Is Tammy Pruett the new "Anti-Cindy?"

[derby378]

Pro-Bush Military Family a Counterpoint to Sheehan

Tammy Pruett and her family know something about the war in Iraq. Tammy's husband, Leon, and son Eren just returned from the war. Four other sons — Eric, Evan, Greg and Jeff — are still there.

The Pruetts, of Pocatello, Idaho, like many other military families, are being drawn into the public debate over the war in Iraq, due in part to the protest of Cindy Sheehan.

...

But unlike Sheehan, the Pruetts are very much in support of the war. "It's right there in my heart how proud my boys are to be there," Tammy Pruett told ABC News. "They signed the line to serve their country and our commander in chief."

In a speech to Idaho National Guard families on Wednesday, Bush singled out Tammy Pruett as a clear counterpoint to Sheehan, though he never mentioned Sheehan by name.

Bush told the crowd: "Tammy says this — and I want you to hear this — 'I know that if something happens to one of the boys, they would leave this world doing what they believe, what they think is right for our country. And I guess you couldn't ask for a better way of life than giving it for something that you believe in.' America lives in freedom because of families like the Pruetts."

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/IraqCoverage/story?id=1066030&page=1&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

[Bob3]

1. Yep.

Of course her kids are still alive - one of them comes home in a box and we'll see just how happy she is with *.

[peekaloo]

4. Yep. That was my exact comment when I saw the CBS clip last night.

[tanyev]

8. Mine, too.

Really now. We know there are Bushbot families out there who have a lost a son or daughter and for some bizarre reason are proud of the sacrifice they made and still love *. They could have at least dragged out one of those families. Trotting out a mother whose kids are all still alive is totally meaningless.

[Junkdrawer]

6. Wait...are you trying to tell me soldiers are DYING...

Can't be...I'd be seeing body bags and flag draped coffins in the news if that were true... :sarcasm:


Dead soldiers and mourning moms are not uplifting...

[bitchkitty]

2. So I guess Chimpie didn't believe in America

back during Vietnam?

And I wonder how much Tammy is getting paid by the PR firm that invented her?

[Roland99]

And just how does the Pruett sons serving in Iraq provide me with freedom?

Just how exactly was Iraq threatening to take away MY freedom?

[formerrepuke]

5. Clearly you've forgotten about the Iraqis' attack on us on 9/11....

that's probably what Pruett would say- or something very close to it (and equally delusional).

[Roland99]

11. How could I have forgotten. Esp. when I was reminded yesterday:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2032131


:eyes:

[kiraboo]

3. There might be a million mothers like Mrs. Pruett and they'd

all be wrong. I sympathize with her and respect her right to her delusion. But a delusion it is. Poor woman; what choice does she have?

[dogday]

7. Put your money where your mouth is Mr. President

and send one of your daughters to Iraq to serve and then talk about how good it feels, when she loses her arm, or leg, or God forbid, her life.

Do you believe he will think his precious American war is so sacred then. Put your money where your mouth is Sir and I will believe you....

[txaslftist]

19. Why do you assume he wouldn't?

He thinks of other people's children as disposable. From what I've read about the Bush family, I don't think the loss of a daughter would be seen as anything but an opportunity to exploit a perception of grief.

[dogday]

30. I assume he wouldn't because he has not

or they have not. I said, let's see it, I am waiting. I bet my son makes in November sooner than his daughter. If one would, then he would be in the same boat as me, worrying every day, that my son will make it home alive and whole... Let's see if it will be so with him....

[Alizaryn]

9. I wrote this yesterday after hearing Bush's use of this family

in the speech and posted it. It hit me like it did you.


Change the scene
to dodge the blame,
Use twisted words
to further inflame.
Delude the truth,
silently bury those who die,
The script was crafted
Upon simple lies.

As I listened to
your words today,
You spoke of a family,
what they had to say.
About their precious son
whose life was lost,
That fighting for what he believed
made it worth the cost.

An incredible sadness
enveloped me,
For you USED him AGAIN
in his death you see.
This honorable child
whose body’s now cold,
He BELIEVED in you
and LIES that you told!

