Why are Democratic politicians not supporting Cindy Sheehan?

[howmad1]

I'm getting more and more frustrated over the fact that not a single democratic politician has appeared beside Cindy Sheehan down in Crawford. Am I missing something here? If ever there was an opportunity to finally take a stand on the Iraq issue by supporting Cindy, the silence is deafening. This is a perfect vehicle for folks like Dennis Kucinich, Russ Feingold, et al. Perhaps some of you DU'ers can enlighten me.;(

[villager]

1. been wondering the *exact* same thing...

n/t

[genius]

11. Dennis Kucinich is supporting her. Look at his web site

kucinich.us

His call for everyone to support Cinty is up front.

[ClassWarrior]

2. Yes, you're missing Maxine Waters. And she's hard to miss.

See http://www.truthout.org/cindy.shtml to get informed.

NGU.

[howmad1]

17. Ooooops, sorry about that.

However, would've been nice to have Clark, Clinton, Kerry, Biden; you know, those presidential wannabees. BTW, internet support does not count. I mean physically standing next to Cindy.

[ClassWarrior]

19. I'd vote for Maxine in 2008.

NGU.

[Tesha]

32. They still haven't learned the lessons of 2000, 2002, 2004, (2006), etc.

[Imagevision]

41. John Conyers has stepped up to the plate - where's Kerry?

Kennedy,Clinton,and the rest of them???
This is where I feel Dems just don't stick together!

[Rainscents]

43. Kerry and Kennedy came out with statement their asking Bush to meet with

Cindy! This was last week.

[Montauk6]

3. I still have to ask this burning question....

WHERE'S JESSE???

[BrendaStarr]

24. Why can't this be our thing?

Why do we always have to look for a Democratic representative hand to hold?

(I'm not talking directly about Jesse, but about question of where Democratic leaders are)

It seems to have been started without Democratic leaders, so why can't we go on without them babysitting us.

I know any support is welcome from them, but I'm wondering about us.

Why can't grass roots drive this and this be a non partisan thing.

An against war thing.

Not necessarily a Democratic leader thing?

It might make it a little bit tougher on us if we actually have to do something instead of sitting and whining about what our representatives are doing or not doing, but lets just ask ourselves why we act like toddlers in a supermarket?

[Montauk6]

25. It can still be la cosa nostra ; )

But it would be nice to have some pezzonovanti on board, capice?

[JDPriestly]

4. Jealousy!

[tritsofme]

5. They're on recess!

They gotta have their month long vacation too you know!

What? You expect these guys to work year long?

[ClassWarrior]

13. So Maxine doesn't count because she's not a "guy"??

NGU.

[tritsofme]

23. Yes, that's exactly what I meant.

:sarcasm:

[Maple]

6. That would make it political

and Sheehan is not protesting on behalf of your party.

She is doing this as an individual...not as a Dem or a Repub.

And any Dem 'star' down there, would take the spotlight off her.

She is 'everywoman' and 'everymom'....let her run with it.

[madfloridian]

7. Someone posts this several times a day.

The politicians need to stay away and let her handle it.

It needs to be a bereaved mother's vigil, not a politician's chance to shine.

[Erika]

16. Agreed

She's doing a geat job.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

20. Time Magazine just made the same point...

...go to this thread and read the excerpt I posted. When it becomes a "political" battle, that's when the REAL "Swift Boat" attack begins.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2009990

[LittleClarkie]

53. THANK YOU!!

Don't "Frist" Cindy!

[Vektor]

64. Agreed. Why is this so hard for some to grasp?

This question is posted daily and yes, Kerry, Kennedy, Kucinich or anyone else would appear opportunistic waltzing down there right now. Imagine the backlash that would ensue!

No, this is between Cindy and the Shrub-hole. It's fine for politicians to speak ut on her behalf, but if, say, a high profile Senator showed up there, it would definitely appear contrived.

[blondeatlast]

68. Interesting, ain't it? I wish we could hide threads by keyword,

you know?!

[Miss Chybil]

8. Maybe, just a thought, they're trying not to muddy the water, appear

opportunistic, (I doubt that one, but maybe), or make it appear hers is a partisan cause?

