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JON CARROLL [The Myth Of Cindy Sheehan]
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 2/3/6 | Jon Carroll

Posted on 02/03/2006 10:25:04 AM PST by SmithL

I do admire Cindy Sheehan. I like the way she used her moral authority to focus the attention on a single story of needless sacrifice, a single victim of the Bush administration's profligate and inept invasion of Iraq. Her standing as the mother of a soldier killed in the line of duty made her -- for a while -- not susceptible to the usual attacks from the right. When the sleek presidential motorcade whizzed past her small encampment in Crawford, Texas, it was a useful symbol for the decadent isolation of the Bush White House.

And so I say with all love: Cindy, back away from the fame machine. You are who you are, and you were great in that role, but you can't be someone else without a lot of work. And when things move too fast, you become a sock puppet, and easy to make fun of, and that hurts -- you, me, the cause, whatever. You could still be doing good, but right now, you're not helping. I have no idea whether you are leading the charge or following bad advice, but please, rethink the whole thing.

It all started when that encampment grew and grew. It became a kind of Woodstock for people with agendas. Inevitably, those agendas diluted and muddied the message, and pretty soon it became Camp Progressive Humans Against Globalization, Unsafe Logging Practices and American Policy in Burma. And then celebrities showed up, and we all had hot dogs and listened to Bruce Springsteen.

So somewhere, I think, Cindy Sheehan bought into the Cindy Sheehan myth. It happens. As my friend Carol Cantor says, "I think it's standard-issue (in the) left-wing activist's world, with the focus splintering into a multitude of passionate ineffectualities. She's done her bit and had her moment....

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: moonbat; sheehan
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The Left is MANDATED to say how much they admired Mother Sheehan, even as they recognize the damage she does to their various causes.

They just can't MOVEON.

1 posted on 02/03/2006 10:25:08 AM PST by SmithL
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To: SmithL

If Carroll is writing like this, the word has obviously gone forth from communist hq to dump Sheehan, ever so gently but firmly.


2 posted on 02/03/2006 10:28:09 AM PST by Argus
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To: Argus

Yep, the challenge to DiFi put Sheehan over the top on the left. They are going to dump her.


3 posted on 02/03/2006 10:29:31 AM PST by advance_copy (Stand for life, or nothing at all)
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To: SmithL
Moral authority my derriere
4 posted on 02/03/2006 10:29:36 AM PST by SF Republican
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To: SmithL

She has already spent ALL of her political capital.


5 posted on 02/03/2006 10:29:57 AM PST by Echo Talon
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To: SmithL
you become a sock puppet, and easy to make fun of, and that hurts -- you, me, the cause, whatever.

Professional writers should probably stay away from lazy use of "whatever".

Also, what is "the cause"? I'm guessing he means the Destruction of the West, but it would be helpful if he could spell out this noble cause for those of us who don't get Talking Points faxed to us each morning.

6 posted on 02/03/2006 10:30:12 AM PST by ClearCase_guy
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To: SmithL
I like the way she used her moral authority

Huh?

7 posted on 02/03/2006 10:30:55 AM PST by Jim Noble (And you know what I'm talkin' 'bout)
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Comment #8 Removed by Moderator

To: SmithL

Is everyone named "john" without the "h" a commie, a queer or both?


9 posted on 02/03/2006 10:32:11 AM PST by hang 'em ("None work so hard for their money as those who marry for it " - another Freeper)
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To: SmithL
In other words, you served our purposes now your a liability. Get lost!
10 posted on 02/03/2006 10:33:18 AM PST by Reaganesque
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To: SmithL
I wish more people would make light of the fact that Cindy did not raise Casey, that Casey was raised by his step-mom. Cindy had only decided to become a mother when it was advantageous for her.
11 posted on 02/03/2006 10:33:40 AM PST by Andy from Beaverton (I only vote Republican to stop the Democrats)
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To: SmithL
I do admire Cindy Sheehan.

Hopefully, in a political sense...

12 posted on 02/03/2006 10:33:41 AM PST by Inspector Kemp (You can lead a liberal to reality, but you can't make them think.)
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To: SmithL

I love Cindy Sheehan. I am pushing to get her to run for Senate. Honest to God. I WANT her to be the face of the Dems for the next 10 years!!!!


13 posted on 02/03/2006 10:34:15 AM PST by jsk10
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To: SmithL

Great piece!


14 posted on 02/03/2006 10:34:23 AM PST by Froufrou
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To: SmithL
I do admire Cindy Sheehan.

How can anyone admire this 'useful idiot'? The only decent things she did:

-gave birth to Casey

-got out of the way and let another woman raise him

That's it. RIP Casey.

15 posted on 02/03/2006 10:34:26 AM PST by gate2wire
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To: SmithL

Personally, I hope she digs in her heels, plants her finger nails in the door frame, and will only leave when her handlers have to drag her away by her appendages. The surest way to get to the Left is to laugh at them, and lots of people are beginning to laugh at Mother Sheehan.


16 posted on 02/03/2006 10:35:14 AM PST by Clioman
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To: SmithL

Not only has she abandoned her remaining children but I wonder how they feel when they read the bad press, satire and derision written about their mother.

17 posted on 02/03/2006 10:35:26 AM PST by Lizavetta
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To: SmithL

Like most useless idiots, Sheehan has gotten drunk on the attention she achieved in Crawford. At first she drew sympathy. Now she is just pathetic.


18 posted on 02/03/2006 10:35:31 AM PST by sandbar
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To: Echo Talon

The MSM will decide when Sheehan has spent all of her political capital.

She has political capital as long as they decide she does.


19 posted on 02/03/2006 10:35:35 AM PST by MplsSteve
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To: Andy from Beaverton

>>>I wish more people would make light of the fact that Cindy did not raise Casey, that Casey was raised by his step-mom. Cindy had only decided to become a mother when it was advantageous for her.>>>

Very interesting fact. Do you have details?


20 posted on 02/03/2006 10:36:22 AM PST by sandbar
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