| Fred Thompson, the Republican candidate running in | | | | the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), said |
| the 2008 elections, has been endorsed by the | | | | that Thompson had later assured NRLC that he |
| National Right to Life Committee. This may seem | | | | favored steps to ensure that a patient like Schiavo |
| surprising to those who have been following | | | | would legally have the right to receive treatment, |
| Thompson's record on issues such as, abortion, the | | | | food, and water. O'Steen said Thompson "believes |
| proposed human life amendment, or Terri Schiavo. | | | | that in cases where the patient wants treatment and |
| Though it has been claimed that Thompson has a 100 | | | | the families want treatment, it should certainly be |
| percent record when it comes to voting pro-life, it is | | | | provided." |
| only 86 percent in the 105th Congress. Then there is | | | | There are other issues that seriously question |
| the 'Meet the Press' interview, in which Thompson's | | | | Thompson's allegiance to the cause of the right to |
| response to Terri Schiavo and the right-to-life | | | | live. For instance, his lobbying efforts in favor of |
| question sounded weak and unconvincing. As the | | | | Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the deposed Haitian tyrant, |
| facts of the case stood, Schiavo's parents, who | | | | responsible for ruthless murders and human rights |
| wanted to ensure that she continued to receive | | | | abuse. Or his legal counsel in favor of the two |
| treatment and nutrition through the feeding tube, had | | | | Libyans charged with the Pan Am 103 bombing. |
| sought congressional intervention towards that end. | | | | Contradicting stands such as these will only serve to |
| However, Thompson dismissed it as an end-of-life | | | | make voters wary of supporting Thompson's |
| family matter. | | | | candidacy. |
| Subsequently David N O'Steen, executive director of | | | | |