Posted on 08/19/2005 7:36:41 AM PDT by yoe
Anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan calls her mother's stroke a "devastating blow" that has forced her to leave "Camp Casey" temporarily.
She left Crawford, Tex., on Thursday to be by her mother's side, but in a message posted on Michael Moore's website, Sheehan said while she's gone, her fellow protesters will "keep up the pressure on the president to meet with us and answer questions about the war."
Sheehan said her 74-year-old mother was rushed to the emergency room of a Los Angeles hospital Thursday afternoon.
Patricia Vogel of the anti-war group Military Families Speak Out also issued a statement, saying, "We needed Cindy to start this movement and now Cindy needs us to keep it going. We are staying in Crawford until we get answers, or until the president completes his five-week vacation."
(Vogel's son, Aaron, has served in Iraq and may be re-deployed, the statement says.)
On Friday, protesters plan to gather near President Bush's ranch plan to hold a prayer service, including a moment of silence for "the military serving around the world, those who have given their lives in combat, and their loved ones."
The protesters - about 100 of them have gathered, according to press reports -- have invited President Bush to attend the prayer meeting, but he is not expected to do so.
A White House spokeswoman on Thursday quoted the president as saying that Sheehan has a right to protest but that he does not plan to meet with her again. He did hold a brief, private meeting with Sheehan last year, about two months after her son Casey died in Iraq, at a gathering including other military families.
Sympathy for Cindy?
Of the three liberal advocacy groups that have rallied around Cindy Sheehan in recent days -- MoveOn.or, TrueMajority and Democracy for America - not a single one's website mentioned Sheehan's departure from Camp Casey or offered any expression of sympathy for her as of early Friday morning -- more than 12 hours after Sheehan's departure from Camp Casey.
All three websites, however, boasted that some 100,000 people took part in more than 1,600 candlelight (anti-war) vigils on Wednesday night.
Michael Moore's website - which is posting Cindy's diary entries -- did mention her departure from Camp Casey, saying, \ldblquote Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family..."
Pro-military protest will go on
A group that supports U.S. troops and their mission in Iraq says it's "You Don't Speak for Me, Cindy" tour will continue as planned, despite Cindy Sheehan's departure from Crawford.
Move America Forward has made the following statement regarding news of Cindy Sheehan's temporary departure from her anti-war vigil in Crawford, Texas:
"We are sorry to learn of the illness facing Cindy Sheehan's mother, Move America Forward Chairman Melanie Morgan said in a statement.
"The issue here is the fact that the servicemembers and their families have not had their voices heard during the past weeks of Ms. Sheehan's vigil. They support the troops and the mission they are serving in.
"We are going to bring that voice to Crawford, Texas -- and we invite people from around the nation to join our caravan and meet us for the super rally in Crawford, Texas, on Saturday, August 27," Morgan said in a message to supporters.
I noticed she was greeted at LAX by supporters. No mention of family, though.
Do you think maybe she went for a long overdue facelift?
If she was greeted by her supporters, that means that their was ample notice given out for the movement to organize and show up. Sounds like a planned media event to me, but what do I know, I still think we are in Iraq for legitimate reasons.
There's no way Secret Service would let him, even if he wanted to.
Actually, without a figurehead, I think the media attention will dissipate. I saw some pictures of the other wackos at this protest - tie dye and all - and I doubt that they want to put them front and center for a national audience! Cindy's whole value was that she proclaimed herself to be an "average mom," and that was how the media portrayed her.
It's not her that's making people protest.
I am glad Bush supporters are there, but it's over. Events have conspired to topple Mother Sheehan from her perch. Life is funny...
Does having something on tv make it a planned media event?
I wonder where her ill mother stands on this. Maybe Mrs. Sheehan's mother will give her a stern talking-to.
Then again, maybe not.
I would find her leaving to attend to a dear sick mother to be just a convienent way to get her out off the limelight before she goes completely fruit-loops (and apparently she was getting close.)
"All three websites, however, boasted that some 100,000 people took part in more than 1,600 candlelight (anti-war) vigils on Wednesday night"
Sounds awfully high to me based on the few news stories I saw the day after. I'd like to know where they got these figures.
lol, if she's an "average mom", we're in deeper s#$t than even I thought.
"I would find her leaving to attend to a dear sick mother to be just a convienent way to get her out off the limelight before she goes completely fruit-loops (and apparently she was getting close.)"
And what a good reason too! It enhances her "mom" image.
"Sounds awfully high to me based on the few news stories I saw the day after. I'd like to know where they got these figures."
I agree! That's an average of about 80 people per event and that's the number that are actually in Crawford at the main event.
I hope for her sake that this providential wake up call allows her to reconnect with her own family. She's paid a horrible personal price for her anti-war crusade, and it is not necessary. We have politicians and media types. Individuals need not sacrifice to get the word out, as it were. I did not learn a single thing from her, though I read everything that she said.
I wonder if she will get any protesters outside her Mom's hospital demanding to meet with her?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1466629/posts
'Patricia Vogel of the anti-war group Military Families Speak Out also issued a statement, saying, "We needed Cindy to start this movement and now Cindy needs us to keep it going.' ..........(Vogel's son, Aaron, has served in Iraq and may be re-deployed, the statement says.)'
This must be the kid's website?
anti-war demonstration pictures? Chryslers?
http://pics.livejournal.com/aaron_vogel/gallery/00010qx6
photos taken during tour in Iraq:
http://pics.livejournal.com/aaron_vogel/gallery/00005sdd
Too true! She's the press's idea of an "average mom," I guess. And if nothing else, they didn't let her wear tie-dye...
It hasn't.
It HAS captured the attention of the MSM in a slow news month.
A good dog-fight would pull them away from this story, but there's nothing else to report.
If only O.J. or Mike Tyson would hit somebody, all this could be over.
No, having MoveOn.org Media Advisors making the arrangements does.
Got pictures?
Yeah, there was no other new to report-- no Air America Scandal, no Able Danger!
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