Chicago Sun Times: Sheehan says Bush's refusal to meet works in her favor

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Sheehan says Bush's refusal to meet works in her favor

August 31, 2005

BY ANGELA K. BROWN

CRAWFORD, Texas -- A woman who led an anti-war protest for nearly a month near President Bush's ranch said Tuesday that she's glad Bush never showed up to discuss her son's death in Iraq, saying the president's absence ''galvanized the peace movement.''

Cindy Sheehan's comments came as war protesters packed up their campsite near the ranch and prepared to leave Tuesday for a three-week bus tour.

''I look back on that, and I am very, very, very grateful he did not meet with me, because we have sparked and galvanized the peace movement,'' Sheehan said. ''If he'd met with me, then I would have gone home, and it would have ended there.''

Sheehan and about 50 other peace activists arrived in the one-stoplight town Aug. 6, the day after she spoke at a Veterans for Peace convention in Dallas. She and a few others spent that night in chairs in ditches, without food or flashlights, off the main road leading to the president's ranch. The Vacaville, Calif., woman vowed to stay until Bush's month-long vacation ended unless she could question him about the war that claimed the life of her 24-year-old son Casey.



http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-mom31.html

[MercutioATC]

1. NOT the message that needs to be sent.

It makes the whole event look like a publicity stunt.

[Kurovski]

3. If attempts by a mother (who lost her young son) to end an illegal war--

that continues to take and destroy lives--sounds like a publicity stunt, well then so be it.

[MercutioATC]

4. You're saying the quote doesn't harm the argument?

I disagree.

Of COURSE those who believe in what she's doing won't see it that way, but if the goal is to gain support for the movement from those on the fence, I think it's damaging.

[Kurovski]

6. We do disagree on this. But you may be right about some on

the fence.

I would hope that Americans make their decision to support/not support the war based on the info Cindy has brought to the fore (DSM, lack of accountability, and untruths) and not any personal statements made by her.

But that may not always be the case. In which case, you would be correct in your assesment.

[MercutioATC]

7. Then we DO agree.

I wholeheartedly agree that to those who already support Cindy, this means nothing.

[Eloriel]

8. I think it points up Bush's stupidity and stubborness and THAT

is a good message to send. There are people who aren't going to be moved by her no matter what, just as there are STILL people who believe that Vietnam was a good war and could've been won. :shrug: It's the ones on the fence that are reachable, and such a message about Bush (at his own hand, no less) might be just fine. The rightwing talkshow hosts will make much of it, of course, but their audience isn't our target audience anyway.

Currentl polls show that a majority of Americans are sympathetic with Sheehan. I doubt this comment by her will change that.

Poll: Majority of Americans Support Cindy Sheehan
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1737165
Link: http://www.elitestv.com/pub/2005/Aug/EEN431474e1bb7a3.html

[illflem]

2. Nothing new here

Cindy has been saying that since the beginning.

[MidnightWind]

5. My local paper (yes, in a red state) had this same article

but the title was "Cindy Sheehan says she's "Glad" the president didn't meet with her". Must be that infamous "liberal media bias" we hear so much about (but never actually see) at work. :sarcasm:

[Cha]

9. When I read this I thought..

whoever was in charge of keeping bush from talking to Cindy must be pulling their hair out..even before this statement from her.

Cindy wanted to talk with bush and he wouldn't come out from under his bed..so a Peace Movement was born. What's so "publicity stunt" about that?

bush was warned by several people in his own damn party to talk to Cindy but he wouldn't listen..he couldn't listen because the bushwa knew she would make chopped liver of him.

Cindy's the Real Deal..a Real Straight Talker..I have no problema with that.

[Ishoutandscream2]

10. Yes, Cindy is simply telling the truth

The peace movement has galvanized because of Bush's refusal to meet with her. If he would have seen her the first day, it would never have become the big media event it became. And many folks would never have gone to Crawford.

[Cha]

11. Right, Cindy is pointing out the

obvious in her own inimitable way!

Welcome to DU, Ishoutandscream!