Posted on 08/23/2005 1:48:17 PM PDT by BenLurkin
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Supporters of President Bush clashed with anti-war activists as they wound their way through California after rallying in the hometown of Cindy Sheehan, the mother who started a protest camp outside Bush's Texas ranch.
Conservative activists and military families embarked on the tour Monday, calling it "You don't speak for me, Cindy!" A verbal confrontation erupted when the caravan arrived in Sacramento and was met by anti-war protesters chanting for Bush to bring home the troops.
Sheehan supporter Dan Elliott, 71, confronted caravan members by waving a sign reading "Death is not support" and heckling one of the tour's organizers as she addressed the crowd.
"You are ruining the morale over there," responded Greg Parkinson, a Bush supporter.
Sheehan began her protest vigil Aug. 6 on the road leading to Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, an act that has encouraged anti-war activists to join her and prompted peace vigils nationwide. Sheehan's 24-year-old son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, was killed last year in Iraq.
The pro-Bush caravan planned rallies in several California cities before heading to Crawford, where Sheehan opponents have formed their own camp.
"It's time to lay down the anger. We need to continue to uphold those people over there, to uphold those men and women with their boots on the ground," said Deborah Johns of the Northern California Marine Moms, who helped organize the caravan and addressed supporters outside the Vacaville Reporter newspaper in Sheehan's hometown.
Some caravan members called the anti-war protesters communists and said they were "aiding and abetting the enemy." Those comments enraged Sheehan supporter Dee Ann Heath, who said she has two sons serving in Iraq and another preparing to leave.
"I don't support the war, but I support my sons," she said. "I simply want them to come home."
In Vacaville, Toni Colip, 50, said her son, David, went to high school with Casey Sheehan and is now in the Army, although not in Iraq. Colip said her son opposes Cindy Sheehan's activities and has asked her to support his military service even if he is injured or killed.
"He said, 'Don't dishonor me; don't walk on my grave,'" Colip said.
Sheehan vowed to remain in Texas until Bush agreed to meet with her or until his monthlong vacation ended Sept. 3, but she flew to Los Angeles last week after her 74-year-old mother had a stroke. She is expected to return to Texas in a few days.
On Monday, Bush was in Salt Lake City, where he spoke to a national veterans group to rally support for the war. Bush has said he sympathizes with Sheehan, but a White House spokeswoman said he did not plan to change his schedule and meet with her. She and other families met with Bush about two months after Casey died, before she became a vocal opponent of the war.
Well then, back to my original question. :o)
" Those comments enraged Sheehan supporter Dee Ann Heath, who said she has two sons serving in Iraq and another preparing to leave.
"I don't support the war, but I support my sons," she said. "I simply want them to come home."
If her sons are sent to Afghanistan, Korea or Bosnia, etc- I bet her views would be the same.
" I support the military, as long as my sons stay stateside. "
The prefer life, unless a fetus is the question.
They don't care if a peace us under the heels of a tyrant who filled over 200 mass graves, as Saddam did.
Arm the front HUMVEE with twin .50's and mow down every antiwar demonstrator you see.
No, I would instead arm it with a gun firing soap-and-water...more hazardous to the average peacenik than bullets!
Arm the front HUMVEE with twin .50's and mow down every antiwar demonstrator you see.
No, I would instead arm it with a gun firing soap-and-water...more hazardous to the average peacenik than bullets!
It's interesting that the reporter ties these anti-Sheehan protesters to Bush. Judging from their chants, it looks more like they are backing the War than the President.
Does anyone who was around in the 60's remember anti-War protesters being confronted on the street by pro-War protesters?
That works for me.
Well said, you get it, I get it, but people like Dee Ann
Heath will never get it. The enemy is counting on nit-wits
like her.
Off your game today, my boy, off your game.
Funny, I was thinking about this last night as I watched local news (talking about cindyloon)just after watching 911 on National Geographic. I do not remember anybody confronting the VN war protesters.
I would be though, if there were counter-protests, the MSM never got the word out! Glad the internet has made the times change.
Not likely. The anti-American crowd is, and always will be anti-American. It doesn't matter who the enemy is -- they will aid and abet them.
That is excluding the utterly duped people of course. As for them we can only hope they see the light -- and soon.
Lord would I love to get the chance to do that.
No, I am just so ON my game that you're not seeing it.
(Mysterious, confident grin)
That is one reason why the war on terror is NOT another Vietnam.
Ahem. I was around in the 60's. Groups that attacked anti-war protesters were the police, National Guard, construction workers and the Hell's Angels.
The police were the best at non-lethal attacks. Construction workers and Hell's Angels just didn't have the discipline to keep at it block after block.
Of course these groups couldn't exactly be described as pro-war. More like anti-street scum.
Does anyone who was around in the 60's
I am no where near CIndy's ditch.
I do detect the smell of moth balls.
'Sweatin to the Oldies'
Confidence noted. : )
It's war only when the U.S. fights back.
It's OK if U.S. "imperialists" are attacked and killed. That's not war. That's the world sending us a message that we should try to understand them; or, perhaps, it's "oppressed" people trying to get liberation from our allies such as in Viet Nam. I guess.
Never during the last century or this have the "anti-war" crowd protested against any country but the U.S. Go figure.
The one time when there was no "anti-war" from America's left? When Germany's National Socialists attacked the American left's Uncle Joe's socialist workers' paradise.
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