food and water if they didn't express their wishes in writing.

The chief sponsor of the measure, state Sen. Daniel Webster, said he knew of no changed votes and that Jackson's efforts may have come too late.

"If he could sway votes - and I'm certain he may be able to - it would have been helpful if he had done that a little earlier," said Webster, R-Orlando. "We're running out of time. To do it now is not as timely as a couple of weeks ago would have been."

One of those contacted by Jackson, state Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, said he told Jackson the issue had been "thoroughly discussed." Senate Democratic leader Les Miller of Tampa added: "I have voted. It's time to move on."

Jackson said he asked Michael Schiavo for permission to see the woman but was denied.

Relatives and the family's various spokesmen have claimed the dehydrated woman is being denied some comfort measures, such as ice chips for her dry mouth or balm for chapped lips.

George Felos, Michael Schiavo's attorney, did not return phone messages seeking comment from The Associated Press, but later defended the starkly different views of Schiavo's condition and care.

"Obviously, the parents and the siblings are desperate. Desperation may lead to different perceptions," Felos told CNN. "I can only tell you what I've seen, and Terri is dying a very peaceful, cared-for death."

Schiavo's brother, Bobby Schindler, said he and a family priest were prevented from giving Schiavo holy communion, which he said violated her religious rights as a Roman Catholic. Schiavo, however, has already received communion on the two occasions permitted under court order.

Gov. Jeb Bush has insisted he has no power to intervene, and he let out a sigh Tuesday after hearing about Jackson's appearance.

"State senators? Jesse Jackson?" Bush asked. "I don't know anything about that. I guess that everything is possible."

Schiavo's father, Bob Schindler, described his daughter as "failing" following his visit Tuesday.

"She still looks pretty darn good under the circumstances," Schindler said. "You can see the impact of no food and water for 12 days. Her bodily functions are still working. We still have her."

During Jackson's visit, a man was tackled to the ground by officers when he tried to storm into the hospice, Pinellas Park police said. He became the 47th protester arrested.

Dow Pursley, 56, of Scranton, Pa., was shocked with a Taser stun gun and arrested on charges of attempted burglary and resisting arrest without violence, police spokesman Sanfield Forseth said. The man had two bottles of water with him but did not reach the hospice door, police said.

Doctors have said Terri Schiavo, 41, would probably die within a week or two when the tube was removed on March 18. She suffered catastrophic brain damage in 1990 when her heart stopped for several minutes [possibly] because of a chemical imbalance.

At least two more appeals filed by the state seeking the feeding tube's reconnection were pending, but those challenges were before a Florida appeals court that had rejected the governor's previous efforts in the case.

Michael Schiavo and Centonze have two children, born long after Terri Schiavo's collapse.

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