[lavenderdiva]

9. Both Ted Kennedy and John Kerry came out in support of her...

and also John Conyers wrote a letter of support for her. Maybe they are sensitive to the fact that if they get overtly involved, it may overshadow the clarity of her message. If the public is hearing Cindy's voice alone, it makes for a stronger message, I feel. Right now, what the public is hearing is 'Cindy Sheehan, mother of Casey Sheehan, asks to meet with George Bush'. Its hard to discount the impact of just that. Rather than have politicians start loudly voicing their 2cents and support, and detractors start saying she is being used as a pawn.

Her small voice is sounding pretty loud now, and a lot of people are listening...

[funflower]

10. Cindy is more powerful without a politician standing next to her.

I hope a thousand mothers and fathers join her. I could care less about member of Congress.

[Skittles]

12. it is "COULDN'T care less"

and I agree with you 100% - she is much more effective without politicians by her side

[funflower]

40. You are quite correct. I couldn't care less either.

[gokar]

59. Doncha think a Kerry or Hillary standing next to Cindy would get

huge media publicity? Don't think they WANT that publicity.
They have figured out it is best handled by Cindy without the
prez wannabe's. They know it will not bring any fence sitter votes
to our side.

[daveskilt]

14. this thing spins itself - don't give the republicans a way out

dem politicians jumping on the band wagon becomes just that - jumping on the band wagon and it cheapens what she is doing - makes it "political". this is exactly how bush is trying to spin it with his respect her different political opinion crap. let it be what it is - that cowardly liar huddled in his pretend farm with the rest of the sheep and chickens and a grieving mother waiting for him to answer for his crimes.

[Robeson]

15. The politicians don't need to take the focus off of what she's doing...

...the second a politician shows up there, outside of Bush's ranch, the media will spin it, and make THAT the issue, and not Cindy Sheehan.

[kodi]

18. her actions are a direct threat upon a system that serves them well

it is called ACCOUNTABILITY.

and the last thing politicians want is to be accountable to the citizens of this country for their actions.

why if this sort of thing was encouraged, who knows who would be Sheehanned" next?

maybe those who lose everything in bankruptcy hearings would demand to speak with joe biden.

or those who lose a loved one to lung cancer brought about by tobacco smoking would demand to talk to congreessmen who take campaign donations from phillip morris.

or those who have lung dieases from asbestos would want to talk to dick cheney and halliburton's role in the lawsuits about it.

we just can not have accountability or the whole system that allows the rich to rape the rest of us would crumble.

[Robeson]

21. Yeah, that to.

[ClassWarrior]

22. Pssst... the OP was talking about Democratic pols, not Republicons.

NGU.

[kodi]

26. you did note that i referred to joe biden?

.

[Robeson]

27. I noticed. Hard to forget Credit Card Joe.....

...he's true to his masters. And you were being kind by just naming him. There's plenty of Dems on corporate payrolls. I didn't know that was a debateable issue anymore.

[kodi]

28. yes those Dems were described in my reference to tobacco co. contributions

.

[OneBlueSky]

29. why are Democratic politicians not doing much of anything? . . .

with a few notable exceptions (e.g. Conyers, Boxer, etc.) . . .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4346545&mesg_id=4346545

[LittleClarkie]

55. Aside from being out of town

A few have. Conyers, Boxer, Kerry and Kennedy. That's all I know about now. And Maxine.

[bklyncowgirl]

30. A high level Democrat go down there with Cindy would make it partisan

Cindy Sheehan's protest has been powerful because she has stayed away from partisan politics. That, IMHO, is the way to go.

Kerry and Kennedy have voiced support as have other Democratic politicians. Howard Dean has said that the entire country deserves answers to the questions that Cindy is asking.

If Dean or Kerry or Kennedy or any other prominent Democrat were to show up in Crawford the protest would become all about them and not about Cindy Sheehan and her quest for the truth.

It's better that they voice support from a distance and that appears to be what they are doing.

