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."

[reagan_fanatic]

"Cindy Sheehan has become the Rosa Parks of the anti-war movement"

The left in this country has gone so far past the border of reality that even their pathetic delusions brought on by their white-hot hatred of George W Bush has been surpassed by the apparent christening of their new 'Messiah' who has come to save them all.

They are beyond all hope with no chance of rehabilitation.

What a bunch of hypocritical, sub-human pukes these people have become.

[operation clinton cleanup]

The Waco Burnout(Branch Davidians) is only about 34 mile due east of the current encampment of moonbats.

Paging Janet Reno... unruly citizen alert!

[GloriaJane]

"Then, just as now, the Left callously exploited a mother's grief for their own political ends"

I don't think this is all by chance. I think we're looking at the very same story today that we saw played out before us so many year's ago. I think they're following the exact same script they followed back then.

[No Longer Free State]

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

First, she's had to use her son's insurance money because NOBODY in that area is on her side.

Second, using his insurance money for this imature crusade is like pissing on her son's grafve as far as I'm concerned.

[philman_36]

Y'know, this would really be sad, if it weren't so pathetic.
I had some sympathy for her at one time. Now all I have is contempt and it keeps growing every time she opens her mouth.

[jennyjenny]

Well, she said "hundreds of thousands of people", and that it would have been better to do it during the first Gulf war...or later.... or some other time. Just not now.

Somehow I think she would have had a problem no matter when it happened.

[Right Wing Assault]

I would contribute to a fund a bunch of grieving moms who SUPPORT President Bush who want to go down there and shout her and her grubby friends down all day long. Maybe some Israeli moms whose kids got blown to pieces by murdering bombers. Maybe some moms who lost kids in London. Maybe some Iraqi moms whose kids got blown up. I hope her son in heaven can change her mind.

[Constitution1st]

I have no doubt that she was being researched on the search engines; everyone wanted to get a look a this dizzy dame! What a useful idiot.

[McGavin999]

The ONLY thing that will shut this up is for other mothers to get out there and condemn this. This woman is making a mockery of their sacrifice.

[popdonnelly]

I've changed my mind. My gripe isn't with Cindy Sheehan. It's with these idiots in the lamestream media who make her a heroine without looking into who she is or what she's said in the past. And who have never thought about whether it's a good idea to focus on antiwar protests while Americans are facing people intent on killing them.

[upchuck]

First, the important stuff:

kristinn BUMP!!

Now, on to my comment.

I hate to admit this, but this is a brilliant piece of PR work.

It's August. Congress is recessed. Wash DC is a ghost town. President Bush is spending the entire month at his secluded ranch. The population of Crawford has doubled or tripled with all the lame streams there.

The lame streams are bored to death because there's not a lot going on and it's hotter than Hell. Their editors and producers are demanding copy to justify their expenses.

Meanwhile the RATS are watching all this trying to figure a way to take advantage. Someone says, "Eureka! I've got it!! Cindy, do we have an opportunity for you."

And the rest is history.

[Choose Ye This Day]

Doesn't ANYONE know a friend of her son? Someone who may have received a handwritten letter, or even a verifiable e-mail, that would tell HIS side of the story? Let the son speak! Let's hear what HE had to say about the war, and why he's there. Of course I have no way of knowing, but I would bet his version is MUCH different than anti-Bush mom's.

[jennyjenny]

I go back and forth from feeling sorry for her to being angry with her. I just wish like heck someone could convince her to get the professional help she needs to deal with this, and heaven knows no one on the left is going to do that as long as they can use her this way. She is obviously not thinking clearly if she is doing this with the full knowledge her remaining family members are suffering because of her actions.

[crazyhorse691]

I guess it would be safe to venture a guess that Cindy wouldn't get too many votes around here for Best Patriotic Mother of the year. Too bad the MSM can't see it also.

[No Longer Free State]

From the official Fort Hood and III Corps press release announcing SPC Sheehan's death:

Spc. Casey Sheehan, 24, born in Bellflower, Calif., who listed Vacaville, Calif., as his home of record. A light wheeled vehicle mechanic with C Battery, 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, Sheehan entered the Army on Aug. 31, 2000, and had been stationed at Fort Hood since Nov. 10, 2001.

[Chgogal]

I wrote the following letter to the editor of "Dateline Alabama".

Dear Sir,

I was a teenager during the Vietnam years. People like Madame Sheehan and editors like you were responsible for the political loss of that war. Our US Military fought bravely and won every battle then, just like they are doing today. But because of irresponsible people like Madame Sheehan and editors like yourself, millions of South East Asians died at the hands of the Communists who fought under romantic names like the Khmer Rouge once the US admitted political defeat and withdrew from that sphere of the world.

My parents are WWII immigrants. They were freed by the heroic and self-sacrificing efforts of the British, Canadians, Russians and Americans. Thousands of Americans, British, Russians and Canadians died or were wounded almost every single day during WWII. I am so thankful to God that WWII mothers didn't whine like today's undignified baby boomer brat. I am so grateful that editors then were wise and brave and chose NOT to report such stories.

Yes, Madame Sheehan lost a wonderful irreplaceable son, so did many WWII mothers. She, like you shame me. This time I will fight her and you. She and you will NOT pull another Vietnam on the United States. I will right letters to the President, my Senators and my House of Representative in support of the war. I will continue to adopt soldiers. I will not give in to brats like Madame Sheehan. Shame on Madame Sheehan and shame on you for being irresponsible and making this war so much easier for the Islamic Terrorists who declared war on us in 1996 and then attacked our Homeland on 9/11. Shame on Madame Sheehan and you for being today's Tokyo Rose. Shame on you for choosing to report this whiny brat's story. A story that is not any different from the millions of other Mom's who suffered just 60+ years ago. But they were from the Greatest Generation. This whiny brat is from the Worst Generation. And you, Sir should hang your head in shame for reporting this story.

Sincerely,
Chgogal

[TET1968]

I respect her need to blame someone for the death of her son.
Using the death of her son to attract MSM attention to herself is understandable. She needs to be the ultimate victem.
A compassionate President would order our military to ferry her over to the Pakistani border and set her up with an even a bigger tent.
I would suggest support be given to CNN,Air America, and the New York Times, so that they may cover her protest 24/7.
Shelters,with Porta Pottys,generators,camels, mules, what ever we can do. That would be the right thing.
What say you all?