Bush, Sheehans share moments (The Story Before Cindy Sheehan Became a Tool for the Left)

The Reporter (Vacaville, CA) ^ | June 24, 2004 | David Henson

[tgslTakoma]

Since learning in April that their son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, had been killed in Iraq, life has been everything but normal for the Sheehan family of Vacaville. Casey's parents, Cindy and Patrick, as well as their three children, have attended event after event honoring the soldier both locally and abroad, received countless letters of support and fielded questions from reporters across the country.

"That's the way our whole lives have been since April 4," Patrick said. "It's been surreal."

But none of that prepared the family for the message left on their answering machine last week, inviting them to have a face-to-face meeting with President George W. Bush at Fort Lewis near Seattle.

Surreal soon seemed like an understatement, as the Sheehans - one of 17 families who met Thursday with Bush - were whisked in a matter of days to the Army post and given the VIP treatment from the military. But as their meeting with the president approached, the family was faced with a dilemma as to what to say when faced with Casey's commander-in-chief.

"We haven't been happy with the way the war has been handled," Cindy said. "The president has changed his reasons for being over there every time a reason is proven false or an objective reached."

The 10 minutes of face time with the president could have given the family a chance to vent their frustrations or ask Bush some of the difficult questions they have been asking themselves, such as whether Casey's sacrifice would make the world a safer place.

But in the end, the family decided against such talk, deferring to how they believed Casey would have wanted them to act. In addition, Pat noted that Bush wasn't stumping for votes or trying to gain a political edge for the upcoming election.

"We have a lot of respect for the office of the president, and I have a new respect for him because he was sincere and he didn't have to take the time to meet with us," Pat said.

Sincerity was something Cindy had hoped to find in the meeting. Shortly after Casey died, Bush sent the family a form letter expressing his condolences, and Cindy said she felt it was an impersonal gesture.

"I now know he's sincere about wanting freedom for the Iraqis," Cindy said after their meeting. "I know he's sorry and feels some pain for our loss. And I know he's a man of faith."

The meeting didn't last long, but in their time with Bush, Cindy spoke about Casey and asked the president to make her son's sacrifice count for something. They also spoke of their faith.

While meeting with Bush, as well as Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, was an honor, it was almost a tangent benefit of the trip. The Sheehans said they enjoyed meeting the other families of fallen soldiers, sharing stories, contact information, grief and support.

For some, grief was still visceral and raw, while for others it had melted into the background of their lives, the pain as common as breathing. Cindy said she saw her reflection in the troubled eyes of each.

"It's hard to lose a son," she said. "But we (all) lost a son in the Iraqi war."

The trip had one benefit that none of the Sheehans expected.

For a moment, life returned to the way it was before Casey died. They laughed, joked and bickered playfully as they briefly toured Seattle.

For the first time in 11 weeks, they felt whole again.

"That was the gift the president gave us, the gift of happiness, of being together," Cindy said.

[The Phantom FReeper]

Oops, I read the article again and see that I misunderstood it. When it said that she and her husband "decided against such talk," I took it to mean that they decided against meeting with the President completely, and not that she decided against confronting him with her rudeness.

She still missed her chance, though, in a different way than I originally thought.

Thanks for clarifying, as well as for posting the article.

[upchuck]

Thank you for posting this. I remembered this vaguely but this brings it into focus.

Two questions for Cindy:

1. How many meetings with President Bush will it take for you to go away?

2. Approximately 1800 soldiers have given their lives in this war to defend our freedom. Thousands and thousands of family members have gone through what you went through. So, what makes you so special?

Maybe Cindy will grace us with her presence in Wash, DC on Sept 24? She'd fit right in with the commies, radical leftists, folks with no ANSWERs and the Code Pinkos.

[tgslTakoma]

Please do share it. (I have saved the file on my computer, in case the archived article is ever de-archived)

[kristinn]

She'll be there. She's riding the Peace Train to D.C. that week (I'm not joking.)

