Posted on 08/29/2005 8:54:49 AM PDT by Milhous
CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) -- Cindy Sheehan still hasn't achieved a meeting with the president during her three-week-long war protest near his ranch, but she met a man who plays one on TV.
Martin Sheen, who plays Democratic President Josiah "Jeb" Bartlet on NBC's "The West Wing," went to Sheehan's makeshift campsite Sunday. He is known for his peace activism.
"At least you've got the acting president of the United States," Sheen said as the crowd of more than 300 people cheered. "I think you know what I do for a living, but this is what I do to stay alive."
Then Sheen led anti-war demonstrators who are Roman Catholic in reciting the rosary.
Sheehan, of Vacaville, was among a group of grieving families who met President Bush about two months after her son died last year, before she became a vocal opponent of the war.
Bush has said Sheehan has the right to protest and he sympathizes with her, but his aides have said there are no plans to change his schedule to meet with her. His vacation is to end Sept. 2.
She arrived in Bush's adopted hometown Aug. 6 and promised to stay until she could question Bush about the war that has claimed more than 1,870 U.S. soldiers' lives -- including that of her son Casey.
Earlier Sunday, the Rev. Al Sharpton spoke at an interfaith service at the camp, saying he was compelled to meet Sheehan.
"I feel that it is our moral obligation to stand and to be courageous with these families, and particularly Cindy, that have become the conscience of this nation," Sharpton said. "Somebody had to bring to the doorsteps of this president the truth."
Sharpton, a former Democratic presidential candidate, said he and the peace activists would protest a war they believed was wrong regardless of the president's political party.
During the service, several cars with pro-Bush signs drove slowly down the road by the protest campsite. Later, one man who had been walking down the street was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault for allegedly shoving an anti-war demonstrator, McLennan County sheriff's deputies said.
Sharpton reminded protesters that Sunday was the 42nd anniversary of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington, D.C.
"The civil rights movement and the peace movement was not made from big names ... and I wanted to come on the anniversary with ordinary people that are doing what I think Dr. King would have wanted us to do today," Sharpton said.
He spoke under a large tent on the 1-acre private lot the demonstrators have used for more than a week for large events. Some protesters also have started camping at the second site.
Meanwhile, a few dozen Bush supporters held signs from their small camp in a ditch across the street from Sheehan's original site, where most of the dozens of protesters have continued camping off the main road leading to Bush's ranch. A dozen sheriff's deputies stood between the two groups.
After the war protest ends Wednesday, the anti-war group will spread its message on a bus tour, with the first stop probably in the southeast Texas district of U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.
"I feel that it is our moral obligation to stand and to be courageous with these families, and particularly Cindy, that have become the conscience of this nation," Sharpton said. "Somebody had to bring to the doorsteps of this president the truth."
Oh yeah, Al. Just like you handled the truth in the Tawana Brawley incident.
Still waiting for the MSM to jump on him for that, and for him to apologize. But not holding my breath.
Taking the role in West Wing was arguably the worst thing Martin Sheen ever did to himself.
He now thinks he really IS the frickin' President!
All those cameras are "compelling".
Dang! I left it in my other pants.
Moranis. And believe it or not, he's even shorter in person than his kids were in that movie.
Yep. Sharpton knows what side his bread is buttered on.
All righty now, when's the made for TV movie coming out? and whose playing the dingbat? Dry heaves as I type....
I wonder how many survived the ensuing thunderbolt.
Fictional president meets fictional heroine; it makes perfect sense.
Can this get any better? Paging TIM ROBBINS!
Every kook in the world is going to show up with her sooner or later it seems.
"Sheen led anti-war demonstrators who are Roman Catholic in reciting the rosary."
Sheen was one of many celebrities who supported a pro-abortion march last year.
A story about 2 fake people.
Rather is a Texan......shouldn't he head there to report on this "fake but accurate story?"
I was once stuck in a rain shelter during a charity golf event with Jack Nicholson. I called my wife on the cell phone to tell her, and Nicholson could tell from my end of the call that she didn't believe me. He took the phone from me, despite an OBVIOUS hangover, and spoke very politely to my wife. I was pleasantly surprised.
Good. She's now had her meeting with the "president," so she can go home.
He hired Jeannine Garafalo, I'm sure he'll hire Cindy.
She's perfect for that show.
"Sharpton reminded protesters that Sunday was the 42nd anniversary of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington, D.C."
In which Martin Luther King Jr. discussed the freedom for all, except for people from Iraq. At least that is what Al thinks it said.....
Fictional indeed. Michael Moron screamed years ago that we had a fake president, a fake war, blah blah blah. It's OK for the lefties to lionize Sheen as if he were really the president though.
Over 300 people there? Wow, what a groundswell of support from the American people! These protests are almost as big as in the Vietnam era, when 10s of 1000s would show up.
I love sarcasm.
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