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PR Machine Behind Cindy Sheehan?
Channel 7 San Francisco ^ | August 26, 2005 | San Fran Channel 7

Posted on 08/26/2005 11:28:51 AM PDT by Michael Hagan

With the President back at his Crawford ranch, the anti-war protest right outside his ranch is getting a lot more media attention. ABC7 looks at who is financing the operation and who's providing on-the-ground support.

The camp at Crawford is full of Cindy Sheehan supporters, people from all walks of life. But off to the side are a small group of professionals, skilled in politics and public relations who are marketing her message.

Cindy Sheehan kneels before a cross with her son's name on it, touches his picture, wipes her tears. It's an outpouring of emotion that is part of a scheduled news event organized daily for the television radio and print reporters who crowd in to capture a mother's grief.

Cindy Sheehan: "And I'm never going to see him again, I'm never going to hold him again, I'm never going to hear his voice again."

Sheehan's message hasn't changed since she got here but the support staff interested in getting that message out to the world has grown considerably.

Organizers are set up in this house trailer. Their meetings are closed to reporters.

Leading the group is Fenton Communications employee Michele Mulkey, based in San Francisco. Fenton specializes in public relations for liberal non profits.

Their bills are being paid by True Majority, a non-profit set up by Ben Cohen, of Ben and Jerry's ice cream fame.

Ben Cohen: "People are willing to listen to her and we want to do as much as we can to make her voice heard."

Cohen's liberal group has teamed up with Berkeley-based moveon.org, an anti-Bush group co-founded by Joan Blades.

Earlier this month, MoveOn.org helped organize anti-war vigils in support of Cindy Sheehan. Current Democratic National Party chair Howard Dean's organization, Democracy for America, is also involved. As is the more radical anti-war group Code Pink, organized by San Francisco's Medea Benjamin.

Money donated through these groups and others is helping to pay for Gold Star families whose children have been killed in Iraq to attend anti-Bush protests.

This week, Simi Valley, California Gold Star wife Melanie House flew to Idaho for a protest and then flew to Crawford.

Reporter: "Can you tell us if you're getting help in airfare to come down here?"

Melanie House: "What difference does that make?"

There is real reluctance to talk about whose paying. And the PR machine that's promoting Cindy Sheehan. But not everyone here is completely comfortable with it.

Gold Star mother Karen Meredith went to Crawford from Mt. View. Her son Ken Ballard died last year.

Karen Meredith: "Sometimes things don't feel quite right to me. They don't feel wrong but maybe that's how they do it in the marketing business."

ABC7's Mark Matthew: "You feel you're part of a marketing business?"

Karen Meredith: "Possibly. Yeah I think so."


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cindysheehan; codepink
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To: radar101

I'm happy to see the F.O.P. has about the same "avoid at all cost" list that I have.


61 posted on 08/26/2005 1:04:33 PM PDT by hotshu
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To: the invisib1e hand

Could be she knows he's going to a better place?


62 posted on 08/26/2005 1:08:27 PM PDT by hotshu
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To: hotshu
Could be she knows he's going to a better place?

That was the drift of my remark but it was really a cheap shot. I certainly hope they meet again someday. (the sooner the better -- just kidding).

63 posted on 08/26/2005 1:09:31 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (see my FR page for a link to the tribute to Terri Schaivo, a short video presentation.)
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To: the invisib1e hand

I just wanted to add the drum slap!


64 posted on 08/26/2005 1:13:56 PM PDT by hotshu
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To: Michael Hagan


PS ~ To the good folks in Crawford ~



Y'all need to find this poor fella and let him know that help is on the way!!

65 posted on 08/26/2005 1:17:44 PM PDT by Zacs Mom (Proud wife of a Marine! ... and purveyor of "rampant, unedited dialogue")
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To: hotshu
ba da bing to you!
66 posted on 08/26/2005 1:17:51 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (see my FR page for a link to the tribute to Terri Schaivo, a short video presentation.)
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To: Michael Hagan
Anyone who thinks Hanoi Kerry and Hanoi Jane
aren't behind the anti war crowd
needs to get a clue.






