Relatives: Mom's vigil just hurtful

[sabra]

http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_2935498

Relatives: Mom's vigil just hurtful
Family of Vacaville woman whose son died in Iraq war criticizes protest as politically motivated

Family members of Cindy Sheehan, the Vacaville woman camped near President Bush's ranch protesting the war in Iraq, denounced her actions Thursday in an e-mail quickly distributed worldwide by Internet and mainstream media.

Sent to a San Francisco radio station Thursday, the first public acknowledgement of a family rift came from Cherie Quartarolo, sister-in-law to Cindy Sheehan and godmother to her son, Casey, who was killed in action in Iraq last year.

....

Reached by phone Thursday, Quartarolo said she consulted with other family members before releasing the brief statement, but she declined to elaborate. She signed the memo on behalf of Casey's paternal grandparents, as well as "aunts, uncles and numerous cousins."

....

But the family's e-mail said, "The Sheehan family lost our beloved Casey in the Iraq War and we have been silently, respectfully grieving. The rest of the Sheehan family supports the troops, our country and our president, silently, with prayer and respect." Cindy Sheehan did not return calls Thursday.

Will Pitt asked Cindy directly about this...

http://www.truthout.org/cindy.shtml

t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By William Rivers Pitt

Thursday 11 August 2005
8:05 PM

I spoke to Cindy about the "so-called" family who attacked her today. This godmother, according to Cindy, did not know Casey at all. They saw each other maybe once a year. As for the other family members, they have always been at political loggerheads, so their response is no big shock.

Cindy treated it with a shrug. Her husband will send out a more detailed response soon. In the meantime, Cindy says the letter is to be treated as little more than bad, dumb noise.

The vigil goes on.

[wtmusic]

1. The Sheehan family supports the troops

as opposed to Cindy, who er, support the troops :silly:

[Midlodemocrat]

2. Sorry, Cindy's grief trumps their support of the *

[still_one]

3. has nothing to do with the message

her son was killed because bush LIED

[Solly Mack]

4. Stupid people. They are equating Ms Sheehan's efforts with

non-support of the troops...which just proves how brainwashed they are... and how ignorant they are...

Frankly, life is better lived without "relatives" like that

[Child_Of_Isis]

5. "silently, with prayer and respect"

Good sheeple!

[StaggerLee]

30. good Germans

n/t

[Mizmoon]

6. Maybe their protest of her protest is politically motivated

?

[mntleo2]

16. Yeah Maybe Rove Arranged Payment

As long as they flash the money, then they will always have lots of honeys...

Hate to be a cynic here but...It is incredible what some people would do for a few bucks, even sell out their own people. Money is the main reason why prostitution is the world's oldest profession.

My 2 cents

Cat In Seattle

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

24. AND why spying is the second oldest, too!

LOL

[BOSSHOG]

7. The Sheehan family supports "our president."

FUCK THE SHEEHAN FAMILY. Go Cindy.

If I did something similar, my in-laws would also side with "our president."

[xxqqqzme]

64. my mother, father, sisters & brother

would all oppose me (and do!). Sometimes U just gotta do what's right in spite of posed righteous indignation.

[deutsey]

8. Typical fascists

They see an opportunity to exalt their Fearless Leader and kick someone when they're most vulnerable.

[BooScout]

9. A sister in law to Cindy......

Has no fucking right to say one damned word about what it's like to grieve for Cindy's lost child. NONE. She has no fucking idea.

[kypper]

10. C'mon people

I don't think these comments are really fair. What this woman is doing is making a big spectacle, which is absolutely courageous and just, but also makes her family's life hell at home.

All of those Bush supporters with 'support our troops' bumper stickers and Bush's face over their fireplace will be constantly tormenting these people. It's no wonder they'd release a statement distancing themselves from her; most people aren't cut out to handling the crap.

[madaboutharry]

13. Cindy said last night on

Keith Oberman that she has not even been on speaking terms with these people for some time. These relatives are full of it and should be ashamed of themselves.

[Southsideirish]

18. Specious reasoning. They have to AGREE with their possible future

tormentors to get them off their backs?

With that, er, "reasoning" they may as well go down and participate in an "anti-Cindy" march in Crawford, then they would really gain the admiration of the freeptards!