YOU define Patriotism
to ensure your plan.
OF COURSE WE CARE
YOU SIMPLE MAN!
Twist and turn
to further divide,
The truth must be hidden
for you to survive.

[DemonFighterLives]

24. Nice Poem!

:hide: < dubby

[TNOE]

26. Really great poem

I'm printing this one out - great job.

[SoCalDem]

33. Sounds like the Pruitts were kind of "irresponsible" to have

all those kids they could not afford to educate.. and maybe those kids should have gotten better grades so they could have gotten scholarships.. or maybe they should have not lived in a shit-hole place that had no jobs or future for their offspring..

Those Pruitt men joined up because it was probably the ONLY way they could get a paycheck and have medical coverage..

In the DC area, people flock to government agencies and in some other places they look toward the post office or other governmental jobs.. They don;t do this because they LOVE that particular work. They do it because they can have a UNION job with benefits and a pension.. That's why they work for the government.. Not because of patriotism..

The military is a JOB...boot camp and the schmaltzy movies convince the soldiers that they are being patriotic.. They are really just trying to make it to the next day and see that their buddies next to them do the same...and while doing that, they are making sure that their families have a paycheck, insurance and medical care.. It is an army of ONE

[Solly Mack]

10. Not to sound heartless but I've heard women spout the exact same thing

until the notice of death comes. Some words are so easy to say until the moment of truth arrives...

Freshly starched uniforms, banners waving and the flag flying high while a band plays is not the reality of war. All too many refuse to see beyond the ceremony to the sickness that war is...

[NYCGirl]

12. Remember Lila Lipscomb (featured in Fahrenheit 9/11)?

That was her story.

[Solly Mack]

21. and Lila Lipscomb was typical of most in that regard

some cling to the ceremony but most suffer in silence. A few let the world know.

I'll bet anything the majority who have lost a loved one to Bush's war and who support Cindy can't find the words to voice that support...their hearts are still too full.

[Junkdrawer]

18. It took Cindy months and months to come to terms...

with the meaning (and lack of 'noble cause') of her loss. I seem to remember Bush exploiting freshly bereaved parents on other occasions.

[Solly Mack]

22. Exactly. Bush "gets them" while the pain is fresh

Not after they've had time to think

[SammyWinstonJack]

13. How did all those family members end up in Iraq?

She had/has the potential to lose her whole family and she's okay with that? Lose her husband and sons for a war based on lies to enrich the warmongers and war profiteers. That is sad. And shame on bush** for using her when he KNOWS what his war is all about. He couldn't care less about her sacrifice or any other American family for that matter. He just using the troops and their families for his profit and ego, and it's especially heinous when he uses the family members that misguidedly support him, to prop up his weaken status re: his war! If they only knew the real truth, they'd turn on him in a minute and he KNOWS that, that's why he refuses to talk with the families at Camp Cases and why he will only speak in front of families who support him! I was talking with my husband about this this morning and I said what is bush** is doing, speaking with these families who support him, is so transparent, why can't everyone see it? He said that would require one to have the ability to think, and not follow blindly. He said you will never be able to get through to these people. I think he is right.

[Hobarticus]

14. Tammy, your sons are putting themslves onthe line for a LIE...

If that's something they want to die for, then you have my sympathies.

[SammyWinstonJack]

16. Shame on bush** for using her! n/t

[Hobarticus]

20. Eh, like her sons, she's a volunteer...I hold her accountable

It is shameful how they parade her around:

"Lookie here! Her sons aren't dead or maimed yet, and they love 'Merica!"

But still, it's not like she's under contract. At least Cindy wants some accountability, and did it on her own. Tammy's just a prop who, like her sons, is expendable to this administration. I bet she has no clue why they're there, either, except for 'freedom'.

[SammyWinstonJack]

32. Oh I know she's a prop and the sad part is she doesn't even realize it.

If she knew the truth and that bush** couldn't care less about her or any other family's sacrifice, she'd feel differently.

[Hobarticus]

34. Is there something like an old caste system at work, here?

Cindy has no doubt in her mind that her elected officials are accountable to her, and she wants an answer. She deserves it. This is how a democracy works. You and I and anyone here on DU knows that.

