Cindy Sheehan Assails Anderson Cooper: Interviewing Her Opponents Is 'Uncalled For'

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By Tim Graham (Bio | Archive)
August 2, 2007 - 20:25 ET
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Jebediah Reed at Radar Online interviewed Cindy Sheehan about, among other topics, her treatment on CNN. The woman CNN hailed and promoted as the "Peace Mom" was outraged that anchor Anderson Cooper had the audacity to bring on two men who disagreed with her after an interview: "I just thought that was really uncalled for." Apparently, what’s called for is Cindy Sheehan being awarded an unopposed platform to spew against the Iraq War and President Bush. Here’s an excerpt:

You're also not a fan of Anderson Cooper. What did he do?
He came down to Camp Casey to do a hit piece on me. It was just handled very badly. He had me on, and then he brought on some people right afterwards—a father whose son died in Iraq and a Dallas talk-show host—who just said some despicable things about me. I just thought that was really uncalled for.

These guys said nasty things?
Yes! This is what I don't understand. People who are against me attack me personally. They attack the way I look physically, they attack the way I dress, they attack everything but what I say.

Is that painful?
It's not painful at all, no. I just wish someone could come and outline a cogent argument explaining why we invaded and occupied a country that was no threat to the United States of America. But they never can. They lie about me and they smear me, because, really, there's not a whole lot to attack. I'm just a regular mother who's trying to save lives and be the best human being I can be.

Sheehan must be referring to August 17, 2005, when Cooper interviewed Sheehan, and then turned to Dallas radio host Darrell Ankarlo (with a son in Fallujah) and Gary Qualls (who lost his son in Iraq). If a viewer gained the impression from her new Radar interview that these men attacked her looks or fashions, and not what she had said, they would be wrong. Ankarlo and Qualls were harshly critical about her statements and actions. Qualls scorned her Camp Casey protests outside Bush's ranch in Crawford: "I think it's basically centered on a self-centered idea. And the functions that's going for behind that for supporting our troops is completely wrong."

Ankarlo said "what they're trying to do is, this is a campaign for representatives and senators and the upcoming elections. They're trying to take over with just one voice who turns into many to say this is a bad war, it's an unholy war, it's an incorrect war. I'm saying to the president, stay the course. You know what the mission is. I've got a son who's invested in it. And I'm going to stand by him."

When Cooper asked Qualls if he felt for Cindy Sheehan, he replied, "Yes, sir, I certainly do. As a single parent, I've raised two boys practically by myself. So I've had to play the dad, the father, and the mom role as well. And I know it hurt me deeply and it still does. And I've only got one son left. And he, too, wants to serve. But if it takes the sacrifice of my whole family, to help protect the welfare of this country, to protect our way of life, and our freedoms of speech, then I guess as an American, I have to make that sacrifice. That's our duty for our country, and for this world."

It’s unfortunate when the peaceniks who claim their protests are the ultimate exercise in free expression assert it's rude and unfair of media outlets to offer their opponents their own platform to speak. Sheehan seems to have no idea how fortunate she was that the entire national media chose to spotlight her and make her famous, when they could have simply ignored her protests as a PR stunt. If she had been picketing President Clinton, after having lost a son in Somalia, or lost a son in the Khobar Towers incident or the attack on the U.S.S. Cole, you could easily bet she’d still be unknown.

—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.


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So, has Ms. Sheehan

August 2, 2007 - 20:31 ET by Chris Norman

So, has Ms. Sheehan borrowed a page from the Michael Moore media relations handbook in whacktacking* their friends at CNN?

*an attack that doesn't make any sense 

The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

- Arabian Proverb

Sheehan and Moore are like

August 2, 2007 - 20:43 ET by Senior Chief

Sheehan and Moore are like Rosie the fat, loud-mouth, lefty lesbian when confronted with their looney views.

Sheehan (the candidate) and Pelosi debate would be a good entertainment. Looney leftoid against a looney leftoid, facilitated by Brit Hume...  

They just can't handle the truth

August 3, 2007 - 10:10 ET by Tennessee Redneck

Fact/logic to a liberal = Kryptonite to Superman.  Trying to use facts and logic to argue a point to a liberal is nothing more than an exercise in futility. 