[Darkwolf377]

This makes me even more annoyed at this woman, who it's clear now HAS already discussed these issues with Bush, and yet she's marching out there demanding a meeting with him, as if she never had that first one. It shows she's a bit disingenuous, to say the least.

[CyberAnt]

Yes, she will fall apart .. and we can already see that happening to the woman who was recruited from the 9/11 families - she's a basket case - and I'm concerned for her too.

[new yorker 77]

In war, you get people who vent on all sides.

The media does not want balance. They want propaganda.

Lardball with Chris Matthews would put two guests on.

->Anti-Bush Iraq Veteran versus A Pro-Bush Non-Veteran.

It must be really difficult to find a Vet proud of their Iraq service to go up against Matthews' prop. Either that or Matthews knows the anti-Bush vet would get crushed in a debate with a pro-Bush vet.

-> The five Fetnom Communication Trained (Liberal Group) anti-Bush 9-11 widows vs. pro-Bush person with no one who died on 9-11.

Debra Burlingame is a key figure in keeping the 9-11 Memorial a memorial, but she was shut out in the 2004 Election so five widows from Jersey, who were trained by a liberal communications outfit, could speak for all 9-11 family members of victims.

-> Anti-Bush parent of a Soldier who died in Iraq versus Pro-Bush person who no ties to a soldier in Iraq.

This is an equally disgusting set up. Matthews and other liberal outlets seek to justify their own anti-war/anti-Bush position by crippling the pro-Bush supporter with someone who has no commonality with them. Matthews could find many pro-Bush parents to go up against an ati-Bush parent, but he doesn't want fairness. He and many other liberals want to push propaganda.

Ultimately, as news outlets push fake setups and fake polls, the only real numbers we get are their plummeting ratings and circulation. That reflects reality and opinion more than any biased story or fake poll produced by these people to pacify their liberal audience, justify their positions, and manipulate public opinion rather than reflect it.

It's pathetic. It will continue to be done. It will continue to fail to resonate.

[Darkwolf377]

Thanks for posting this.

It's clear that after the first meeting she was angry with herself for not "speaking her mind" to the President, and her frustration with herself has grown and grown. That's what I get out of her--she's angry at HERSELF, so she has to blow this into Michael Moore-level anger so she can think of herself as being on a crusade to somehow justify her loss.

I can't imagine what kind of pain she's going through, but I do not respect her at all for this. It's hurtful to the country and I don't think her son would want to be remembered for having a mother who behaves this way.

[tgslTakoma]

DU Troll.

[The Phantom FReeper]

Hi, troll.

[tgslTakoma]

Gsrl Murphy, is that you?

[CyberAnt]

FOX has been showing the story ad nauseum. Because of your efforts, I have just sent them a copy of this story .. and hopefully that will help to put a stop to them continuously running that segment over and over and over all day today.

[new yorker 77]

Fenton Communications actions in the 2004 Election

http://www.insightmag.com/media/paper441/news/2004/05/11/Politics/The-Smear.Campaigns-670128.shtml

I wonder if this group is working on families of fallen soldiers to act as props for the 2006 Election.

[tgslTakoma]

Well, Gael Murphy is grizzled, but I meant to say "Gael."

She must be really steamed that her team's war plan against America isn't going too well.

[tgslTakoma]

Great. Thanks!

[Angelwood]

Thanks for the effort here -- Mrs. Sheehan is a useful fool and tool of the left. I imagine they rewrote the script of her meeting with the president and she has rehearsed it so many times that it has replaced her real memories. Hope some of the other families that met with President Bush the day she did will come forth to expose her fantasties and outright lies.

[kcvl]

I had to pay to get the archived copy of this report

Please don't do that next time until you give me a chance to GOOGLE for a copy!!! OKAY?! Just ping me or Freepmail me and I'll see if I can find one before you pay for it!

[tgslTakoma]

Ok, thanks. (It only cost me two bucks, so it's not likely to bankrupt me. I just hate giving up my personal info to get a news story)

[tgslTakoma]

Sheehan will be on Wolfie's Late Edition today.

Any bets on whether Wolfie asks her about this story?