Aug 27 2005
Who supports the grieving mother?
Did you see this picture? http://tinyurl.com/cjctz It was from a photo diary on Cindy�s website, and also on Fox News. Cindy sitting pretty with her personal foot masseuse. Now I don�t want to focus too harshly on what is likely just a guy doing something nice, but it causes me to wonder who else she has in support there. I mean, we read about Camp Casey and hear about it, but we rarely see it, or the support staff that runs it. It, as I discovered is fairly extensive. They have doctors, lawyers, attorneys, mail sorters etc, some out of Crawford House, and some at the camp. And that's cool, when people believe in something, they want to support it. Good for them. But I had heard mention of other support, things like media management and consultants, people screening the press etc...So I wondered who they are, who supports her with money and advice and political management. Let's be honest, it's a slick operation down there, with press reports, and interviews ans such. So I wondered who supports her and ABC7 in San Francisco kindly provided the answer (hat tip to Mike F). So here is a list of who is now standing behind her protest.http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=politics&id=3382521 PR Machine Behind Cindy Sheehan? Aug. 25 - With the President back at his Crawford ranch, the anti-war protest right outside his ranch is getting a lot more media attention. ABC7 looks at who is financing the operation and who's providing on-the-ground support. The camp at Crawford is full of Cindy Sheehan supporters, people from all walks of life, but off to the side are a small group of professionals skilled in politics and public relations who are marketing Cindy Sheehan's message. Cindy Sheehan kneels before a cross with her son's name on it, touches his picture, wipes her tears. It's an outpouring of emotion that is part of a scheduled news event organized daily for the television, radio and print reporters who crowd in to capture a mother's grief. Cindy Sheehan: "I'm never going to see him again, I'm never going to hold him again, I'm never going to hear his voice again." Sheehan's message hasn't changed since she got here, but the support staff interested in getting that message out to the world has grown considerably. Organizers are set up in a house trailer. Their meetings closed to reporters. Leading the group is Fenton Communications employee, Michele Mulkey, based in San Francisco. Fenton specializes in public relations for liberal non-profits. Their bills are being paid for by True Majority, a non-profit set up by Ben Cohen -- of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream fame. Ben Cohen, True Majority: "People are willing to listen to her and we want to do as much as we can to make her voice heard." Cohen's group has teamed up with Berkeley based MoveOn.org, an anti-Bush group co-founded by Joan Blades. Earlier this month, MoveOn helped organize anti-war vigils in support of Cindy Sheehan. Current Democratic National Party Chair Howard Dean's organization Democracy for America is also involved, as is the more radical anti-war group Code Pink organized by San Francisco's Medea Benjamin. Money donated through these groups and others is helping to pay for Gold Star families whose children have been killed in Iraq to attend anti-Bush protests. This week Simi Valley California Gold Star wife Melanie House flew to Idaho for a protest and then flew to Crawford. ABC7's Mark Matthews: "Can you tell us if you're getting help in airfare to come down here?" Melanie House: "What difference does that make?" There is real reluctance to talk about who's paying, and the P.R. machine that's promoting Cindy Sheehan, but not everyone here is completely comfortable with it. Gold Star mother Karen Meredith came here from Mountain View. Her son Ken Ballard died last year. Karen Meredith, Gold Star mother: "Sometimes things don't feel quite right to me. They don't feel wrong, but maybe that's how they do it in the marketing business." ABC7's Mark Matthews: "You feel you're part of a marketing business?" Karen Meredith: "Possibly. Yeah I think so." On the other side, pro-Bush supporters are getting on the ground to help reiterate their message. Grassfire.org and IM4W.com came back to the same Iowa-based conservative public policy organization, an organization with ties to the Republican National Committee. There is also the "Cindy you don't speak for me tour," a caravan of military wives and mothers led by Deborah Johns of Roseville. Her son William is a marine who has served two tours of duty in Iraq. Johns and her supporters are traveling to Crawford to confront Cindy Sheehan. Deborah Johns, caravan leader: "It means everything for me to be here, to see the support. We're so proud of him." The caravan is getting a lot of help from MoveAmericaForward.org. It's a non-profit organization co-chaired by former state assemblyman Howard Koologian. Koologian is a Republican who takes credit for launching the recall against Governor Gray Davis. His co-chair is KSFO Radio talk show host Melanie Morgan. The group's PR firm is led by a veteran California political strategist and the firm claims clients running from a county supervisor to President of the United States.
"People are willing to listen to her and we want to do as much as we can to make her voice heard."
4 Responses to “Who supports the grieving mother?”
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At which point do you get to realize this war has been and continues to be an unmitigated disaster for America? A growing number of Republicans are being vocal about this now, but you� oooohhhh nooo. On you go, spouting the same mindless, unthinking rhetoric that got America into this mess in the first place. The war is already lost. Much as we would love it to be different, it isn�t. Better get used to it�
1) We have created a terrorist superstate where it didn�t exist previously.
2) Iraq and Iran are increasingly forming an alliance where it didn�t exist previously.
3) Iraq is fast moving towards becoming an Islamic state where it wasn�t previously.
4) Oil prices are soaring
5) Oil security for the United States is greatly compromised.
6) More than 1,800 US troops and many times more Iraqi�s have died for absolutely nothing. Absolutely nothing.
7) The US is now the most heavily indebted country in the world, with 25% of all US treasuries owned by China.
It�s time to put an end to your debacle in Iraq. We will secure nothing. The war was lost long ago.
I’m glad you posted something on this.
I find it strange the MSM did not publicize the financing of Cindy’s disgrace until the “You Don’t Speak for me Cindy” tour started. Then they had to know who was financing that. This is one more prime example of media bias.
As for you anonymous, a few Republicans, looking at their political aspirations only, does not consititute a “growing number.”
Thanks CC. You can see my response to Anonymous.
Karl, You are very welcome.