[CottonBear]

20. They're her in-laws not her blood relatives.

She hasn't spoken to them for months now. No one would even know that they were related by marriage if they hadn't opened their big mouths and spoken about a situation that has nothing to do with them.

[TahitiNut]

33. As blood relatives to Pat Sheehan, they're every bit as related ...

... to Casey Sheehan as Cindy's parents and siblings, to the extent they exist. Except for the married females, they bear the same family name.

That's NOT the issue. The issue is that they're not showing ANY familial support for Pat and Cindy Sheehan -- trivializing the bereavement of Casey's parents. Their ONLY moral stance would be to voice sympathy for the parents' loss - and remaining SILENT regarding their political differences. Their public posturing is as ethically bankrupt as those who attacked the Wellstone sons for acknowledging and supporting their late parents' political passions at their memorial service. It's detestable.

[CottonBear]

39. Point taken. I agree with your post 100%.

Sorry. I got a little carried away when posting. Of course they are related to Casey by blood and marriage. Their behavior, as you have noted, is apalling and beyond contempt. They have no right to question her views or positions on the matter. It is simply not their place to do so.

[William Seger]

56. BINGO!

I was just about to post that anyone who could still support * is either extremely ignorant or morally and ethically bankrupt, and intentionally trying to torpedo Cindy is a damn good hint which one it is.

[ret5hd]

22. so, what you are saying is...

that her in-laws are a bunch of pussy pushovers with no spines, right?

sorry everyone, i guess i have to agree with him.

[TahitiNut]

23. Nonsense.

By making such a public proclamation, they're showing just how trivially they regard Casey Sheehan's life and Cindy and Pat Sheehan's bereavement. If one of my Bush-loving family members lost a son in Iraq and treated that loss as a "call to arms" to back the Bushoilinis and go after religious extremists, I'd be focused solely on their grief and feelings of loss - NOT on their political stance, despite the fact that it'd be so diametrically opposed to my own. I would NOT attempt to frame their loss in terms contrary to their feelings. It just wouldn't be my place to do so.

These people, other than through the happenstance of genealogy, clearly have NO COMPARABLE impact on their lives whatsoever. They might as well be complete strangers who live on the same street. By going public in this fashion, they've proven their self-centered disregard for the emotional well-being of Casey's parents!

Nobody can morally support both our country and this criminal administration. It's just not ethically possible.

[Pachamama]

70. I totally agree TahitiNut! Your summary is spot on!

I couldn't agree more with your summary of these so-called "relatives" by marriage who don't even have a close relationship w/ her. Actually, even if they were blood relatives (parents, siblings etc) and close, they still would have no business passing any judgement on the parents of dead child and how they choose to mourn, react and respond.

But the key thing you said -

"Nobody can morally support both our country and this criminal administration. It's just not ethically possible."

:hi:

[rman]

27. "her family?" ask her daughter, her husband

Hell is in Iraq, and to a lesser extend in a ditch in Crawford, TX.

[Shakespeare]

45. Bullshit. Are you that close to your extended family?

I would bet that most people aren't. I have cousins I haven't seen in years--and who occasionally send me stupid wingnut chain emails. If I were to lose someone in my IMMEDIATE family, they would have no more right to challenge me on how I handled my grief and outrage that some stranger on the street, and their shitty opinions would hold about as much weight.

Those relatives are WAY out of line.

[RetroLounge]

53. Bullshit

'nuff said...

RL

[TankLV]

63. Oh, right - excuse her for grieving fof HER SDN!

That is bullshit.

They haven't even thought of her or her son except to score some political brownie points with fellow repukes - of that I am certain.

Their phoney "grief" is way down the list of concerns right after their "concern" for her grocery bills.

[CAcyclist]

74. No It Doesn't

No one would have even known of the connection if they didn't choose to make an issue of it. And you are talking about the Bay Area in California - who exactly would be making life "hell" for these people? Not a lot of freepers around here.

[booksenkatz]

11. I've never understood "it's just political"

Because everything is political: the safety and cost of the food that goes on our table, the amount of money in our bank account, what we drive, what we wear, what we breathe, what's in our library, our health care, the streets we drive on, the ideas our son is taught at school, the level of education of our entire community and nation, the quality of our future... EVERYTHING is political, ultimately. So saying that Cindy's protest is "merely political" is rather meaningless apart from saying that she isn't really upset over Casey's death, which is ludicrous.

