From the New York Times:

Senator Mel Martinez, Republican of Florida, said Wednesday that a senior member of his staff had written an unsigned memorandum about the partisan political advantages of intervening in the case of Terri Schiavo that became a controversial footnote to the debate over the wisdom and motives of Congress’s actions.

In a statement on Wednesday night, Mr. Martinez said that he had just learned that the memorandum originated in his office and that its author had resigned. He did not name the author, but aides said it was Brian Darling, his counsel.

Mr. Darling could not be reached for comment.

“It is with profound disappointment and regret that I learned today that a senior member of my staff was unilaterally responsible for this document,” Mr. Martinez said. “It was not approved by me or any other member of my staff, nor were we aware of its existence until very recently.”

Mr. Martinez added: “This type of behavior and sentiment will not be tolerated in my office. As the senator, I am ultimately responsible for the work of my staff and the product that comes out of this office. I take full responsibility for this situation.”

The anonymous memorandum, which was distributed to news organizations by Democratic aides and first reported by ABC News, became widely cited in news reports as evidence that at least some Republicans were applying a political calculus to the case of Ms. Schiavo, the brain-damaged Florida woman. Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee, the majority leader, and many other Republican Senators quickly disavowed the document, saying they had never seen it and that they condemned it.

In his statement, Mr. Martinez said that on March 9 he had mistakenly and unknowingly handed the document to Senator Tom Harkin, Democrat of Iowa, on the floor of the Senate. Mr. Martinez said that he had meant to reach for a different document and that he did not know how it had entered his possession.

“Senator Harkin was kind enough today to call me and tell me this afternoon that he believes the memo he received was given to him by me,” Mr. Martinez said. “Until this afternoon, I had never seen it and had no idea a copy of it had ever been in my possession.”

Senator Harkin is also the only member of the Senate who saw the memo—which gives lie to previous speculation that this was some carefully orchestrated GOP plan that had been circulated through the Senate chamber.

Personally, I think—and have always thought—that, politically speaking, at least, the Schiavo affair was a no-win situation for Republicans, and that in fact, too much involvement on the part of Republican legislators could very well cause a public backlash against the party (a scenario that appears to be less fantastical than it would have seemed a little over a month ago).  Which is why I never doubted the sincerity of those who put themselves on the line politically to stake out a public position.

Consequently, I found it impossible to believe that a memo such as the one ABC News acquired and aired would have the imprimatur of Republican higher ups—though I suspect the kind of thinking that goes into such political wargaming as is described in the memo goes on all the time, on both sides of the aisle.