[maxrandb]

31. Because it Would Be a Stupid Thing to Do, and Would Diminish Her Message

This should be ABOVE politics. I don't want any Democratic politician using the death of her son, anymore than I want the pretzledent and the Repukes using the death of our sons and daughters for their "Noble Cause".

Dem politicians should just quietly stay away, or quietly say, "the president should meet with Cindy Sheehan" and leave it at that.

It's time for the Democratic Party to come out in force and tell the American people; "Look, in 1994, you sent us a message. We got the message. When you return us to power, YOU WILL HAVE THE POWER". "You won't need to send us $25K to get an audience with us, you won't need to sign loyalty oaths to come and ask us questions, you won't need to swear allegiance to our party to voice your ideals with us". "We learned our lesson, and we are putting the good of the country, and the good of the people ABOVE party loyalty." "Return us to power, and we will show you that responsible, responsive, pro-active leadership has returned to government." "Trust us with your vote, and you won't be disappointed".

Of course after that, the Democratic Party would actually have to come thru!

[Dawgs]

33. They don't need to... she is doing fine on her own!!!

:smoke:

[rhett o rick]

34. Ask Hillary or Kerry or the rest with their heads in the sand. nt

[LittleClarkie]

52. Hillary yes. Kerry, no. He has spoken out

both he and Kennedy both called for Bush to meet with her.

Hillary has been silent as far as I know.

[KoKo]

35. 38 Democrats signed a letter of support for her and Maxine Waters was

there with her over the weekend. Should there be MORE? YES!!!!

[kath]

60. How cool that Maxine Waters was there over the weekend. Go Maxine!

(I wasn't online much over the weekend and missed this.)

[LittleClarkie]

62. That's certainly more than "nobody"

even though there could be more.

I want to know what people consider "support".

[SoCalDem]

36. The same ole reason.. fear of taking a stand..

Most of our politicians like the view from the top of the fence post..

[ClassWarrior]

37. It AMAZES me how many of you just gloss over Maxine Waters like...

...she doesn't exists. But being female and black, I'm guessing she's used to this treatment. It just amazes me that it's coming from a bunch of so-called Dems.

NGU.

[Rainscents]

44. Wasn't Maxine Water was at Cindy's rally last weeken?

I know one of the back lady politician did.

[Hippo_Tron]

65. "Why aren't any dems with presidential ambitions supporting cindy?"

I think that's the question that the OP was really asking.

[mmonk]

38. Political cowardice

and republican wannabes.

[rfkrfk]

42. this is an excellent opportunity to appear to do nothing

three senators voted in the Terri Shiavo matter.

say nothing, do nothing --> be nothing

[kentuck]

39. If she were protesting for a corporation...

they would be there in droves...

[Orangepeel]

45. they are supporting her

many have issued statements.

Hell, I even saw my own Senator Bill Nelson -- who isn't ever on the forefront of an issue -- give a supporting statement to a reporter on TV (I can't remember the quote, but he said that she had a right to be there and ask questions and bush ought to meet with her because that was his job).

[goodhue]

49. Indeed, I have no idea what silence that original poster is talking about

Many democratic politicians have been consistently voicing support for Sheehan.

:shrug:

[goodhue]

46. Edwards is . . .

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: A Mother and Her Son
From: "Elizabeth Edwards" <[e-mail]>
Date: Tue, August 16, 2005 1:14 pm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Friend,

Casey Sheehan was born May 29, 1979, the first born child of
Cindy and Pat Sheehan. It was a long labor. Fifty-one days after
Casey was born, our first child, Wade was born, also after a
long labor. They started school the same year, played the same
games, watched the same television shows, loved the same
country. On April 4, 1996, three weeks after going to Washington
as a winner in a national contest about what America meant to
him, Wade died in an automobile accident. On April 4, 2004,
eight years later to the day, Casey, who loved his country
enough to wear its uniform, died in Iraq. Cindy and Pat's hearts
broke, as had ours.

We teach our children right from wrong. We teach them compassion
and honor. We teach them the dignity of each life. And then,
sometimes, the lessons we taught are turned on their heads.
Cindy Sheehan is asking a very simple thing of her government,
and she and her family, and most particularly Casey, have paid a
very dear price for the right to ask this.

