War Backers Start Camp Near Bush Ranch

Yahoo News ^ | Aug. 20, 2005 | ANGELA K. BROWN

[FairOpinion]

CRAWFORD, Texas - A patriotic camp with a "God Bless Our President!" banner sprung up downtown Saturday, countering the anti-war demonstration started by a fallen soldier's mother two weeks ago near President Bush's ranch.

The camp is named "Fort Qualls," in memory of Marine Lance Cpl. Louis Wayne Qualls, 20, who died in Iraq last fall.

"If I have to sacrifice my whole family for the sake of our country and world, other countries that want freedom, I'll do that," said the soldier's father, Gary Qualls, a friend of the local business owner who started the pro-Bush camp. He said his 16-year-old son now wants to enlist, and he supports that decision.

Qualls' frustration with the anti-war demonstrators erupted last week when he removed a cross bearing his son's name that was among hundreds the group had put up along the road to Bush's ranch.

Qualls called the protesters' views disrespectful to soldiers, and said he had to yank out two more crosses after protesters kept replacing them.

Cindy Sheehan, whose 24-year-old son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, died last year in Iraq, started the anti-war demonstration along the roadside on Aug. 6. "Camp Casey" has since grown to about 100 core participants, and hundreds more from across the nation have visited.

Sheehan vowed to remain there until Bush agreed to meet with her or until his monthlong vacation ended, but she flew to Los Angeles last week after her 74-year-old mother had a stroke. Her mother has some paralysis but is in good spirits, and if she improves, Sheehan may return to Texas in a few days, some demonstrators said.

In her absence, the rest of the group will keep camping out for the unlikely chance to question the president about the war that has claimed the lives of about 1,850 U.S. soldiers.

Bush has said he sympathizes with Sheehan but won't change his schedule to meet with her. She and other families met with Bush about two months after Casey Sheehan died, before she became a vocal opponent of the war.

Large counter-protests were held in a ditch near Sheehan's site a week after she arrived, and since then, a few Bush supporters have stood in the sun holding signs for several hours each day.

Bill Johnson, a local gift shop owner who created "Fort Qualls," said he wanted to offer a larger, more convenient place for Bush supporters to gather.

He and others at "Fort Qualls" have asked for a debate with those at the Crawford Peace House, which is helping Sheehan.

It's unclear if that will happen. But a member of Gold Star Families for Peace, co-founded by Sheehan and comprised of relatives of fallen soldiers, said her group would not participate.

"We're asking for a meeting with the president, period," said Michelle DeFord, whose 37-year-old son, Sgt. David W. Johnson, was in the Army National Guard from Oregon when he was killed in Iraq last fall. "We don't want to debate with people who don't understand our point of view."

[FairOpinion]

The MSM has lots of pictures of the anti-war protests, but not a single one of the pro-troops, patriotic protesters. I thought a picture of the "God Bless Our President" banner would be great. I guess, that's why the MSM made sure to avoid taking a picture of it.

God bless the REAL patriots, like the Qualls family.

[BenLurkin]

"We don't want to debate with people who don't understand our point of view."

Huh. Whatta you know -- an honest lefty.

[Westlander]

Let's see if cindy has the balls to meet this group.

[NordP]

The mission is noble. The cause is just.

God Bless the Qualls family, and all the War Backers at Camp Qualls!

[NordP]

No...because it's all about HER. To reach out to listen to another's point of view...would blow the whole game.

No...no...no...we can't have THAT!

[agincourt1415]

The Main Street Media, has a blown cover, no one expects them to cover the other side.

[hombre_sincero]

"War Backers" ??

Jerkoffs! How about simply "AMERICANS!"

[I still care]

Is that funny or what. Camping out for days because Bush won't talk to them, but they won't talk to anyone else.

They just want it their way. Typical selfish leftists.

"You must hear my point of view, but I don't have to hear yours."

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

AHHHH.... Amongst the Sheeple....here comes Mr. Johnson taking action to honor Marine Qualls!

The Sheepdog rides again!!!!

(BTW...does anyone know if the Qualls family accesses Freeper?)

[GOPJ]

The MSM has lots of pictures of the anti-war protests, but not a single one of the pro-troops, patriotic protesters.

The MSM said they covered Cindy because there wasn't any other news... Will they say the same about the war backers?

My guess? No. They'll do some negative reporting on the war backers then decide the story's been done. When asked about why the coverage was so different, the MSM will offer an excuse so lame they'll be the only people capable of believing it...

[Prime Choice]

Why are the patriots only referred to as "war backers"? Hell, call 'em what they are: Patriotic Americans.

