Sheehan Brings Protest Here (Houston, TX)

Houston Chronicle ^ | Sept. 2, 2005 | KRISTEN MACK

[anymouse]

She makes a symbolic visit to DeLay's office, attends anti-war rally at a church

Cindy Sheehan, now internationally known for her crusade to get President Bush to explain her son's death in Iraq, swung through the Houston area Thursday with a busload of anti-war protesters.

She went to U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's office in Stafford and an evening anti-war rally at a local church.

At DeLay's office, she asked to meet with the Republican power broker and supporter of the Iraq war. But DeLay wasn't there to hear her plea.

"We didn't get an appointment. We were told by his staffer we could put in a request and perhaps we would get a meeting," Sheehan said in an interview with the Houston Chronicle.

She acknowledged that they didn't really expect a meeting and that the visit was largely symbolic.

Shannon Flaherty, DeLay's press secretary, said the group didn't request to meet with the congressman until Thursday.

"He already had a set schedule of packed events today," she said. "It's obvious they never wanted to meet with the congressman and were just looking for another publicity stunt."

DeLay, R-Sugar Land, was in town. He toured the Astrodome, which is sheltering Katrina evacuees, talked to Coast Guard officials at Ellington Field and participated in a conference call with Bush, Flaherty said.

Sheehan pulled up stakes Wednesday at Camp Casey, the site near Bush's ranch in Crawford named after her son, who was killed last year in Iraq.

Sheehan arrived in Crawford on Aug. 6 when Bush began his five-week vacation. She vowed to stay until she could meet with the president or until he returned to Washington, which he did Wednesday. Her 26-day vigil sparked new attention to a peace movement that she hopes will grow as she and others on three buses stop in dozens of states before converging in Washington, D.C., for a march and rallies Sept. 24.

The visit to DeLay's Stafford office was a last-minute change. Sheehan originally had planned to go to the Clear Lake office, and about 80 people assembled there, about evenly split between Sheehan and Bush supporters.

"Anyone that loses a son, you have to feel sorry for," said Cyril Hosley, whose son Rick was deployed to Iraq with the Marines last week. "But she gives comfort to the enemy. The time for rhetoric is before the troops go, not once they're committed."

John R. Cobarruvias, president of the Bay Area New Democrats, said Sheehan is "standing up for us, we came out here to stand up for her. This war was a mistake, and someone should be held accountable."

Sheehan spoke at a rally Thursday night at Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church in northwest Houston, then was to head to her California home for a few days.

Today, her supporters plan to go to Shreveport, La., to deliver more than 5,000 pounds of supplies left over from Camp Casey to hurricane victims.

kristen.mack@chron.com

[anymouse]

Did the Chronicle confirm this or did they just read the left's web site lies? They also claimed that they were going to go down to Galveston to Rep. Ron Paul's office as well. DeLay's people said that Sheehan was a no show at the Stafford office as well.

Shelly Morriss, left, and Alan Frederick demonstrate opposing viewpoints outside Rep. Tom DeLay's office Thursday.

The Comical managed to include a lone Shee-ham protestor that sneaked into our ranks and implies that the numbers where equal. The left had maybe 10-12 max, where as we had 75 minimum.

I knew they where going to spin this as a hurricane relief drive. I predict that the Cindy bus trip is over.

Here is a link to the DUmmies photos of the protest event at DeLay's office - notice how even in their photos our guys outnumber them greatly.

[anymouse]

Galveston-Houston ping.

[Howlin]

Is it a coincidence that Cindy and some of the NO looters are arriving in town at the same time?

[Mo1]

I double dare her to go protest at the Astrodome .. *L*

[rineaux]

she has fallen on deaf ears. no one cares. delay has been busy working with shelters from around his district area to house the refugees. cindy is but a pimple on the bottom of society.

[zarf]

Sheehan is sooooooooo pre-Hurricane Katrina.

[Deetes]

Cindy who ?

[JennysCool]

Exactly.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Please show the *itch the nearest ditch.
Thanks

[Howlin]

Oh, you are bad.

[expatguy]

"Internationally known"?

I think that is a pretty big stretch.

An American Expat in Southeast Asia

[Deo volente]

memo to Ms. Sheehan:

Get a life!

[Squantos]

Just for giggles does anyone have a picture of their site in Crawford....did the trash leave trash per se ?

[anymouse]

Just for giggles does anyone have a picture of their site in Crawford....did the trash leave trash per se ?

What do you think the 5k worth of "supplies" is?

It ain't soap. ;)

Today, her supporters plan to go to Shreveport, La., to deliver more than 5,000 pounds of supplies left over from Camp Casey to hurricane victims.

[Dustbunny]

What do you think the 5k worth of "supplies" is?

That same question ran through my mind.

5k's worth of 'supplies' sounds good but for all we know it could just be 5k's worth of the total BS she and her supporters have been slinging around.

[putupjob]

Cindy Shiite is so August.

[Zacs Mom]

Gracey ~ is that your 'chicken-hearted vet' holding the protest sign in this picture?

[guitarnick40]

Gee, ya mean Cindy isn't volunteering to help in New Orleans? Why am I not surprised she would continue to try and turn the spotlight back on herself during this national crisis.

Ding Dong the witch is dead.

[tina07]

"ding dong the witch is dead"

Amen to that!