I can't speak for Tammy, but does she believe that she's beneath our POTUS, that she has no place questioning what she's been told, or the orders her sons get? She gets the old 'fighting for our freedoms' and 'they hate us for our freedoms' nonsense drilled into her, and that's supposed to be good enough. For Cindy it isn't. For some, it seemingly is.

Is this how a democracy works? Or does this sound more like a caste system, with serfs who dare not speak their minds? Didn't we fight a revolution to kick that kind of crap off this continent?

Is that what pisses off the right so much about Cindy, that this woman DARE speak out against the anointed Boy King?

Ugh. Back to 1776...

Sorry for the rant. :hi:

[SammyWinstonJack]

37. It's good to be the King!

I don't understand it either. But bush** has done an excellent job at dividing this nation, yet I am wondering just how hard was it for him to do that, considering your post on caste system. These bush supports follow blindly not even wanting to question, never mind daring to,
that doesn't even enter their minds. Perhaps that is why they are so angry with those who do question, who do want answers, and who refuse to follow blindly, they secretly wish they could too. I just don't have the answers to their blind loyalty in spite of the glaring facts that contradict everything they believe to be true. :shrug: :hi:

[theboss]

15. God, I hate what this debate has become

To me, this is Ronald Reagan's leagcy. He was the first president to bring people to the State of the Union and use them to "personalize" some policy.

Twenty years later, we skip the policies completely and just throw the props, er, I mean, people on stage.

This is the bottom line. Cindy Sheehan's opinion, Tammy Pruett's opinion, Paul Hackett's opinion, Stan Coerr's opinion, any other parent's opinion, any other soldier's opinion are no more relevant than anyone else's. I find their stories interesting and enlightening (and obviously tragic in some cases).

But when you do nothing but throw props, er, I mean, people on stage, the debate just becomes noise.

This is what matters. 1. Was Iraq a threat to us prior to the war? 2. Did the Administration present an accurate case for the war? 3. Was the war conducted well? 4. Was the post-war planning conducted well? 5. Have we learned from our mistakes? 6. Do we have a plan for getting out? 7. Is Iraq going to be better off when this is over with? 8. Will America be safer when this is over with?

That's it. That's the list.

The fact that we can seem to win on at least 7 of these 8 points is simply amazing to me.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

17. No, this is more like when Nixon dredged up original SwiftBoater O'Neill

to be the "antiKerry".

[ET Awful]

23. I swear I'd love to slap anyone who calls Bush "our commander in chief"

No, he is the commander in chief of the armed forces, NOT of the country. This applies to any president throughout the history of the nation.

The president is not and has never been "our" commander in chief if by "our" you mean the nation.

[Hobarticus]

35. How 'bout "Conspirator and Thief"? Has a nice ring...EOM

[derby378]

38. Amen and Kyrie Elaison to that

I sure as hell haven't enlisted yet - he's not my CiC.

[me b zola]

25. No. Mrs. Pruett is a prop used by a dictator

Cindy gained notoriety because she was driven by her grief & outrage.

[AngryAmish]

27. She disgusts me

I saw her on nightline spewing her hate all over amerika. She must be destroyed.

[DemonFighterLives]

28. Though dubby really doesn't care about them

the Pruetts will be protected for the photo op qualities that they present. They are probably guarding Saddams's cigars and wine.
I do not want to cut them down, because they volunteered to serve the country, but dubby dare not let any of them die.
At the same time of all this feel good war bs, dubby and the boys have the gall to close Walter Reed, where they attempt to put the veterans back together.
:argh:

[GoBlue]

29. When Tammy Pruett loses a loved one...

she'll be on equal footing with Cindy.

And then perhaps she'll understand that there's a better way of life in living for a loved one you believe in, even though the loved one has left this world.

[dogday]

31. Let's hope that nothing happens to her sons

she might just change her story. Grief does funny things to people...

[ET Awful]

36. Regadless of whether it changes her story I hope nothing happens to

her sons. I hope the same for each and every soldier sent over there.