Therefore, if someone tells me that an action is "just political," it means that he has no argument against the action whatsoever, none, since everything already is political.

[rman]

31. The point is that 'ordinary people' aren't supposed to

occupy themselves with politics.
Unfortunately for the neocons, not everyone got the memo.

[booksenkatz]

36. So "it's just political" is just a way of saying...

"Don't worry your pretty head over this, there are no issues here, no substance here, move along, nothing to see here?"

God, I'm so glad that I'm raising my little boy to be a critical thinker! He doesn't let anyone get away with being dismissive. He demands answers. And so should we all.

[rman]

57. There's this infamous speech by Bush 1,

the one where he mentions the new world order.
He also states something to the effect that we have the perfect political system; that there's no need to look for anything better.

To me that's pretty close to "don't worry your pretty head over this".

[Igel]

41. To play devil's advocate ...

Wouldn't that mean that her grief is political, and her obvious love for her dead kid also political? And, in this case, also partisan?

[booksenkatz]

46. I was thinking more along the lines of

the state of the world, of our immediate environment, of our home, of our neighborhood, being political. I'm not sure that that necessarily extrapolates to one's feelings. The way that I feel about the death of a loved one doesn't change, regardless of who is in charge, while the concrete conditions of my life and environment DO change, depending on who is in charge.

I'm not sure that basic human emotions can be political; they just ARE. Hmmmm. Something for me to think about!

[William Seger]

60. No offense...

... but you may be confusing cause and effect.

[Igel]

73. No.

For years I've had disagreements with people telling me everything is political. Usually they use it to justify not their beliefs and actions, but to beat me over the head, or to condemn others.

For years I've pointed out where the people that tell me everything is political do things that they don't consider political, and they get pissed. "Everything's political. Well, no, *that* isn't political, but everything else is. No, that isn't either, but, believe, me, everything's political."

I have respect for those that are truly consistent to their assertions, and have known people to change roommates, drop their favorite tv show or leave a club or quit their jobs because it turned out that they wound up supporting some cause they disagreed with. I've seen people do things that made them suffer, economically, socially, or emotionally for their politics ... but seldom any more than passing up a soda or a brand of t-shirt. That's mostly where I fall on this particular scale, but I leave emotions out of it entirely.

In the few cases where the suffering was on the large side, I've always thought they were slightly loony, but I respect them nonetheless. I've found very, very few people really believe it when they say "everything's political."

As for using what I personally think is private grief for public politics ... it's found on both sides of the aisle, and seldom serves a reasoned end.

[William Seger]

58. (Self-delete: replied to wrong post)

[AlCzervik]

12. Sheesh, her own family-extended that is supports Bush over her

how fucked up is that?

[havocmom]

14. Here's a little sumthin fer kin who think they get to decide what is right

[chopper]

15. hah

wow, a sister-in-law. lemme know when they bring out the republican second-cousin-twice-removed calling cindy a 'traitor'. that'll be a hoot.

[HughBeaumont]

17. I don't support ANY government official over a member of my own family

REGARDLESS of political affiliation. That's just bullshit and callous. Cindy's son DIED in a war started over a LIE. Who gives a FUCK what Cherie, Lancelot Link or any ONE of these asshole, freeptard bastard fuckers have to say about ANYthing?

[LibDemAlways]

19. I once heard Ahnold asked if he'd

campaign for a repuke opponent of Ted Kennedy. He looked at the interviewer with an "Are you nuts?" expression and explained that families stick together.

Those so-called relatives sound like a bunch of jackass "morans" who either don't know the meaning of loyalty or who've received a big, fat check in the mail signed by Rove.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

21. statements are from her husbands fundie family NOT Cindy or her hubby

[DS1]

25. Question: Who gives a fuck about what "Godparents" think?

I sure as hell don't.

[daleo]

26. They love Bush more than their own family.

That's how it reads to me. In any extended family there will be some differences of opinion, and this looks to be a carefully selected sample of family members. The sister-in-law seems like a real strange one, though, going to this much trouble for Bush.