[NickatNite2003]

What a bunch of hypocrites those craven leftie traitors are!

Sure! It's all well and good for them to aharrass the
President to meet with them so they can heap abuse on him..

But it is totally uncalled for, for those who don't
agree with them to want to meet and debate their
issues with them...

Basically, one can only come to one conclusion about
them and their arguments! That they *know* their
charges and slander, will not stand up to examination
where others are able to present a real debate...

The Leftie loserists are all about LIES! We know it.
They know it! and they are deathly afraid of their
BULLS&*t being exposed on camera for all the world
to see what liars, cowards and traitors they are.
exposed

[FairOpinion]

Well, you have to remember that the article was written BY the MSM.

But they are noticing that their credibility is suffering.


Mainstream news media suffer collateral damage from Iraq war

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1467497/posts

[NickatNite2003]

It's not selfishness that causes them to refuse
to meet...but FEAR of exposure..Same reason the
racism inciting pig Howard Dean, refuses to go
on FNC..He *knows* he'll be exposed for what he is.
That, and he'd lose his ability to blame FNC for
anything and everything under the sun...like
others in history have done, to have a scapegoat
to rally their dullards against.

[Prime Choice]

Most awesome. Thanks for the link to that!

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

"God bless the REAL patriots, like the Qualls family."

Yes.

But I feel that the term "sacrifice" is much misused in this issue....in war, there are very very few "sacrifices"..... and they are things like jumping on a live grenade to save others, etc. Our American military goes to great lengths to prevent the necessity of "sacrifice", by the common definition of the word.

Its use seems to be an offshoot of leftie propaganda such as "the prez killed my son", etc.

I think this fathers stated willingness to "sacrifice" hs family is an ill-advised choice of words.....nonetheless, his real meaning is ultimately patriotic in the highest order.

OTOH, suicide bombers "sacrifice" themselves in order to kill others, astonishly with the blessings of their families.....as did the kamikazes in WWII. There is no American history of deliberate sacrifice, other than under extreme circumstance by individuals.....all genuine Heroes, IMO.

[GregoTX]

I have mixed feelings about it.
On one hand, I want people to see decent people out in numbers showing their support for the President, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
On the other hand, we are there because of the Moonbats gathering in Crawford.
The public see only the protesting hippies, they should see decent people supporting America.
But again... The nutbags act, we re-act. They go to Crawford, we go to Crawford. The messages they portray is 180 degrees different from our message. They spew hatred of President Bush (and Israel), we show support and encouragement.
I wish everyone would ignore the Moonbats, and let it die down and go away, I fear this may only feed the madness, and encourage the hippies to stay longer, and bus even MORE of them in.
But then again... do we not respond at all?
Like I said... I feel conflicted about it.

[soycd]

God bless him. Let's see now if the MSM disgrace themselves even more.

Meanwhile...the DUmmys and other anti-American leftists are
condemming the Qualls and claiming only the victim cindy has a say.
These leftist scum are not worthy of American freedoms.

[Zacs Mom]

Hey all y'all....check it out!!



A tent is being set up for the benefit of supporters of President Bush and the troops in front of the Yellow Rose in Crawford (at the intersection of highways 317 and 185.) The owner, Bill Johnson is an acquaintance of President Bush and wanted to provide a clearing house for Bush supporters who come to the area and wish to find out what's happening, how to organize, etc. Johnson said this group is trying to serve God and country. They plan a candlelight vigil Saturday next, in the evening, around the large angel silhouette on the tent site. They are calling the area Ft. Qualls, in honor of a fallen soldier whose father lives in Temple, Texas and supports President Bush and the war effort.

THIS ANGEL MARKS THE SPOT of the area where supporters of President Bush and the war effort may gather. It is adjacent to The Yellow Rose.

BILL JOHNSON (second from right) and others work to set up the area called Ft. Qualls

CONCESSION AND MUSIC — Anthony Farr, disabled army veteran (by a car bomb in Baghdad, from Bryant, Ark., but now living at Ft. Hood Hospital) is in charge the concession stand and music in the trailer next to Ft. Qualls.

Info and photos from The Lone Star Iconoclast ~ Photos By Gene Ellis

[Just A Nobody]

I wish everyone would ignore the Moonbats, and let it die down and go away,

Wrong, unequivocally wrong thinking. You must be young and unaware of how these "people" operate.

Ignoring them and not responding in anyway is exactly what happened 35 years ago, which led to the slaughter of 2-3 million Vietnamese, total humiliation and degradation of our brave soldiers and caused a divide within our country that has never closed.