Grieving Calif Mother's War Protest Gains Momentum in Crawford (Freeper Quoted)

AP via Dateline Alabama ^ | Wednesday, August 10, 2005 | Angela K. Brown

[kristinn]

In her fifth day quietly camping out on a road near President Bush's ranch, a grieving mother protesting the war that took her son's life has captured the nation's attention.

Cindy Sheehan's simple vigil has pulled at many people's heartstrings and stirred anger in others, symbolizing the country's divided opinion of the war in Iraq.

Dozens from across the country have started to camp out with her, pitching tents in muddy ditches and hanging anti-war banners; others have sent flowers. One activist called her "the Rosa Parks of the anti-war movement." Her name was among the most popular search topics Wednesday on Internet blogs.

The soft-spoken Sheehan, 48, of Vacaville, Calif., said she is surprised at the overwhelming response - most of it positive, she said - but that people upset over the war just want their voices heard.

"Before my son was killed, I used to think that one person could not make a difference," she said Wednesday under a tent where she has slept since arriving Saturday. "But one person that is surrounded and supported by millions of people can be heard."

But Kristinn Taylor, co-leader of the Washington, D.C., chapter of FreeRepublic.com, which has held pro-troop rallies since Sept. 11 and counter-protests of anti-war demonstrations, said Sheehan's protest is misguided and is hurting troop morale.

"She has a political agenda that goes way beyond her son's death in combat," Taylor said.

On Saturday two high-level Bush administration officials, the national security adviser and deputy White House chief of staff, talked to Sheehan. But she called the 20-minute meeting "pointless" and still wants to talk to the president, vowing to remain until his stay at the ranch ends later this month.

Sheehan's 24-year-old son, Casey, was killed in Sadr City, Iraq, in April 2004 just five days after he arrived. He was the oldest of four children. His two younger sisters and brother, ages 19 to 24, are devastated and miss his laid-back personality, humor and uncanny laugh, Sheehan said.

After his death, among his belongings she received was his unfinished letter, saying he was looking forward to a smooth year of service. He didn't agree with the war, Sheehan said.

"I begged him not to go," she said through tears. "I said, 'I'll take you to Canada' ... but he said, 'Mom, I have to go. It's my duty. My buddies are going.' "

She said she is upset that various government and independent commission reports have since disputed the Bush administration's claims that Saddam Hussein had mass-killing chemical and biological weapons - a main justification for the March 2003 invasion.

Sheehan, a former Catholic youth minister, formed a group called Gold Star Families For Peace earlier this year and has spoken out against the war across the nation and overseas. She usually stays and eats meals with those who organize her speeches, but she has been using her son's insurance money for living expenses.

Judith Young, national president of similarly named The American Gold Star Mothers of America, Inc., said she is concerned that the public will mistake her 76-year-old Washington, D.C., nonprofit organization with Sheehan's group.

Young's group, commonly known as Gold Star Moms, arranges for mothers whose children died in the line of duty to volunteer in veterans' hospitals and programs. Members are all mothers, mostly between 60 and 80 years old, and they don't do advocacy work, Young said.

At Sheehan's makeshift camp off the two-lane, winding road leading to Bush's ranch, she has spent the past several days in the rain talking to scores of reporters, hugging fellow protesters and taking brief breaks to eat sandwiches and fruit brought by supporters.

Many decided to go to Crawford because of rumors that Sheehan would be arrested this week. But no protesters will be arrested unless they trespass on private property or block the road, said Capt. Kenneth Vanek of the McLennan County Sheriff's Office.

Trucker Craig Delaney, 53, was in Georgia on Monday when he heard numerous radio shows discussing Sheehan - some criticizing her. He altered his route to California, heading for Texas, and got to Sheehan's site Wednesday morning.

"I felt compelled to come and tell her I support her," said Delaney, a self-described hippie from Sly Park, Calif. "The way they were badmouthing a mother whose son was killed in the war is un-American."

Nearly 40 Democratic members of Congress have asked Bush to talk to Sheehan. And on Wednesday, a coalition of anti-war groups in Washington called on Bush to speak with Sheehan, who they say has helped to unify the peace movement.

