Posted on 07/05/2006 4:50:47 PM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
July 5, 2006
As James Taranto suggested Monday in his WSJ 'Best of the Web' column, at some point you *can* question a person's patriotism. Cindy Sheehan surely passed that point long ago. But just in case there was any doubt, Sheehan made things clear this evening, flatly stating that she'd rather live under Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez than George Bush.
Sheehan made her comments during a Hardball appearance, during which guest host Norah O'Donnell, sitting in for Chris Matthews, gave her a surprisingly rough ride. At one point, O'Donnell asked: "Why go stand by side by Hugo Chavez in Venezuela? Why do that? Would you rather live under him than George Bush?
Sheehan: "Yes. Hugo Chavez is not a dictator like you introduced him. He's been democratically elected eight times. He is not anti-American, he has helped the poor people of America. He has sent aid to New Orleans, he has sold heating oil to disadvantaged people in America at low cost, and the people of his country love him."
The exchange over Chavez capped a rugged line of questioning to which O'Donnell subjected Sheehan. Other excerpts:
O'Donnell: "Americans may hate the war but they don't necessarily hate the president. How do you expect to get change by going around the world and trashing the President of the United States?"
Sheehan: "I don't hate the president either, and I don't trash the president. I trash the president's foreign policy."
O'Donnell: "But you called him the biggest terrorist in the world, so you are trashing the president."
Sheehan: "Well he says a terrorist is somebody that kills innocent men, women and children."
O'Donnell: "You have just begun a two-month hunger strike. Isn't this really just more of a publicity stunt?"
Norah later observed: "You claim not to be in the fringes, not to be an extremist." She then challenged Sheehan to name members of Congress who support her call for immediate withdrawal from Iraq.
Sheehan claimed bi-partisan support, citing Republican congressmen Ron Paul and Walter Jones, and on the Dem side Charley Rangel and John Conyers.
When Sheehan mentioned John Kerry as an example of senatorial support, O'Donnell shot back: "the bill Sen. Kerry has proposed went down in flames in the Senate."
Continued O'Donnell: "What you're calling for is in fact an extreme position. There are very few members of congress who support immediate withdrawal. You would, if you could, fly a bunch of planes over there, pick up all our troops, and take them home tomorrow."
Sheehan claimed there is an "Out of Iraq Caucus" in congress with 70 members calling for an immediate withdrawal.
In any case, an interesting exchange. Sudden surge of hawkishness from Norah, or perhaps a subliminal suggestion to Dems, as a matter of electoral strategy, not to associate themselves with Sheehan?
Now, THAT"S funny, I don't care who y'are... |
I usually watch that show instead of Shep Smith's show...he is usually just giving news that I have heard..
Plus, Hairball amuses me sometimes...when it seems like they are trying SO hard to find a way to tie any and all news into a way to bash Bush.
You are definitely right when it comes to Norah vs. Andrea...
So true...but, it seems the lefties are all talk and no action when it comes to wanting to leave this country, aren't they?
Plane ticket hell!!! Give her a one way ticket on a tramp steamer.
Yeah, remember when Kerry lost the dozen or so celebrities and thousands of citizens got my hopes all up when they swore they would move to Canada? Never happened.
exactly
Make it a broom.
Norah giving Cindy a rough ride?
What an unwanted mental picture!
So will the honeymoon be in Massachusetts too?
Cindy knows very well that she is perfectly safe saying these things because she lives in America. Run it down though she may, she knows the truth. That she is free to say the most outrageous things here and that her antics would get her killed in many other countries. She doesnt respect this country certainly but she freely takes advantage of all it offers. She no more wants to live under Chavez rule than I do. This is just more of attention getting garbage.
"In any case, an interesting exchange. Sudden surge of hawkishness from Norah, or perhaps a subliminal suggestion to Dems, as a matter of electoral strategy, not to associate themselves with Sheehan?"
Exactly. Good strategy but it won't work. They needed to change direction at least six to nine months ago to appear hawkish.
"Once Cindy went after Hillary, the MSM decided to kick her to the curb, just as we did long ago. Use them up and throw them out.....that's the Dem way."
No truer words were ever written.
And, how many times was Saddam elected?
Wow!
Then just GO, you lying psychiatric basket case.
If that is all this interview was, I still don't think Norah was very tough in the least. But that's just me, as I would have spit in her face or worse.
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