Fact:  Cindy Sheehans son VOLUNTEERED into military service knowing full well what would be expected and what the consequences might be. You would think GWB had him kidnapped in the dead of night and he was forced to serve at gunpoint.  If you try to explain this to a liberal they just get this bizare look on their face, act like they didn't hear a word you said and then make some other factually empty statement.  This cycle just keeps repeating itself until they just get so red faced they call you a name and leave.  It's maddening.

But Moore attacked CNN on CNN's air

August 2, 2007 - 20:54 ET by Tim Graham

By the way, Cooper also interviewed Sheehan on August 15, 2005, and he also balanced that interview with an opposing parent of a lost soldier:

COOPER: Tina, what do you think about what Cindy Sheehan is doing?

TINA LUCERO, SON KILLED IN IRAQ: From being a mother, you know, as I am and lost one in Iraq I just think it's, you know, she's handling it wrong and that her anger is toward our president and that is something that's just bothered me.

COOPER: You don't blame the president for the death of your son? LUCERO: No, sir I don't. I feel that my son had a job to do and he did it very well and it was unfortunate that it came to this but it was his decision going to Iraq, you know, joining the military.

COOPER: Do you think the president should meet with Cindy Sheehan?

LUCERO: No, I don't think he should.

COOPER: If you had a chance to say something to Cindy Sheehan, one mother, one grieving mother to another, what would you say to her, what would you ask her?

LUCERO: I'd tell her that I feel for her because I also know how she feels. My son has also been taken but not for anything, not for nothing. He's -- he did his job well and so did her son. Her son is not to be forgotten and her son should be remembered and honored.

COOPER: When you got that terrible news that your son Joshua had been killed, I mean was there -- was there doubt about what he was killed for, about what the mission is?

LUCERO: No. No. I spoke to my son many times on the phone and he never, never, ever, it was never in his words or his voice or attitude that, you know, he was there for nothing. He was there for a reason and since the attack on 9/11 he told us that he needed to do that. He needed to join the military and help protect this country.

That's true. Still, for a

August 2, 2007 - 20:59 ET by Chris Norman

That's true. Still, for a network that's reliably friendly, these attacks doesn't make much sense, on or off their air. In Ms. Sheehan's case, it kind of shows her instability.

The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

- Arabian Proverb

And We're Out Of Time. Back To You Ted.

August 2, 2007 - 21:56 ET by stratman

"COOPER: When you got that terrible news that your son Joshua had been killed, I mean was there -- was there doubt about what he was killed for, about what the mission is?"

You can tell he's begging for her to say "YES I HAD DOUBT".

Sorry Coopersky.  Nice try. 

What an manipulative asshat.

Killing them with kindness isn't working.  Time to get scrappy with the Donkeys.

I agree strat...I cannot

August 2, 2007 - 22:12 ET by bigtimer

I agree strat...I cannot stand Cooper.

Period.

Then again...I am getting to where I cannot stand any of them.

Including Fox, the few I did like.

Fox has changed a lot form when it started...as always, no matter the subject/person/corp./politico...they forget to dance with the one who brung them. 

Minky Business

August 3, 2007 - 01:04 ET by stratman

I remember watching Cooper on very late night broadcast news and thinking "what a weasel".  I knew it wouldn't be long till ferret- face (apologies to MASH's Frank Burns) joined others of his ilk in prime time. 

Now I know why television news is called a "business" - that's what you call a group of ferrets.

Killing them with kindness isn't working.  Time to get scrappy with the Donkeys.

 If she had been picketing

August 2, 2007 - 20:52 ET by bigtimer

 If she had been picketing President Clinton, after having lost a son in Somalia, or lost a son in the Khobar Towers incident or the attack on the U.S.S. Cole, you could easily bet she’d still be unknown.

That says it all in a nutshell Tim Graham.

The hypocrisy in the msm is and always has been outrageous....

Thank goodness we now have outlets...where they cannot get away with all of the BS as easily anymore and they get called on it...with great sites like NB's!

I really do hope Pelosi and Sheehan go against each other all the way...it really could be interesting....a debate between the two would be a comedy within itself...Comedy Central or the Cartoon Channel would have nothing on them!