"Cindy Sheehan has become the Rosa Parks of the anti-war movement," said Rev. Lennox Yearwood, leader of the Hip Hop Caucus, an activist group. "She's tired, fed up and she's not going to take it anymore, and so now we stand with her."

[Theresawithanh]

""The way they were badmouthing a mother whose son was killed in the war is un-American."

Nope, hippie trucker dude, the way she is dishonoring her fallen son and the other soldiers who have given their lives and the ones who are still serving is un-American.

[eleni121]

She has no regard for our troops. In her grief she has become a selfish miserable person who puts her own misguided desires above the safety of our troops.

This is all about her and her needs. And the vultures of the left have settled in around her consuming her.

[tiredoflaundry]

Good Lord, When is this woman's 15 mins up!

[Deetes]

Good job getting in the story !!!!!!

[maggief]

Cindy Sheehan of Vacaville, Calif., gathers herself as she recounts stories of her son to a reporter by a tent that she is staying in on the side of the road that leads to President Bush's ranch, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2005, in Crawford, Texas. Her simple, quiet protest of the war that took her son's life is gaining momentum as dozens joined her Wednesday at the site. Sheehan, 48, has insisted on speaking to Bush and vowed to remain during his ranch stay through the end of the month. Her tenacity has gained the support of anti-war groups, with one activist calling her 'the Rosa Parks of the anti-war movement.'(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

[jackv]

Yes I just saw this fool woman talking with O'Reilly about how Bush has killed thousands of people.
Not a word about the terrorists and the REAL evil.
Sickening.

[operation clinton cleanup]

Dozens from across the country have started to camp out with her, pitching tents in muddy ditches

Kinda like Waco or Ruby Ridge, eh?

[Ramius]

I am having a seriously difficult time not hating this woman. Lord, please forgive me.....

I don't know. I'm feeling such a deep abiding pity for the wretchedness of her existence, I'm not sure I could tell the difference between it and anger.

She is defacating on the memory of her soldier son for her own selfish aggrandizement. He deserves better than her. She is the embodiment of that (John Stuart Mill?) quote about war being an ugly thing but not the ugliest of things. She is the sort he was thinking of when he wrote that she has the luxury of living under the protection of people better than herself. Like her son.

[Cricket24]

Me too!

[sgtbono2002]

Its funny how feces draws flies, If I took a crap on the side of the road it would draw flies too. These people being drawn to Sheehan are just political flies being drawn to the head turd.

[GloriaJane]

Didn't kerry's group, I can't remember the name of it, use people like this poor misguided lady to help bring about opposition to the Viet Nam war?

First we hear about "hanoi hussein traitor jane's" up and coming bus tour and now this. It just all feels like da-ja-vue (or how ever you spell it) to me.

[marmar]

I honor the Warrior and I thank God that this hag...my opinion, is not my mother. I serve so I am entitled to my opinion......

[Txsleuth]

It would have been nice if OR has pointed out to her that the terrorists were the ones doing the killing, both here in the US, as well as in Afghanistan, Iraq, London..

[crazyhorse691]

Is there no media outlet that is so bad she wouldn't give them an interview? When does her book come out?

[Shazbot29]

I am having a seriously difficult time not hating this woman. Lord, please forgive me.....
She is hurting our troops, and our young veterans as well in her effort to attack the President.

As I have said, she is indicative of the people who thought the military was a jobs program. And she has the arrogance to think she gets to pick and choose where and when to engage the enemy (and who that enemy is).

She is on record saying her son was supposed to protect America, not Israel. Well, someone should tell her that it is the military's duty to go where they are sent and do the task assigned.

I hope she finds peace. She won't get it by listening to the wormwoods of the Left.

[hipaatwo]

Rosa Parks of the anti-war movement???



Oh gag me!

[Cautor]

This story won't survive many more news cycles. The MSM has to have something new and this leftist anti-Semitic POS will soon run her course. They didn't get Delay, the Plame story didn't hunt for long, and this bag sitting on the side of the road isn't Rosa Parks.

[CO Gal]

You'd have to smack her so hard & often that you'd eventually be charged with murder.