67 posted on 08/26/2005 1:39:57 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Never Forget)
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To: Irish Queen
Every time I hear her voice, it makes my eyes water
It's shrill and grating
68 posted on 08/26/2005 1:59:42 PM PDT by wolfcreek
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To: Michael Hagan
Cindy Sheehan kneels before a cross with her son's name on it, touches his picture, wipes her tears. It's an outpouring of emotion staged moment that is part of a scheduled news event organized daily for the television radio and print reporters who crowd in to capture a mother's grief.

Phony phony phony

69 posted on 08/26/2005 2:05:06 PM PDT by PogySailor
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To: Michael Hagan
ABC-7 looks at the financing Of 'Camp Casey'!
 
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=politics&id=3382521
 
Ben Cohen, owner of Ben and Jerry's ice cream fame, is also supporting Camp Casey? Boycott 'Ben & Jerry Ice Cream!'
 
Go to Baskin & Robbins instead.

70 posted on 08/26/2005 2:07:59 PM PDT by hamboy
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To: hotshu
No offense, but where have you been? Cohen has been outwardly campaigning his leftist tripe since before they sold the company. It was set up originally as a "communal" operation from the beginning, IIRC.

No offense taken

To be honest one you become familiar with the left SOP you know how their plays work before they do, so you don't need to follow the particular in any game

Once you know the game you know the positions and what is required to play the positions

The name of who in filling the positions this season become irrelevant

The false front "peace movement" tactic of the left is an old as the hills... only the the most useful of idiots can not distinguish them from true pacifist

71 posted on 08/26/2005 2:25:25 PM PDT by tophat9000
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To: Burf
Doesn't the media have access to equipment that could detect at long ranges what was going on in that trailer.

I'm thinking one of those "Big Ear" type deals they use at football games along the sidelines so that you can hear the snap count, the pads hitting the other pads (which really isn't all that loud), etc.

72 posted on 08/26/2005 9:10:35 PM PDT by El Gato
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To: El Gato; Burf
I meant to add that such "sound dishes" are advertised in many gun, shooting and hunting magazines. That's were they are sometimes called "Big Ear". Here's a pic of a small version, but I've seen them with larger dishes, which gives you more gain and more directivity.


73 posted on 08/26/2005 9:41:26 PM PDT by El Gato
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To: Michael Hagan
"Their bills are being paid by True Majority, a non-profit set up by Ben Cohen, of Ben and Jerry's ice cream fame. Ben Cohen: "People are willing to listen to her and we want to do as much as we can to make her voice heard." Cohen's liberal group has teamed up with Berkeley-based moveon.org, an anti-Bush group co-founded by Joan Blades. "

What is really funny about Joan Blades is that she is financed by a husband that got his money from basically developing and marketing a screen saver. LOL, you have just got to love America. (that had to take all of about 5 or 10 minutes to develop).

Hey America these are Dot-Com winners. No wonder they were backing the DNC and Clinton.
74 posted on 08/26/2005 10:07:12 PM PDT by WHBates
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To: q_an_a
A sincere thank you for your service to country.
75 posted on 08/27/2005 5:01:18 AM PDT by MosesKnows
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To: PogySailor

Speaking of phony - Al Sharpton on Fox & Friends now - before departing for Crawford


76 posted on 08/27/2005 5:17:21 AM PDT by Seattle Conservative (God Bless and protect our troops and their CIC)
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To: Michael Hagan

Cindy's groundswell is nothing more than the MSM wavepool.


77 posted on 08/27/2005 5:18:32 AM PDT by stocksthatgoup (Polls = Proof that when the MSM want your opinion they will give it to you.)
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To: stocksthatgoup

78 posted on 08/27/2005 5:20:41 AM PDT by stocksthatgoup (Polls = Proof that when the MSM want your opinion they will give it to you.)
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To: Michael Hagan

Email the owners of Ben and Jerrys:

Ben: ben@together.net

Jerry: Jerry@benjerry.com


79 posted on 08/27/2005 9:27:37 AM PDT by BATNF
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