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Schiavo Forms PAC To Punish Politicians

By KEITH EPSTEIN kepstein@tampatrib.com

Published: Dec 8, 2005

WASHINGTON - Michael Schiavo, who once wanted politics out of his life, now hopes to defeat politicians who intervened in his 15-year dispute with his in-laws about his brain-damaged wife's fate.

This week, he intends to unveil his political action committee, "TerriPAC," named for his wife, Terri Schiavo, who died March 31 after a judge ordered her feeding tube removed.

Michael Schiavo vowed to use donations to pay for television advertisements and "personal appearances ... in the states and districts of political leaders who chose their own political gain over personal privacy."

His endorsement of Virginia's new governor, Tim Kaine, drew attention. Now, TerriPAC's targets are Florida gubernatorial candidates, U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., U.S. Senate Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, the embattled former House majority leader, said Schiavo's adviser, Florida-based Democratic political consultant Derek Newton.

Schiavo said he is channeling his "sadness, anger and worry" into defeating "politicians who shamelessly sought to squeeze political leverage out of my family's most emotional hour."

Others see different motives.

"He's exploiting a tragic situation and dishonoring Terri's memory," said Anthony Verdugo, director of Miami-based Christian Family Coalition.

Next up: Dueling books by Schiavo and in-laws Robert and Mary Schindler in March - one year after Terri's death at a Pinellas Park hospice.