Soldier's mother gains support of high-profile war critic

[deminks]

CRAWFORD, Texas - (KRT) - Cindy Sheehan's Texas vigil has drawn support from another high-profile Iraq war opponent - former ambassador Joseph Wilson, whose criticisms are at the heart of an ongoing grand jury investigation in Washington.

"This White House never wants an open public discussion, and it certainly never wants to be told that it is wrong," Wilson said, accusing President Bush's allies of trying to smear Sheehan. "It always tries to change the message by attacking the messenger."

Supporters of Sheehan said Bush allies are trying to smear her by questioning the patriotism of the anti-war movement. Wilson issued a statement through a public relations firm that has also worked at Camp Casey, the protest site named in honor of Sheehan's son, a soldier killed in Iraq.

"I am not alone," she said after placing a pair of her son's Army boots at a white cross bearing his name. "I am not the only one who wants answers to these questions."

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/nation/12477101.htm

[madokie]

1. Good NEWS

He is unwavering and so is she, this news is great.

[saigon68]

14. Hopefully THE MOVEMENT will finally take off.

[pacalo]

2. Cindy Sheehan & the Wilsons deserve justice.

I hope Fitzgerald gives it to them in a way that will force the truth to come out.

[longship]

3. **Bing!**

n/t

[Lone_Star_Dem]

4. If anyone knows how this admin works it's Wilson

Great so see him talking about Cindy's message. :)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

5. The great thing about this is Wilson will connect Rove to the pro-war

people out there and attempt organized by the Repukes to smear Cindy Sheehan

[truthpusher]

6. (Joseph Wilson) husband of officer in CIA leak, supporting war protesters

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/national/stories/082605dnnatsheehan.1c6c63d1.html

Ex-diplomat, husband of officer in CIA leak, supporting war protesters
Bush allies trying to smear Sheehan, anti-war effort, he says

07:53 PM CDT on Thursday, August 25, 2005

By DAVID JACKSON / The Dallas Morning News

CRAWFORD, Texas – Cindy Sheehan's Texas vigil has drawn support from another high-profile Iraq war opponent – former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, whose criticisms are at the heart of a grand jury investigation in Washington.

"This White House never wants an open public discussion, and it certainly never wants to be told that it is wrong," Mr. Wilson said, accusing President Bush's allies of trying to smear Ms. Sheehan. "It always tries to change the message by attacking the messenger."

White House officials denied such an effort Thursday, saying they only disagree with Ms. Sheehan's anti-war position.

Mr. Wilson is the former diplomat who challenged the administration's claim that Saddam Hussein had sought nuclear-use uranium from Niger after he had conducted a government-backed fact-finding mission to the African nation.

(snip)

complete story: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/national/stories/082605dnnatsheehan.1c6c63d1.html

[truthpusher]

7. (Joseph Wilson) husband of officer in CIA leak, supporting war protesters

This thread has been combined with another thread.

Click here to read this message in its new location.

[leftchick]

8. Thank You Joe!

and Cindy and all of the Camp Casey folks! You have unleashed the 2005 Anti-War Movement in America!

:woohoo:

[SuperWonk]

9. I still cannot help...

..but see through these folks using Cindy and feeding her talking points. The poor woman has my respect as a anguished mother, but these guys are taking her grief and using it in a disrespectful manner.

Am I the only one? Am I wrong to feel this way?

[Straight Shooter]

10. You're not wrong to "feel" this way.

But Cindy Sheehan began this movement, remember? She started it, she's been her own woman all along. The only ones who are "taking her grief and using it in a disrespectful manner" are the pro-war people and the bush worshipers.

[geckosfeet]

21. I am sorry. I think superwonk is a little confused. I think the people

in Crawford are united in their opposition to a senseless conflict in which loved ones have died, personal reputations smeared, national fortunes squandered and a centuries old country destroyed.

Not to speak for them, but my sense is that while they may each hold their own individual reasons for being in Crawford, they also share some common interest and support for eachother.

To say this is exploitive casts a pejorative tone to the coordinated efforts of like minded people and is an effort better suited to CNN, Faux News and the Bill O'Liely show.

[Moosepoop]

11. The reason you can "see through"

"these folks using Cindy and feeding her talking points" is that "they" are invisible -- as in, "they" don't exist.

Who are "these people" and "these folks" to whom you refer?
What is the "disrespectful manner" in which "they" are "using" her grief?


"They" don't exist. What do exist are RW talking points in your post.

In answer to your two questions:
Yes, to both.

[SuperWonk]

13. No No No.

I am refering to Soros and Lynn Stewart, in particular. Please don't say that I am using RW talking points, I am simply asking a question, and bringing a valid point to the table.

I think these two are causing her to become, or appear, as an exploitive extremist, and not a mother. I believe she is the one that is being exploited.

[jjmalonejr]

15. You're claiming that Soros is feeding Sheehan talking points?

Where are you getting this information from?

Do tell.

[magellan]

16. She has no control over what others do

...or how it makes her appear. She can only control her own message, and she's been faithful to that from the beginning. And just from listening to her, I doubt very much she'd let others exploit her -- her son meant too much to her to allow that.

