Posted on 08/11/2005 6:28:11 PM PDT by tgslTakoma
Family members of Cindy Sheehan, the Vacaville woman camped outside President Bush's ranch in Texas protesting the war in Iraq, reportedly have denounced her actions. In an e-mail to a San Francisco radio station, Cherie Quartarolo, a sister-in-law and godmother of Sheehan's son, who was killed in action in Iraq in 2004, said: "We do not agree with the political motivations and publicity tactics of Cindy Sheehan. She now appears to be promoting her own personal agenda and notoriety at the expense of her son's good name and reputation.'
Casey Sheehan, an Army specialist, was killed in an ambush in Sadr City a week after his arrival in Iraq. His mother since has become a focal point in the partisan battle over the Iraq war, drawing the praise of many anti-war activists and the ire of those who see her as misguided.
In the e-mail, Quartarolo says she is speaking on behalf of Casey Sheehan's paternal grandparents, as well as "aunts, uncles and numerous cousins.'
Casey's father, Patrick of Vacaville, was not mentioned. He has acknowledged that he and his wife are separated, but he has declined to comment on his wife's high-profile protest in Crawford, Texas.
The family's statement, however, added, "The Sheehan family lost our beloved Casey in the Iraq War and we have been silently, respectfully grieving.
"The rest of the Sheehan family supports the troops, our country and our president, silently, with prayer and respect.'
Meanwhile, President Bush said today he understands and respects the views of anti-war advocates like Sheehan, but said it would be a mistake to bring U.S. troops home now.
"I understand the anguish that some feel about the death that takes place,' Bush said.
"I also have heard the voices of those saying: 'Pull out now!' " he said. "And I've thought about their cry and their sincere desire to reduce the loss of life by pulling our troops out. I just strongly disagree.'
Immediate withdrawal "would send a terrible signal to the enemy,' the president said.
"I sympathize with Mrs. Sheehan,' Bush said. "She feels strongly about her position, and she has every right in the world to say what she believes. This is America. She has a right to her position, and I thought long and hard about her position. I've heard her position from others, which is: Get out of Iraq now. And it would be a mistake for the security of this country and the ability to lay the foundations for peace in the long run if we were to do so.'
By Thursday, about 50 people had joined Sheehan's cause, pitching tents in muddy, shallow ditches and hanging anti-war banners; two dozen others have sent flowers. Her name was among the most popular search topics Wednesday on Internet blogs.
Sheehan began her standoff on Saturday, declaring she would stay for the entire month that Bush plans to stay in Texas if he won't meet with her. Since then, dozens of other activists have traveled from across the country to join her, including at least three other parents who have lost children in the war.
"The president says he feels compassion for me, but the best way to show that compassion is by meeting with me and the other mothers and families who are here,' Sheehan said today. "All we're asking is that he sacrifice an hour out of his five-week vacation to talk to us, before the next mother loses her son in Iraq.'
Obviously not - it would not play into their anti-war "We Hate Bush" bent.
This woman is a stalker.
I love the liberals who harp on the 'vacation' line. When will these people finally admit that a president NEVER has an actual 'vacation'.
"This woman is a stalker."
I think she fell in with some bad people. she has been consitently anti-war, but starting this year her statements started to sound Larouche-y. "Neocons", etc. Oddly enough she appeared with McGovern and Joe Wilson who have said the same type of things, sometimes bordering on anti-semitism.
You are right. That comment demonstrates their true intent: hatred of the conservatives and this President. Fear of never getting control back.
Anyone who thinks this is about her son has got it backward. Somewhere along the line her grief turned to hate, selfish projection, and destruction. Probably ater talking to code pink and the rest of the left wing nut whacks.
Good to see this paper picked up on the story - hope they can get more quotes from the family.
When a liberal is POTUS.
BUMP
I feel for this lady, but if history judges this war as noble with lasting effects towards peace, her son is a hero. If her and the left denigrate this effort and makes it into some oil scam or power trip, then her son is nothing more than a paid thug working for a monster.
As a father, I would choose to call my son a hero. Apparently, Ms. Sheehan is okay with her son being just a thug of the Bush Administration. It's sad that death in war, death achieving noble goals, is no longer a courageous and heroic way to die. Instead its portrayed as stupid and meaningless. Liberals love to act noble, but true nobility comes from making sacrifice, being brave, and supporting your beliefs.
Cindy Sheehan's son was a soldier who died fighting for the freedom of the Iraqi people and the safety of America - sounds like a noble way to leave this earth.
One ought never to turn one's back on a threatened danger (Iraq, Iran and Bin Laden) and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half.
Sir Winston Churchill
British politician (1874 - 1965)
1. Leave Bush out of it.
2. Sheehan's son took the oath. Everyone needs to read it and understand it. It is intended to separate a young man from his family and to absolve them of any guilt for his service and probable demise. It is done of his own free will.
3. This young man gave his life in a noble cause to end Islamic fascism.
As a retired military officer some of you posters ought to be ashamed of your vile, mean, behavior. This young man's sacrifice is something only those of us who have served would understand.
Conservatives had better wake-up and disavow themselves of this mean streak or they will be routed in the next election.
More than bordering...
She's been recruited by the dark side.
Another lie. Any visit to the Daily Dose thread will show the President is holding meetings at the ranch with advisors and cabinet members and also has official trips planned. He may be doing some extra well-deserved relaxing but he certainly isn't taking an 5 week vacation.
Lying hypocrit libs.
Are you saying posters have been vile and mean on this thread? If so, which ones?
The posters admire the soldier but despise what his mother is doing in her hatred for President Bush and this country. She is not acting out of grief but outright hate. Haven't you read any of the posts about what this woman was way before the war? She has hated the President for winning in 2000 and 2004. Find one post where someone is being critical of the soldier.
Look, I understand why Bush didn't meet with this nutjob, but as long as he doesn't, the story stays alive. 90% of the whining is about meeting her. If he did that, it would take a lot of wind out of her sails. The media doesn't care that she is an anti-semite.
Haven't you heard that he MET with her last year? She is just doing this for the attention she is getting from other lefties who hate the President.
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