 

I disagree slightly, bt and

August 2, 2007 - 21:23 ET by motherbelt

I disagree slightly, bt and Tim...I think if she were attacking Clinton, she would have been shown and played up as a bereaved mother who went around the bend after losing her son (complete with psychiatrists and psychologists etc. to bolster their argument). They would have played her up as an object of pity, instead of a heroine.

Attacking Clinton

August 3, 2007 - 06:27 ET by allanf

If she had attacked Bill Clinton, she would have been ignored by the press.  Setting herself on fire would not have gotten her attention.

 

We had terrorism before GWB?

August 2, 2007 - 21:27 ET by exLib

From listening to the news the last couple years I am surprised to hear there were conflicts during the Clinton Admin.

Didn't terrorism start during the Bush Admin?

And we all know only Republicans start wars....

Bush DID meet with Sheehan

August 2, 2007 - 21:24 ET by exLib

I am so sick of reading comments like the above where Cooper asks the other lady if Bush should meet wth Sheehan. 

She said no, but the truth is that Bush DID meet with her and the press continually reports as if he NEVER did.

Sheehan wanted Bush to meet with her a SECOND time AFTER she decided it was politically expedient to harass the Prez and make a career out of getting her picture taken getting while getting arrested.

Sheehan's Duplicity

August 2, 2007 - 22:13 ET by ConservativeRex

 My son served with Casey Sheehan (25 of the 1st Cav).  He let us know that Casey was a fine soldier and he would have been absolutely mortified at what his Mama is doing supposedly in his name.

My son went so far as to write Ms Sheehan a formal letter explaining Casey to her, as he knew him to be, and as you'd expect from a dedicated Stalinist, my son received no response whatsoever.  My only hope is let the Lib/Stalinist eat themselves,  I regard Cooper in the same light as Sheehan.  

CR... My gratitude goes

August 2, 2007 - 22:36 ET by bigtimer

CR...

My gratitude goes to your fine son...may he stay safe.

As a mother it is sad she did not even take the time to eventually have the decency to reply to him.

Does not surprise me.

I have always felt nothing but horror and outrage with what this woman has done with her sons death...she is walking despicable trash as far as I am concerned.

But then that is just me.

She said no, but the truth

August 2, 2007 - 22:43 ET by motherbelt

That's right,exLib, but she not only wanted him to meet with her again, she told him what she wanted him to say to her when they would have their second meeting:

"You tell me that my son died for oil. You tell me that my son died to make your friends rich. You tell me my son died to spread the cancer of Pax Americana, imperialism in the Middle East. You tell me that, you don't tell me my son died for freedom and democracy." - Cindy Sheehan

Geez, makes you wonder why he passed on that, doesn't it?

 

Hi mb.... I remember that

August 2, 2007 - 22:44 ET by bigtimer

Hi mb....

I remember that well.

Unfortunately.

Favorite Sheehan burp

August 2, 2007 - 22:31 ET by Gary Hall

My favorite Sheehan burp. Right in the middle of the mess down in New Orleans when the biggest complaint was that there wasn't envough national guard troops to go around (and of course, Gov. Blanco had forgot to request assistance from the President),  Cindy Sheehan said the following:

When our fellow citizens are told to "shoot to kill" other fellow citizens because they want to stay alive, that is military and governmental fascism gone out of control.

 and then this -- are you  ready: 

pull our troops out of occupied New Orleans

Unbelievable. It's a mystery.

Hi Gary... I would be

August 2, 2007 - 22:39 ET by bigtimer

Hi Gary...

I would be cracking up laughing if she wasn't so maddening....

Along with the msm who was so in love with her once.

She is simply nuts. 

I used to feel sympathy for Cindy Sheehan

August 3, 2007 - 00:00 ET by Lame Cherry

I used to feel sympathy for Cindy Sheehan in knowing this woman was being used and she honestly needed psychological counselling, but now it is a mixture of nothing at all and just watching the idiot show she does and smile.

My family had a child die in a violent way when I was a child. So I know up close what families deal with. It shakes things to the core and each living child goes through things from thinking they are next to loosing their way. Parents literally fall apart which means life every day is a cloud of gloom that time never fades as it is always there. Holidays are the worse as they always have the empty chair.

