Sheehan: 'I'd Rather Live Under Chavez than Bush', Norah Gives Cindy Rough Ride

Hardball/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[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?

[Brilliant]

No one is stopping you, Cindy.

[rhombus]

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?

I think the latter for sure. The smarter Democrats know this cardboard victim's played out and nothing but a clown. They'll need fresh victims for '06 and surely for '08.

[Paleo Conservative]

Would it be cheaper to buy a one-way ticket or a round trip ticket and just not use the return leg?

[Army Air Corps]

Hugo's Girlfriend ping

[Zuben Elgenubi]

What is up with Nora O'Donnell? She's Democrat through and through. Something's up if Nora's giving Cindy the business.

[ChadGore]

They defend Saddam, Castro, Chavez and Mugabe.

[Savage Beast]

Hey, Cindy, what about Pol Pot, Adolf Hitler, Joe Stalin, and Idi Amin???

(Remember all the Leftists who admire these "progressive" regimes?)

[Tribune7]

The Ann Coulter Effect. Not even female Dino Media talkshow hosts are immune.

[Soul Seeker]

I am sure every Freeper would contribute for her ticket to Venezuela.

[conservativecorner]

So buy a ticket Cindy, and you can shack up with Chavez every night.

[RochesterFan]

Don't let the door hit you in the rear, Cindy...

[EricT.]

Don't let the door hit you in your flabby ass, beyotch.

[Txsleuth]

I just KNEW you would start a thread with Cindy's newest revelation...

WHOA..she didn't just say she would rather live under Hugo Chavez...she portrayed him as a benevolent leader that just lives to help people...especially Americans that have been so poorly oppressed by the terrorist George W. Bush!!!!

LOL

[doug from upland]

Let's raise the plane fare after the Freepathon.

[PISANO]

She has my blessing if she would rather live under Hugo Chavez.

I will donate money towards a ONE WAY ticket.

[daybreakcoming]

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.

Need someone to make one of the Fabio romance paperback book covers of that scenario starring Hugo and Cindy.

And I have to ask............if it's not too personal :o) but what is that tag line all about? "(Four fried chickens and a coke)"

[TNCMAXQ]

Why her comments should come as a surprise is beyond me.

Apart from that though, why is this hag a guest on a network news show anyway? Who gives a rat's behind what she has to say. How may times has Norah O'Donnell interviewed the mother of a serviceman when she *supports* GWB??

[YaYa123]

I think Nora O'Donnell is auditioning for a show of her own. I think she's practicing her "I wanna be" Tim Russert/Chris Matthews interview skills. But believe me, Nora would never rough up one of the DC media elites.

[Txsleuth]

PING a LING!!!

LOL

[AmericaUnite]

Thanks, there was another thread on this. Now I get the picture.