Tom Delay's Own Personal Tragedy

A recent story has revealed that Tom Delay went through a situation similar to that which the family of Terry Schiavo is dealing with currently. Delay's father was comatose and brain dead in 1988 and kept alive by machines and intravenous feeding tubes. It's a fascinating article that gives the reader a look into the mindset of Delay and helps one to understand his stance on the Schiavo issue.

There are, however, important differences between his father's situation and Schiavo's.

Dan Allen, Delay's spokesman, said that the critical difference was that "the only thing keeping her alive is the food and water we all need to survive. His father was on a ventilator and other machines to sustain him." There are however many other similarities, but none as important as that major distinction.