Cindy wants Casey's death to have meant as much as his life -
lived fully - might have meant. I know this, as does every
mother who has ever stood where we stand. And the President says
he knows enough, doesn't need to hear from Casey's mother,
doesn't need to assure her that Casey's is not one small death
in a long and seemingly never-ending drip of deaths, that there
is a plan here that will bring our sons and daughters home. He
doesn't need to hear from her, he says. He claims he understands
how some people feel about the deaths in Iraq.

The President is wrong.

Whether you agree or disagree with every part, or any part, of
what Cindy wants to say, you know it is better that the
President hear different opinions, particularly from those with
such a deep and personal interest in the decisions of our
government. Today, another voice would be helpful.

Cindy Sheehan can be that voice. She has earned the right to be
that voice.

Please join me in supporting Cindy's right to be heard.
http://ga3.org/campaign/speakout/wxuii8x2q55k73t?

I grew up in a military family. My father and my grandfather
were career Navy pilots. I saw what it meant to live a life
every single day when the possibility of an honorable death is
always there, at the dinner table, on the playground, at the
base school. Will someone's father not come home tonight? And I
didn't just feel the possibility, I saw the real thing, and,
believe me, it stays with you, it changes you.

I also saw, then and more recently as I campaigned across this
country and spent time with courageous military mothers and
wives, how little attention is paid to the needs and the voices
of military families. It has to change. The sacrifices that our
military men and women make assure us that we have the strongest
military in the world, but the sacrifices that their families
make are too often ignored. The President's cavalier dismissal
of Cindy Sheehan is emblematic of a greater problem. This is a
mother who raised her son to love his country enough to serve.
This is a mother who lived the impossible life of a mother of a
soldier serving in Iraq, unable to sleep when he sleeps, unable
to sleep when he is on duty, unable to watch the television,
unable to stop watching the television.

And when the worst does happen, when the world comes crashing
down and she puts the boy she bore, the boy she taught, the boy
she loved in the ground, what does that government say to her?
It says we'll do the talking; we don't need to hear from you. If
we are decent and compassionate, if we know the lessons we
taught our children, or if, selfishly, all we want is the long
line of the brave to protect us in the future, we should listen
to the mothers now.

Listen to Cindy.

Join me so Cindy knows we believe she has earned the right to be
heard.
http://ga3.org/campaign/speakout/wxuii8x2q55k73t?

Elizabeth Edwards

-

Paid for by One America Committee.

Contributions to One America Committee are not deductible for
federal income tax purposes.

[goodhue]

47. And Kucinich is . . .

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Going to Crawford: In Solidarity with Cindy Sheehan
From: "Team Kucinich" <[e-mail]>
Date: Fri, August 12, 2005 10:15 am
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dennis Kucinich - kucinich.us - Insight and Action


The vigil of Cindy Sheehan and those supporting her outside President Bush's ranch in Texas continues.

If you are in Texas or wish to travel there to join Cindy and others in the vigil, contact the Crawford Peace House for advice and directions - http://www.crawfordpeacehouse.org . If people at the Peace House are overwhelmed and you can't reach them, go anyway (directions are on their Web site) and plan to stop there on your way in.

Supplies needed include food and water, coffee, first aid kits,
tarps/canopies, tents, tables, batteries, flashlights, wet wipes,
materials to make and hang banners and signs, nails & tools, bug spray, ice and ice chests, ladders, and car lighter adapters for electric appliances.

Crawford is about 20 miles from Waco, TX - about two hours south of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.

The Lone Star Iconoclast has updated reports and many pictures from on the ground in Crawford at http://198.65.14.85/News/2005/31-40/32news09.htm (http://www.iconoclast-texas.com).

Our forum for discussion about the Crawford vigil is at
http://www.kucinich.us/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3409 .

In Crawford and around the world we bear witness to President Bush's response to Cindy's simple request for dialogue about the very personal, human cost of the war in Iraq. From our hearts we reach out to every family who has lost a loved one, or whose child, partner, sister or brother serves in Iraq. We are all in this together. No one is untouched by this war.


Team Kucinich
http://www.kucinich.us


Watch http://www.kucinich.us for updates.

