Cindy Sheehan
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Cindy Sheehan is the mother of Army Specialist Casey Sheehan, who was killed in action April 4 2004 one year after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. She gained attention in August 2005 when she traveled with dozens of people to the Prairie Chapel Ranch in Crawford, Texas, where US President George W. Bush is taking a five-week vacation, to protest the war. Sheehan met once with President Bush and wishes to meet with him a second time to ask what her son died for. She says that Bush showed disrespect by treating the meeting as a party and referring to her as "Mom."
Sherry Bohlen, field director of the Progressive Democrats of America, says this of the protest:
- "We'll be sleeping in a tent in the ditch along the roadside (the only place that the authorities will allow us to be). I spoke with Cindy by phone again yesterday. She said that local authorities have told her that if we're still there by Thursday we'll be arrested as "national security risks"... She could well be the Rosa Parks of the movement against the Iraq War. Just as Rosa refused to leave the bus, Cindy is refusing to leave the roadside. She's the spark that is igniting the anti-war movement."
On the week of August 8, 2005 several other liberal groups were reported traveling to Texas to join the protest. Supporters point out the the Crawford protest highlights the Bush administration's belief in selective violence and also the belief that the President is not responsible for the deaths of those he commands.
Threat of Arrest
On August 9th, 2005 Internet political commentator Markos Moulitsas Zúniga broke the story and confirmed via telephone with Cindy Sheehan that the police had threatened to arrest all people on site on Thursday, August 11th, when Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Condolezza Rice will be at the president's nearby ranch. [1]
2004 Interview
On August 7, 2005, internet reporter Matt Drudge, quoting excerpts from The Vacaville Reporter, charged that Sheehan "has dramatically changed her account about what happened when she met the commander-in-chief last summer!". Drudge quotes her as having said last year, "I now know he's sincere about wanting freedom for the Iraqis," and also "I know he's sorry and feels some pain for our loss. And I know he's a man of faith." [2]
However, the same Vacaville Reporter article also quoted Sheehan as saying:"We haven't been happy with the way the war has been handled," and :"The president has changed his reasons for being over there every time a reason is proven false or an objective reached." [3]
Sheehan has been criticized for appearing to change her opinion about President Bush a year after the interview was published. Sheehan expressed outrage at President Bush, asking him "Why did you kill my son?" and views the meeting in negative terms.
External links
Interviews
- Buzzflash interview with Cindy Sheehan- October 7th, 2004
- The Reporter - Bush, Sheehans share moments - June 24, 2004
News Articles
- Guardian Unlimited - Bereaved mother camps outside Bush ranch
- US Newswire- More to Join Sheehan
- CNN.com/ CNN- Soldier's mom digs in near Bush ranch - Aug 7, 2005
- NY Times- Of the Many Deaths in Iraq, One Mother's Loss Becomes a Problem for the President August 8th, 2005
- NY Times- Mother Takes Protest to Bush's Ranch August 7, 2005
Criticism and Support
- Drudge Report takes anti-war mom out of context
- Catholic Newspaper accuses Sheehan of being liberal mouthpiece
- Right Equals Might Article criticizing Sheehan
Reference
- The Vacaville Reporter, June 24, 2005, Bush, Sheehans share moments, David Henson