Unlike Cindy Sheehan, my Mom never lashed out, never raised hell and never was a plague reaching for an issue. I am very proud of my Mom in setting an example for us in she turned to God. Sure she devoured the Bible and I have it with notes she wrote in the margins on every page which is remarkable, but she dealt with it and became a better person.

My Mom could have lashed out and made other people's lives miserable like Cindy Sheehan in blame, but she never did. She would also in her private way be uncomfortable with this being here bragging on her.

Being a kid who went through what Cindy Sheehan's kids are dealing with yet I believe I can speak some for her dead son in knowing the last thing I would want is for my Mom ripping herself, the family and and entire nation over me. I would be disgusted at political parties using her and disgusted over me becoming a rally call against my nation.

Perhaps it is a western thing, but I think by now as a living child I would be telling Cindy to shape the hell up. To get ahold of herself as her tantrum has worn thin and she needs to start honoring a dead son by building something instead of tearing everything down.

As stated, her son deserves better and there are now 3500 hundred dead soldiers with grieving families who are doing what hundreds of thousands have done in America since the French and Indian war.

I don't like Cindy Sheehan, but I despise the left who used her like a town crier flogging her pain to get at Bush. I do pray though that Cindy Sheehan finds God's Peace as she has allot to answer for.

God bless the families though she and these other horrid thoughtless creatures hurt as they have suffered enough.

 

*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS

Evening Lame

August 3, 2007 - 00:06 ET by bigtimer

Evening Lame Cherry...

Excellent, excellent post.

I mean that most sincerely. 

Excellent post

August 3, 2007 - 08:16 ET by HelenS

I am not any sort of indication of normal or majority or any other quantitative measure but I may speak for a few others when I say that perhaps Cindy's son may be being honored in spite of and in contrast to his mother.  In a perverse way, he is honored because of her drivel but only by comparison.

The more she looses it, and the more quietly the rest of the family remain, the more we get a picture of quite dignity in her son.

She is shameful in so many fronts but her son was an honorable and brave man.  I believe that many people see that and honor him as they shake their heads at her stupidity and shame. 

"Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war"  - Shakespeare

}}}----> Gloves are off Cindy

August 3, 2007 - 02:18 ET by Cool Arrow

You think you get the same treatment after turning your back on the MSM/Dem party?

There's plenty of rebuttal everywhere you go now.  Ask Norma McCorvey (Jane Roe of Roe V Wade fame), how much love the MSM/Dems have for her.

Your handlers are through with you now.  You're not the football anymore. Just a deflated lump of rubber and leather.

Sharp right turn

August 3, 2007 - 05:26 ET by ThisnThat

Holy cow! First, she quits the Democratic party. Now she disses the MSM. What's next? I sense a hard right turn, here. Don't be surprised if, by tomorrow, she shows up on Fox News wearing a David Dukes teeshirt.

Wouldn't surprise me a bit, you know.

}}---> LOL TnT

August 3, 2007 - 05:40 ET by Cool Arrow

As long as she's not wearing Daisy Duke's hot pants

EEEWWW.

Go Away Cindy

August 3, 2007 - 07:54 ET by Beukeboom

Awww...widdle Cindy got "pwned" again by intelligent discourse. Now she's all bent out of shape because of it.

 

GOOD! 

 

There's a saying, "I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent." Sheehan was disarmed early on in the war of public opinion. Now no one will support her except for a handful of liberal extremists who haven't exhibited political cannibalistic tendencies and the Code Pink crowd. And the political-vegan liberal extremists are starting to sharpen their knives for their oblivious Sheehan prey.

Actually, Cindy is too dumb

August 3, 2007 - 09:55 ET by daveinboca

Actually, Cindy is too dumb to understand that the people in question were attacking what she said.  I hope her candidacy against Nancy Pelosi in SF is successful, however, as SF will finally get a congressperson as stupid and obnoxious as its electorate!

shocker

August 3, 2007 - 10:00 ET by LionKing

A liberal not wanting to deal with facts...I am shocked!!!

If conservatives are RIGHT, then liberals must be WRONG.
Thompson/Rice