Bush Finally Addressed Cindy

A couple of interesting things happened this week so far. Cindy Sheehan is no longer in Crawford. A small group of protesters decided to follow President Bush to Idaho where he is vacationing for a couple of days. Small protests popped up across the country (primarily in Liberal cities and in college towns) yet could not muster much support. In Knoxville, as an example, fewer than one hundred anti-war types assembled to condemn the war. The most interesting thing may be that President Bush finally addressed Ms. Sheehan directly. Here is a excerpt from an AP article:

"Bush said he understood the anguish of the woman whose son was killed in
Iraq last year. But he said he disagreed with her assertion that U.S. troops
should be brought home before more die in a "senseless war."
"I think those who advocate immediate withdrawal from not only Iraq but the Middle East are advocating a policy that would weaken the United States," Bush said.
The president said U.S. troops in Iraq are keeping Americans safe and that Iraqis
are making progress toward democracy. He urged patience as officials in Baghdad
struggle to complete a constitution."The fact that they're even writing a
constitution is vastly different from living under the iron hand of a dictator,"
Bush said.
Bush met Sheehan last year at a similar series of meetings with families of
the war dead. But Sheehan says there have been developments since then and she
has more she wants to say to Bush."Well, I did meet with Cindy Sheehan," Bush said Tuesday. "I strongly support her right to protest. There's a lot of people protesting. And there's a lot of points of view about the Iraq war."
He added: "She expressed her opinion. I disagree with it."
Bush spoke once before about Sheehan, during a foreign policy summit at his
ranch on Aug. 11. He said then, too, that he sympathized with her but disagreed
with her call to bring the troops home immediately.
He said Tuesday, "She doesn't represent the view of a lot of the families I have met with."

I think the President's last statement is more accurate across the country. There is a pro-military counter protest going on right now. It is picking up steam and is headed for Crawford, Texas. it is sponsored by Move America Forward http://www.moveamericaforward.com/ and is called "Cindy,You Don't Speak for Me." It has many parents of fallen soldiers in its ranks who support he country and the military.

Cindy Sheehan is an agrieved mother and should be allowed to feel the way she does. The problem is, she is being manilpulated by groups like moveon dot org and folks like Michael Moore. Her message of grief is being scripted by the "hating wing" of the Democratic party and will further polarize the debate heading into the 2006 congressional elections.