John Gibson Doesn't Let A Little Thing Like Not Having A Law Degree Keep Him From Being A Legal Expert
Reported by Ellen - March 21, 2005
In today's My Word segment, John Gibson came up with a unique theory as to why the US Congress needed to step into the Schiavo case. The Schiavo's weren't really married and the Florida court should not have recognized a "sham" marriage.
According to Gibson, "At this point, Michael Schiavo is married to Terri Schiavo only for the purpose of ending her life." How does he know this? Because Schiavo "has another wife, has two kids by her and is leading another life." Has Gibson ever interviewed Schiavo to find out what his feelings about Terri are? Has Gibson ever considered the fact that there are lots of married men with mistresses and children out of wedlock who are still legally married in the eyes of the law? Apparently not.
Gibson continued: If Terri Schiavo were in good enough shape to say whether she wanted to live or die, she might (my emphasis) first say she wants a divorce, considering the fact her husband has another wife and two kids.
Well, she might but then again, she might not. How does Gibson know? Same way he knows about marital law.
If (Terri) were to divorce him, would Michael Schiavo still have the standing to claim guardianship to be able to pull her feeding tube? No. If he didn't have that guardianship, who would? Her parents. Would they pull the feeding tube? No. Would it then be necessary for Congress and the president to get involved? No.So this whole thing turns on whether Michael and Terri Schiavo are really married and the fact that the Florida courts continue to recognize a marriage that exists only for the purpose of killing her. Surely the Florida courts cannot be that dumb. And, if they are, then surely somebody else ought to get involved perhaps even Congress and the president... If you recognize reality you will see that as of Friday, when Michael Schiavo ordered the feeding tube removed, they weren't really married. They haven't been since he took the other "wife" and had two kids.
Surely a news anchor cannot be so dumb as to presume to know the law better than any of the judges who have studied the case from the vantage of a law degree? Apparently, anything goes on FOX News. Who cares if you don't know what you're talking about?