On edit - I notice only one family member is actually named in the story, which makes me wonder if she didn't take it upon herself to speak for people who didn't give their consent.

[MaryBear]

28. To air the family's laundry is tasteless.

I do believe that even my repuke brothers who think I'm the next thing to Hanoi Jane (as they call her) would never do this.

Too bad.

I'm glad that Will Pitt talked to her and she continues to be focused on her experience and her beliefs. Go Cindy!

[Bragi]

29. What's most offensive here...

Is how the right wing haters are trying to reframe the issue in their usual way, as "supporting the troops."

This crapola generally sells well with the MSM, who are quite happy to reduce any debate down to known, predictable contours, without thinking hard about what they are reporting.

The problem a Cindy Sheehan has is that she is an ordinary person, and not a professional politico engaged full time in the ugly culture wars that now charcterize American political discussion. The right wing haters and Rovian pricks who are going at her are paid professionals who know how to work the pliant MSM, and how to publicly destroy anyone who stands in their way.

Someone noted yesterday here that they feared this won't end well. I have a similar feeling, but on the other hand, what Cindy has going for her is that she is a) obviously highly motivated b) doesn't give a fuck at this point what anyone says about her, and c) she is a naturally gifted communicator.

I hope she hangs in there and, with help from others, avoids getting ground up in the meatgrinder the shameless Rovians want to push her into. Odds are, though, that in the end, they will find a way to discredit and marginalize her sufficient for the MSM to decide that she isn't a legitimate news story anymore.

- B

[VegasWolf]

32. This "family" is not being "political" I guess!!! They've probably been

hounded by Republican operatives to say this, and the Republician
operatives are supplying the funding to get to the airwaves with
their "message". They are probably even being paid.

[AnneD]

34. Cindy and her husband stand on the moral high ground....

and that is something the GOP has not held since abolition.

[yellowcanine]

35. Curious timing. Just now they are speaking out? I smell a Rove rat.

[progressivebydesign]

37. "aunts, uncles, and numerous cousins"?? NAME THEM or shut up.

It's ridiculous that this vengeful relative is getting her shot at fame by implying that she is speaking for ALL of Cindy's relatives. If that woman cannot name those people one by one and have them sign a letter to that effect, then she needs to shut up and let the mother do what she needs to do.

[Strelnikov_]

38. Some Say, Ya Know

Typical Reichwing propaganda tactics.

[meganmonkey]

40. It's hurtful because the TRUTH HURTS sometimes

[moondust]

42. Oh yeah, the cousins and in-laws.

Stand back! I'll bet even the dog growls.

[Dr Fate]

43. Sounds like their response is politically motivated as well. So what?

Both parties have political motivations- so does Bush, so does the media, so does DU- big deal.

[Miss Chybil]

44. Nothing trumps a Mother.

So, they can all crawl back in their holes. They're making themselves look foolish.

[antonialee839]

47. Quartarolo said she consulted with other family members

but she declined to elaborate. Hmm, I wonder why she declined to elaborate. I think the rest of the "numerous" family members should speak up. This sister-in-law sounds a lot like my pompous ass of a brother-in-law, a gun toting, bible quoting, war mongering, supporter of a murdering thug, chicken hawk creep. With emphasis on CREEP.

[Gregorian]

48. bad, dumb noise.

That sums up everything. Everything Republican. From the impeachment of Clinton, right on up to today.

I'll say it again- THERE IS NO ROOM FOR REPUBLICANS IN A DEMOCRACY.





Thanks Will Pitt.

[bikeboy]

52. One question for the inlaws...

Do they have son's over there??? have they antied up for their beleifs???

Hmmm

kinda dought it...


March on!

[Psephos]

71. The inlaws did have a blood relative there - Casey n/t

[phylny]

49. So, am I to understand that these relatives

support * and feel Casey's death was just? For a good cause? WHAT CAUSE?

With relatives like that....

[TankLV]

50. They did not lose anybody. Casey was not "their" son - he was CINDY's

They have NO stake in this other than their PARTISAN POLITICAL OPPORTUNISM.

Who gives a fuck what "numerous cousins, aunts, uncles, and other repuke jerks" think.

