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?
Hardball/NewsBusters ping to Today show list.
Time to put up or shut up Cindy.
So what's stopping her? Just apply for citizenship in Venezuela. I'll pay for the stamp.
I only want true happiness for Cindy. LOL
Revoke her citizenship and send her by DHL
Just like Saddam.
Anyway, who's stopping you wretch?
She has to save her strength to play the Ditch Witch again this August.
The state department website has all the information she'll ever need to renounce her citizenship. They make it clear that it's a very serious matter.
She should be deported IMHO, and I mean this.
If you hold a "hunger strike" under Chavez, it doesn't end at lunchtime.
I understand that there is an old Jewish curse that goes, "May God grant you everything for which you wish."
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.
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."
OH PULL-EEEEEZE..He's been democratically elected eight times because the voters didn't want to suffer the consequences of NOT voting for him..
One last word for Cindy..why don't you freakin MOVE to Venezuela then..no one is stopping you..by the way, I live outside Atlanta..we have an airline..perhaps you've heard of it..it's called "Delta" and they're ready when you are..you damned traitor..
It seems that Hugo's girlfriend is waiting for an invitation with a red rose. They take long walks through cocoa fields, read passages from the Communist Manifesto to one another, torture some peasants on moonlit nights...
I really would love if someone on FR got up a donation campaign among Freepers to buy Cindy a one way ticket to Venezuela and then to present it to her at her next public appearance. I'd do it but I fear I'd then have to be the one who'd have to approach the stomach churning wretch to present her with the plane ticket.
Hell, I'd pay for a one way ticket.
Well, Cindy, we agree. We'd rather you were living under Chavez, too. The thing is, once you crossed him or he got sick of your yammering, he'd eradicate you.
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