About that Larry King Live Transcript

Several groups supporting Terri Schiavo's family are highlighting an except from a Larry King Live interview from 18 March (emphasis retained):

On Larry King Live Friday night Michael made a Freudian slip. When asked if he knew how the Schindlers feel he answered:

"Yes, I do. But this is not about them, it's about Terri. And I've also said that in court. We didn't know what Terri wanted, but this is what we want..."

Looking at the transcript, first there is this:

KING: If she's not in pain and the parents want her to be alive and you're no longer involved, so what? Why not keep her alive?

M. SCHIAVO: Because this is what Terri wanted. This is her wish.

Later there is an exchange dealing with Schiavo's parents:

KING: Do you understand how they [her parents] feel?

M. SCHIAVO: Yes, I do. But this is not about them, it's about Terri. And I've also said that in court. We didn't know what Terri wanted, but this is what we want...

KING: You're not -- it didn't cost you anything. This is not something where you're looking to save money?

Let's pause a moment. How many of the people who are gleafully pointing to this malapropism have ever been on a nationally syndicated talk show? How many have never misplaced a pronoun? How many times has the President utterly something equally opposite to his intended message?

I wasn't there. Larry King was. He's a journalist, trained to pounce. And he didn't pounce.

Perhaps he "heard" what Michael may have meant to say ... that "they" (her parents, the subject of this question) didn't know what Terri wanted.

Or maybe Michael's been lying to the court, his lawyer, the media, friends, etc for eight years.

More from the transcript, before the "pounce" moment:

KING: Hold it Michael -- on hearsay, George, thought, the only word that she said that is Michael's, right, George?

FELOS: No. That's not correct. Because she made those statements to her best friend, Joan and also to her brother-in-law. There were three witnesses and numerous statements to those witnesses over different periods of time. I don't want to be kept alive artificially. No tubes for me. I want to go when my time comes. If I ever had to be dependent upon anyone, I wouldn't want to live that way.

I mean, Terri made her wishes clear. And that's what the court found

So now we either have a conspiracy involving her brother-in-law and best friend ... or an anguished husband who mis-spoke.

Whenever anyone -- public official or lay person -- says something that seems out of character, it is our duty to look at the context and compare that statement with the larger record.

Whether you believe Michael has been lying or had his tongue tangle on Larry King Live probably says more about you -- and your feelings on the issue of the "right to die" -- than it does about Michael Schiavo. Voice your opinion.