Cindy is motivtated BECAUSE IT WAS HER SON - what the fuck to these wannabes have to do with it?

They can go sign up and fight THEMSELVES - just like Cindy's son did - if they're so eager to support this ILLEGAL WAR OF CHOICE BASED ON LIES!

[JNelson6563]

51. Guided by Shiavo's family?

Sounds like they're cut from the same cloth.

Julie

[RetroLounge]

54. Last I checked, Godparents are NOT family

So fuck her and her "some say" bullshit.

Go Cindy!

RL

[Justitia]

55. I feel sick over the RW sliming of Cindy

I really do feel physically ill.
I can't believe this is happening in the USA, and I am no babe in the woods about this stuff.

Maybe it is because I have a son about Casey's age and I can't believe people would do this to a grieving mother.

I'm in shock and hardly slept last night.

I removed the original contents of this post because the whole idea of what they are doing is actually making me physically ill.

I need a break from the poison of these people.

I don't know how a mother like Cindy can bear this abuse.

[Maggie_May]

59. Support the troops

BRING THEM HOME!!!

[William Seger]

61. Support the troops

Hold * ACCOUNTABLE for what he's done to them.

[confludemocrat]

62. Shameless, gutless, dishonorable bitch of an in-law. Trivial.

No story here, does TV media mention she is a sister in-law? What of the other family members? No details. Empty bullshit story, played up by MSM. And the braindead recitation of "we support the troops", etc. is laughable.

[Catrina]

65. I wouldn't worry about

the empty words of some gutless sister-in-law who never experienced the loss of a child as opposed to the words of a mother.

What they're really scared of is that Cindy is not the only mother asking Bush to explain why their children are dead, not to forget the numerous fathers and even soldiers themselves, one of whom said this week 'I would like to meet Bush face to face and have him tell me why we are in Iraq'.

Cindy has the moral high ground here. Bush needs disgruntled, freeper relatives to defend him because he himself is unable to do so.

The question Cindy is asking Bush has not been answered. Not by him, nor by his freeper defenders, anywhere. That fact speaks louder than all else.

To decent people, their attacks are sickening. Most decent people will simply say, 'well that's all fine, but the woman has a legitimate question, why can the President not answer it?'

To the sister-in-law: Please name the people you claim to be speaking for. And yourself. You have chosen to get involved in this debate. And please answer Cindy's question. Congratulations on making Bush look even worse. Unable to face the mother of a dead soldier, he is now dragging reltatives into the fray to try to get him off the hook.

Oh, and were you paid to speak on behalf of a president unable to tell the truth even when he did finally address Cindy from a safe distance? He tried again to lie to us, by saying that Casey died because of 9/11!!

The question remains ~ 'what is the noble cause for which both US troops and the Iraqi people continue to die?' And please, just so we don't waste any more time. 9/11 had nothing to do with Iraq. Can we finally get that straight Mr. President? You do remember, you said so yourself!!

[Skwmom]

66. Was this person "encouraged" to come forward? n/m

[hayu_lol]

67. Anyone know which SF station this was sent to?

KSFO is the SF hate radio station. Thats where Mike Savage went when he was fired by KGO(the ABC Bernie and Ray station).

[deadparrot]

68. Quick question...Why aren't THESE relatives being labeled

as opportunistic and attention-seeking?

[JerseygirlCT]

69. I guess we shouldn't be surprised

We could have expected something like this. Another "swift-boating"

[Generator]

72. This whole deal

Got me thinking about all the criticism (some I agree with, some I don't) of the Kerry campaign. IF Kerry (or whomever running) would just tell the truth! Call Bush on his lies! Then those Republicons would all change their minds. But look, here we have someone related to someone who DIED for lies..who is told of the lies..whose begged to not vote for Bush..and still does and then comes out against their supposed loved one. It's bigger than just telling the truth..but of course if we had real media maybe things could change. But people cling so tightly to their belief systems..to their belief in that they are right-don't tell me I'm wrong..hands over their ears..nah nah nah I can't hear you.

They are not interested in truth. They are interested in maintaining the fiction of their own reality which is their core identity. (Freedom ain't free! Americans are always the good guys! The President would never lie about something so important!)

Trash their reality and they have to change everything. That's too much work. Much easier to not even listen.