That’s a remarkable story, Andy. I think you’re right that Dean’s comments were politically unwise. The adverse reaction to Republicans during the Schiavo case was based on the perception that they were (1) exploiting a tragedy and (2) pushing that tragedy into people’s faces. Democrats who now try to exploit the tragedy themselves are misreading the lessons of the episode. Just as politicians are generally better off not being the first candidate to bring up abortion during a general-election campaign–whether to make pro-life or pro-choice points–whoever is visibly reluctant to get dragged into a post-hoc Schiavo debate will come out the winner of the exchange.