Posted on 08/07/2005 8:17:19 AM PDT by tgslTakoma
Since learning in April that their son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, had been killed in Iraq, life has been everything but normal for the Sheehan family of Vacaville. Casey's parents, Cindy and Patrick, as well as their three children, have attended event after event honoring the soldier both locally and abroad, received countless letters of support and fielded questions from reporters across the country.
"That's the way our whole lives have been since April 4," Patrick said. "It's been surreal."
But none of that prepared the family for the message left on their answering machine last week, inviting them to have a face-to-face meeting with President George W. Bush at Fort Lewis near Seattle.
Surreal soon seemed like an understatement, as the Sheehans - one of 17 families who met Thursday with Bush - were whisked in a matter of days to the Army post and given the VIP treatment from the military. But as their meeting with the president approached, the family was faced with a dilemma as to what to say when faced with Casey's commander-in-chief.
"We haven't been happy with the way the war has been handled," Cindy said. "The president has changed his reasons for being over there every time a reason is proven false or an objective reached."
The 10 minutes of face time with the president could have given the family a chance to vent their frustrations or ask Bush some of the difficult questions they have been asking themselves, such as whether Casey's sacrifice would make the world a safer place.
But in the end, the family decided against such talk, deferring to how they believed Casey would have wanted them to act. In addition, Pat noted that Bush wasn't stumping for votes or trying to gain a political edge for the upcoming election.
"We have a lot of respect for the office of the president, and I have a new respect for him because he was sincere and he didn't have to take the time to meet with us," Pat said.
Sincerity was something Cindy had hoped to find in the meeting. Shortly after Casey died, Bush sent the family a form letter expressing his condolences, and Cindy said she felt it was an impersonal gesture.
"I now know he's sincere about wanting freedom for the Iraqis," Cindy said after their meeting. "I know he's sorry and feels some pain for our loss. And I know he's a man of faith."
The meeting didn't last long, but in their time with Bush, Cindy spoke about Casey and asked the president to make her son's sacrifice count for something. They also spoke of their faith.
While meeting with Bush, as well as Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, was an honor, it was almost a tangent benefit of the trip. The Sheehans said they enjoyed meeting the other families of fallen soldiers, sharing stories, contact information, grief and support.
For some, grief was still visceral and raw, while for others it had melted into the background of their lives, the pain as common as breathing. Cindy said she saw her reflection in the troubled eyes of each.
"It's hard to lose a son," she said. "But we (all) lost a son in the Iraqi war."
The trip had one benefit that none of the Sheehans expected.
For a moment, life returned to the way it was before Casey died. They laughed, joked and bickered playfully as they briefly toured Seattle.
For the first time in 11 weeks, they felt whole again.
"That was the gift the president gave us, the gift of happiness, of being together," Cindy said.
whoa
That is a huge difference if what she spun for Wolf Blitzer.
Clearly she is full of crap and is trying to become the next Kristin Breitweiser.
That she is being used is an understatement. By the way, at DU a very large percentage of threads are about her, code pinko, and other related groups. I did not read any mention of an offer to meet at Ft. Lewis. Instead of accepting the offer Cindy Sheehan let herself be talked into making a spectacle of herself in Crawford where she demands a meeting. Sorry lady, you had your chance. The people and groups who are using her for their own purposes will dump her as soon as the reporters tire of the story.
a must read...and save it..
Read this...she truly is a lying POS
We need to get the word out on this liar...
Thanks for the ping, mystery. I'm pinging STARWISE to this, also. Like Miss Marple said, it's up to us in the grass roots to spread the truth.
Did ya see her on the news tonight, with her little dress that had two wide straps upon each of which she has affixed "The Great Footprint of the American Chicken (bleep)," the infamous "Peace Symbol!!!"
No, I have watched very little news this weekend...Thank God I missed that!
Thank you, Takoma, for getting that article for us to see how the left has manipulated this pathetic mother. Excellent work, as always.
He apparently became involved in the Eagle Scouts and in St. Mary's Catholic Church. The pastor is Father Benedict DeLeon who, according to this article, "spent time in Israel working as an anthropologist and living in a Palestinian community" and is quoted as saying "I think the question we have to ask--but have not at the highest levels--is, 'Why are they so angry with us?". Moreover, he seems to be an expert on arms and munitions because he also said "Considering it took Iraq three years to shoot down one of our unmanned planes, I hardly think they have the capability to threaten us."
Whoa! They actually swore in the freaks at that dog and pony show. Unfreakin'believable!
Read this....and add it to your files..
IIRC, Breitweiser is the daughter of a local NJ Dem politician.
After reading Mrs. Sheehan's comments of shortly after her meeting with the President and her more recent comments which you posted, it's obvious that woman has been completely brainwashed.
bump
remember....the story which I posted or she and her family meeting the President happened a while ago...the recent story is of her camping outside in Crawford.
Yes, and she was obviously brainwashed since her visit with the President for her story to have changed so drastically. I think she actually believes her new story. Her grief made her particularly vulnerable to those vultures on the left.
Deb can you post your contact info on this thread??
We need to get the word out BIG TIME to expose this vile fraud who is using her precious son's death to further her political goals.
I disagree on one point you've made, however.
This woman has a long and deep Marxist history. She's not being used. She's using her son's sacrifice and honorable death to accomplish her vile political goals.
Pinging you Tony, so that you consider covering this story tomorrow.
I suspect the later version was written by someone other than Sheehan, someone at Code Pink who writes their press releases and so forth.
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