Please support Dennis's work by making a contribution at
http://www.kucinich.us/contribute and by forwarding this message widely.

Order Dennis's Social Security Town Hall DVD and other videos from http://store.kucinich.us .

Paid for by the Re-Elect Congressman Kucinich Committee

[LittleClarkie]

56. Let's see: Boxer, Maxine, Kucinich, Edwards, Kerry, Kennedy, Byrd

Nope, no politicians paying attention. No siree.

[paineinthearse]

48. Ah hem

Rep. John Conyers

has been working tirelessly for Cindy. Visit his website - www.johnconyers.com as well as the Conyers DU forum

[Catrina]

50. Sen. Byrd spoke up for her

on the Ed Schultz show ~ he said she's very courageous and is doing what an American citizen ought to do ~ stand up for what they believe in.

Kerry said that Bush ought to meet with her, I think ~ but, he didn't come right out and say she is right in her opposition to this war.

Also, I think Conyers got 38 Democrats to sign his petition ~ that's it as far as I can tell ~

[LittleClarkie]

51. Please God no!

Don't "Frist" her! This isn't "Justice Sunday" or Terri Schiavo's death bed.

Conyers has voiced support, as have both Kerry and Kennedy. Progressive radio guy Ed Schultz is going down there. I don't know who else.

But no. Don't muddy her waters with partisan politics. This is about HER. And she has us. That is enough.

Go Grassroots!

[AuntPatsy]

54. Since they seem to be virtually ignored by the media every time

they chance to speak, I think they fear the jinx will fall on Cindy if they get to close, granted, the media is a bit biased in its reporting of Cindy, but she is getting more air time than any Dem I have seen in quite some time...

[LittleClarkie]

57. By the media, and even by people who are supposed to be paying attention

if this thread is any indication. Geez.

[gokar]

58. Very simple.....why no prominent dems are supporting Cindy...

They must have figured out that none of the fence sitters or moderate republicans will switch to dem on this Cindy issue. It is all about
votes, getting elected, cuz there is no power without first getting
elected.

[LittleClarkie]

61. Define "support"

There have been several who have supported her, but perhaps your definition of that word is different from mine.

So what would you consider support from prominent Dems. Folks standing next to her? Folks speaking out? Folks releasing statements? Putting her on their website?

What exactly?

[gokar]

63. By "support" I meant physical presence & TV news coverage

so the public can clearly see how important the issue is
to the politician. For example, if Hillary were to travel to
Texas by the Bush ranch, you know and I know if that happens
news people will be mobbing the incident and it will make
headlines on evening TV news. But Hillary or Kerry or Bayh or
Clark or any of the other legit contenders won't do it.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

66. Maxine Waters, Cynthia mcKinney, and Dennis Kucinich support her

Maxine Waters went to Camp Casey in Texas to show Cindy personally that she supported her

[LittleClarkie]

70. Kerry, Kucinich, Kennedy, Byrd, Edwards all sending their support

just not physically.

I prefer that, actually. Not nearly as effective if people can point to politicians coming in and say "See. This is just a partisan political game they're playing." Like Frist and Schiavo.

Keep the fuck out if you're an elected official. Gore, Clark, Max Cleland ... maybe somebody like that, but NOT AN ELECTED POLITICIAN!

[Pepperbelly]

67. Politicians would stink the place up, IMO.

Cindy Sheehan is much more powerful by herself than with pols hanging around. They would serve to dilute the message rather than enhance it.

[blondeatlast]

69. If the pols step in, Rove goes to work. He's stymied by an ordinary

citizen.

Where's the "hide thread by keyword" feature; these types of threads are all over the place somehow.

[txradioguy369]

71. They are too scared

that they'll get branded as kooks by the Murduck controlled Faux News...and the continual media bashing has made them gun shy.

[Vinca]

72. I agree Cindy is doing a great job and doesn't need any politician

by her side, BUT . . . Cindy doesn't have a vote or voice in Congress and that's important. How do we convince our elected, Democratic representatives that it would be a good idea to represent their constituents? I'm beginning to feel like toxic waste.