SCHIAVO POLITICAL MEMO CAME FROM MARTINEZ'S STAFF

Remember during the Terri Schiavo drama the controversy about a strategy memo outlining how Republicans could possibly gain political capital by becoming involved...which they attempted to do? Seems it was freshman senator Mel Martinez' legal counsel that penned it, and he's resigned his post as a result.

Brian Darling admitted writing the memo for Martinez, who was the point man on the Schiavo issue as the Senate was considering a bill which would have, in effect, forced the replacement of the late Mrs. Schiavo's feeding tube. He did so after Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin said that Martinez had given him the document, which Mel says he believed at the time was a routine staff memo on the legislation and referred to as "talking points".

This after Martinez had been assured by his aides that his office was in no way connected with the now-infamous memo.

Darling came to Martinez' staff from the conservative Alexander Strategy Group, founded by a former chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas.

The freshman follies continue...