CNN's American Morning was all about "Troubling News for President Bush." On the top of the list, a new poll showing a 40% approval rating and, of course, Cindy Sheehan. President Bush is in Idaho meeting with military families.
CNN Anchor, Bob Franken: "The audience will be family members of people who have been lost in Iraq and Afghanistan. The president will be meeting with a group of them afterwards. Of course the one he's already met with who he has heeded the call for another meeting, Cindy Sheehan. She's coming back to Crawford, Texas today. As the president arrives. She is sort of the symbol of a growing unrest in the United States, as reflected in that poll. Unrest in the U.S. that is showing dissatisfaction with the Iraq policy the president is now assertively defending. And when it comes to talking about Cindy Sheehan, he has to walk a very fine line between sensitivity and an aggressive defense."
However, a poll this week by Strategic Vision in Florida suggests that people don't view Sheehan as their "symbol" regardless of their position on Iraq. 56% Disapprove of Sheehan's actions to 29% approving.
Meanwhile, CNN (along with the rest of the MSM) also constantly state that Sheehan really just wants to meet with the President. In the same segment on American Morning, Miles O'Brien also wonders: "And, Bob, the president did not indicate he would meet with Cindy Sheehan, did he?"
Certainly, if O'Brien had watched MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann he would have seen this exchange and perhaps noted that Sheehan does not actually want to meet with the President.
Olbermann: "With the nature of the media coverage you are getting now, from the perspective of your protest there, in a way isn't it better if President Bush doesn't meet with you? Cindy Sheehan: "I would think so, yeah. I think it's great. And if he would come out now it would really diffuse the momentum and I don't want to give them any hints, and I am sure that is something they have already thought about."
Dustin Hawkins is a political commentator and columnist, blogger, and all around great guy.
