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?
I betcha John Kerry's office is NOT planning on sending a thank you note to Cindy for saying that his office IS working on a plan with her to bring the troops home by the end of this year..
I never did tell you and the other FReepers what a great job ya'll did! I so thrilled to see you made it on Brit's show..
Thanks!
Good point. I don't expect to see Kerry putting out ads anytime soon saying "Endorsed by Cindy Sheehan"!
She'd deserve a great big Chris Ruth juicy steak if/when she decides to take a one-way trip there. Think about it Cindy!
Thanks. Wonder if the Du'ers would also rather live under Chavez or Castro than in the USA?
Jake's (John Belushi) order to Aretha Franklin in "The Blues Brothers".
I'm sure that they would ~say~ they'd prefer it, but probably not while actually on their way there. :~)
I always get a bizarre perspective shock in that place (DU). I mean... You'd think people could vary on the details, but it's more than that. It's as if they are actually living in a different universe. What they see and hear is not the same as what we see and hear. They think the MSM is right wing. They think Hardball is right wing. While I do think Hardball tends to show both sides of the debate better than say "Olberman" I think you'd have to be insane to call them right wing.
Agreed 100%. As much as I loathe Cindy Sheehan, she's an extremely useful symbol. Ironically, we need her around to ensure conservative victories. She's far more useful here than in Venezuela. To all those that want her to shut up & leave, keep in mind that you don't live with her and you don't have to listen to her. The best thing to do is to simply ignore her.
Thanks! We had a lot of fun on Monday.
It's obvious that this nutcase is enamored of the left.
Is she really that stupid? That is almost Neville Chamberlain stupid.
Isn't this the network Dan Abrams heads now?
The winds have changed over there. Norah is a savvy gal.
And why is it that we never see Cindy Sheehan and Linette "Squeaky" Fromm in the same room or the same photo?
LOL!! The dumb clucks can't tell when they're being FReeped!
"she'd rather live under Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez than George Bush."
The majority of Americans would not rather live under Chavez. Get with the program, or get out of the country. I'm tired of these whiners complaining that we have to change the United States to fit their delusions.
I just checked expedia.com.
A one way ticket to Caracas from SFO is as little as $419 with two-week advanced purchase.
I suggest we take up a collection.
I'd be really curious as to how she would reply if someone asked her why she doesn't just go ahead and move there.
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."
And Sheehan calls GW the biggest terrorist in the world... but NO, she doesn't hate him, much less trash him.
The truth is that even Hugo wouldn't date her.
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