A recent blog post by Cindy Sheehan lists a number of strange occurrences, wondering if they might all be a Big Plot to stop her from beating do-nothing Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in the upcoming congressional election.
I blogged about Sheehan on 10/29/06 (and took the photo too.)
Maybe one reason Cindy Sheehan has so resonated with the public is that, at heart, she is Everymom, a completely normal and mainstream mother – who lost her son in Iraq”¦
Sheehan has done an enormous amount for the antiwar movement. She mainstreamed it. A middle-aged middle-class mom began speaking at antiwar rallies amidst the hordes of lefties and anarchists, and middle America started listening to her. It was quite amazing.
But I’ve been watching her campaign go off message lately. A bit too accusatory sometimes, and at times amateurish. Just in the past few weeks the campaign seems a bit adrift or maybe they’ve found the game rougher than they thought.
Her blog post didn’t help. It’s being openly mocked in some quarters. I hope she finds something new and inspiring to do after the election.
Off message?
OK.
Read Cindy’s own words and please GET THE MESSAGE!
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Cindy Sheehan for Congress
Cindy Sheehan
by Cindy Sheehan
Dandelion Salad
featured writer
Cindy Sheehan for Congress
Oct 21, 2008
When I was in Crawford, Tx at Camp Casey in the Summer of ‘05, I would receive hundreds per day. Of course, I am dishonoring my son’s memory and I am un-patriotic and even a “whacko†“nut job†“bat shit crazy†and their favorite: “mama moonbat.†I dared to question their President and the lies that led to my son’s death. I refused to be an appreciative Gold Star Mother wearing a wilted carnation at the Memorial Day observances and accepting my grief in patriotic silence.
At least when I was in Texas, I had some support from some people who agreed with me on the war and about George Bush. Back then it was not too popular to protest the Emperor, but it made me very popular with the “left†and with the “peace†movement. I knew when the right attacked me with such hateful vigor, I was on the right track. Now, most of the country realizes that the war was/is wrong and that George Bush is a dangerous moron.
Now, the “left†is attacking me with the same hateful vigor and personal attacks as the right did back in 2005 because I dare to hold the Democrats to the same standard as I hold the Republicans. Does this mean that I am now a Republican lover? Hell no! I think when we get to the very top of the political food chain the Democrats and Republicans collaborate to steal our money and our freedoms.
Former SF Mayor, Willie Brown who lionized me before, recently called me a “loonie-tune†in his blog on SF Gate and I have been pronounced “insane and delusional†by Markos Moulitsas the editor of the Democratic apologist blog “The Daily Kos.†I am sure that Markos and Willie both have MDs in psychology and are fully qualified to diagnose my mental health without an examination.
Why does Markos think that I am “insane and delusional?†Because my campaign has had a series of coincidences or a run of bad luck that I said might be attributed to the opposition. I never accused Pelosi of anything or said that the attacks were definitely hanky-panky.
Gee, I must be crazy if I could even think that Democrats would tamper with elections like Republicans. It has never happened in the entire history of our country and I am sure that my campaign would be the first. My friends who still work in Democratic politics here in California have been warned not to work on my campaign or they would be “finished†in the party. A former Congressional candidate (D) came to my office and gave me a fund raising list but told me to never say his name because he wants to run for Supervisor as a Democrat here in town. Top Democrats here whisper to me that they will “vote†for me, but they can’t publicly endorse me. At least one very top Democrat is lying about me on the record. I can’t make this stuff up.
To all of you who attack me personally and question my mental health and my motherhood, or whatever, all I can say is “get some perspective.†I buried my son and if you all think that anything you can say or do to me is going to make me stop working for peace and accountability, you are seriously mistaken.
If you (left, right, center or wherever) think that it is okay to support wars, spying, torture, bankster bailouts, environmental degradation and taking away our civil rights; then by all means, live in your world where you think that your political party are the saints and the others are the sinners. It’s all about party loyalty, isn’t it? Tell that to the people who are being killed, tortured or impoverished in your names.
We are back to hundreds of attacks per day.
We must be on the right track, again.
Thank you.
To all of you who have stuck by me and to the thousands of people who have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars and thousands of volunteer hours to my campaign, I say a big “THANK YOU.†You know that a true representative democracy demands more voices and more choices, not the two-party monopoly that exists today.
Donate to Cindy for Congress
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Thank You, Cindy!!!!
It is the voice of the People that leads the nation. I trust any woman who is brave enough to say she supports unions, families, immigrants, people in the queer community-you know-life!!
It is more than obvious that Nancy Botox Pelosi has overstayed her welcome and turned her back on us here in San Francisco.
Don’t you agree that Pelosi needs to answer for her record on important issues that are compromising our lives and our district? Non-impeachment, constitutional debasement, torture, war, spying, offshore drilling, corporate welfare, economic emergencies, ethics questions, privatization, gentrification, affordable housing, education, mass transit, energy costs etc. are some of the many challenges and crises facing us today.
Cindy is always on the side of the people. Nancy is always on the side of the people who are corporate elitists.
My point was, her blog post left her wide open to be attacked. And ended up badly diverting from her message at a time when she couldn’t afford that.
Were there dirty tricks? The blog post was really unclear on that. which just made things worse.
In terms of electoral politics and House seats, the American public assumes those running should and will be able to throw a punch. “This ain’t beanbags, politics is a contact sport.”
Maybe electoral politics isn’t what Sheehan would do best. I hope she finds a foundation to work for /with. I think she’d be great at that.