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.
ROFL!!!
ok...deep breaths....
A "useful" ignorant fool!
See? (turns to face you)
That, and lots of hamsters.
Anti-war demonstrators must be confronted at every opportunity. They cannot be allowed to dictate public perception of the war, like they did during Vietnam. I was too young to remember Vietnam, so somebody set me straight if I'm wrong, but it appears to me that the left was largely unchallenged by the Silent Majority during those days. We can't let that happen again or the anti-American demonstrators will get their wish, which is complete surrender and humiliation of US foreign policy.
I am becoming more intrigued by the day as to how it is that these "women" who are so adamantly against the military manage to have so many sons who enlist.
What she's saying is that, despite HER opposition, she's got another one who joined up AFTER the war.
Laz just has no sense of humor.
What an interesting question. Is it perhaps because of their husbands, who are rarely, if ever, mentioned in these stories?
What's incredible to me is how these mothers seem to be missing the point. This is a VOLUNTEER military. They VOLUNTEERED. Hello?
That's why I threw it......
If you wear those high heels to bed, yer my kinda gal. :o)
Well, there's a good point.
I just always try to imagine myself fighting against something my son was for. I just can't see it.
And I try to imagine what he'd say if I was making as big an A$$ out of myself as these women are..........it would NOT be pretty, I can tell you that.......LOL.
I don't remember anyone protesting the anti-war VietNam protestors either. But since that time, to me, two happenings changed the world: (1) 9/11 and (2) the Internet. Cindy Sheehan seems to have conveniently forgotten 9/11.
I hope you're wrong about that; in fact, I pray you are.
They can't all have joined for that reason.
She states, ""I don't support the war, but I support my sons," she said. "I simply want them to come home."
What does she propose the troops are prepared to do? She has THREE sons in the military and it never occurred to this woman that they might actually end up fighting for their country. I respect each and every service member and pray for their safety but this woman acts as if the military was intended to be a country club.
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