[txindy]

17. Soros and Stewart? Where? When did they get involved?

What in the world are you talking about? And if you're seeing Cindy as "an exploitive extremist," then that's a personal problem and I can't help you there.

Cindy started this protest in Crawford and has not changed her message, at all. Do stop watching Faux News coverage of her and you'll see that.

Soros and Stewart. :rofl:

[SuperWonk]

18. Why...

...are you attacking me?

I am not attacking Sheehan! I understand she has stared this and held her ground, again, I AM NOT ATTACKING HER, I am attacking those exploiting her and making her a puppet. I think it is sad.

Correct me if I am wrong, please, but I have read numerous times, in numerous sources:

1. That Sheehan spoke at a rally hosted by Stewart, and referred to her as her "atticus finch." I am not trying to say this is Sheehan's fault, I don't expect a mother to know everyone's political business. I think she is being taken advantage of. I did not say that I saw her as "an exploitive extremist," I said she is being made to appear that way by other extremists.

2. That Soros has been funding many of the lawyers and other groups "helping" Cindy Sheehan. These are names that are discrediting her cause.

Again, correct me if I am wrong, please.

Why are you attacking me? Why do you say I have a personal problem?

I will just drop it, for fear of being shunned, but these are things that worry me. Should I just ignore them?

Edited to add that the ad hominem displayed by the LOL is insulting. I am sorry, but it is.

[geckosfeet]

19. You are entitled to your opinions. But if you think that she should

fund this herself and reject the help of liberal and progressive groups maybe you are on the wrong board.

Her work is now growing to include not only herself, but many others. As such the tent must grow. She is one of many and is not by herself, the central character. Don't make this about her because its not. She knows this and is willing to make sacrifices to be heard.

[donheld]

20. You're being attacked because you offer no proof

How can you make these accusations without offering proof and expect us to believe you.

[txindy]

23. I understand you're not attacking Cindy

Why would anyone think you're attacking her by saying she's being made into a puppet that looks like an exploitive extremist?

:eyes:

Keep on with the RW talking points. You picked them up from somewhere, but haven't shared your sources, yet. Or are they from "some people?"

:popcorn:

[SuperWonk]

25. Shared my sources?

I read these things by Google Newsing articles in the morning at work, instead of doing work...

:yoiks:

If I am finding them that easily, who else is finding them? I did not mean to offend everyone to such an extent. I am not trying to prove anything either. I was voicing a concern. I believe I am on the right board, with the correct group of people.

Listen, I am not using RW talking points from secret sources, and I do not have personal problems. It is just that it seems she is being pounced upon. I wish someone would look after her and her best interests.

Why do you have to insult me personally with every response?

:wtf:

[txindy]

26. Asking for THE source (not Google) of those RW talking points

That is somehow attacking you personally, but you're okay with labeling someone who cannot defend herself a (potentially) exploitive, extremist puppet?

Okay, fine, then.

[CTyankee]

28. Just a couple of things

I think you do care about Cindy and I will not attack you. But I do feel you have misread the situation. Cindy strikes me as someone who doesn't care about what people think about her deeply held views. I believe she has said, "I have nothing more to lose." This makes her even more powerful, and more dangerous to the RW. The more they go after her, the stronger she sounds in response. She is one hell of an opponent and that is why the RW can't make any traction against her.

Also, I guess I've lived long enough and through the big antiwar stuff during Vietnam to know that fate puts people in positions they never imagined they'd be in. This has happened to Cindy Sheehan. She is becoming the symbol of what we progressives have been trying to say all along and as such she is creating a dynamic vortex. Don't worry about Soros and Lynne Stewart I didn't know anything about the Soros connection nor did I know that Cindy called Stewart an Atticus Finch. But I just don't think that matters. Let's not be fearful for Cindy in that regard (I do fear that she will meet with physical harm because the RW has energized the crazies). Let's let Cindy be Cindy.

[RandomKoolzip]

24. I love how the right points to ONE guy, George Soros....

And sees a multi-billionaire boogyman svengali behind everything that happens in the anti-war movement.

Of course, it never helps to have Roger Ailes's, Richard Scaife's, Joseph Coors's, and the Rev. Moon's money behind a campaign to smear the ONE dude who has pledged a few million to the anti-war cause. A bit ironic, innit? Multi-billionaires funding conservative think tanks that smear a billionaire who dares NOT fund the same think tanks?

Who's really being used here?

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

22. I have to respond to this. I was at Camp Casey the first week, I met Cindy

I saw her in action and she is smart and savvy about what she's doing.

I had the opportunity to be near the press conferences and other discussions she had with the supporters, and there was no indication that this was anything but her own beliefs and her own cause.

I can't imagine anyone making her say or do something she did not believe, simply to promote a particular agenda.

MKJ

[JoFerret]

27. It does not seem to concern her

she wants attention paid and questions answered. How about you?


No-one is using her although many are now abusing her.

[Javaman]

12. What ever happened to the Mother that was in F9/11?

I would think she would have a voice in all of this regarding Cindy