Don’t know if many saw this letter from Elizabeth Edwards. Regardless of what you think of her husband, this woman GETS IT. Another mother speaks her mind!
Dear Friend,
Casey Sheehan was born May 29, 1979, the first born child of Cindy and Pat Sheehan. It was a long labor. Fifty-one days after Casey was born, our first child, Wade was born, also after a long labor. They started school the same year, played the same games, watched the same television shows, loved the same country. On April 4, 1996, three weeks after going to Washington as a winner in a national contest about what America meant to him, Wade died in an automobile accident. On April 4, 2004, eight years later to the day, Casey, who loved his country enough to wear its uniform, died in Iraq. Cindy and Pat’s hearts broke, as had ours.
We teach our children right from wrong. We teach them compassion and honor. We teach them the dignity of each life. And then, sometimes, the lessons we taught are turned on their heads. Cindy Sheehan is asking a very simple thing of her government, and she and her family, and most particularly Casey, have paid a very dear price for the right to ask this.
Cindy wants Casey’s death to have meant as much as his life – lived fully – might have meant. I know this, as does every mother who has ever stood where we stand. And the President says he knows enough, doesn’t need to hear from Casey’s mother, doesn’t need to assure her that Casey’s is not one small death in a long and seemingly never-ending drip of deaths, that there is a plan here that will bring our sons and daughters home. He doesn’t need to hear from her, he says. He claims he understands how some people feel about the deaths in Iraq.
The President is wrong.
Whether you agree or disagree with every part, or any part, of what Cindy wants to say, you know it is better that the President hear different opinions, particularly from those with such a deep and personal interest in the decisions of our government. Today, another voice would be helpful.
Cindy Sheehan can be that voice. She has earned the right to be that voice.
Please join me in supporting Cindy’s right to be heard. <http://ga3.org/campaign/speakout/ww3wnbgzp55k73t?>
I have always felt that maybe Elizabeth should be the one running for president. She is a strong, smart, compassionate woman. Just the kind of person we need right now. And I am glad to hear her voice added to this movement.
Oh I love Elizabeth Edwards. SHe is another bright star that has never been afraid to speak her mind. Remember how she reminded Darth Cheney that John and Cheney met at a prayer breakfast? Right on Elizabeth!!
I had not seen that….thanks.
Elizabeth Edwards is a jewel. In a world of plastic, nodding politicians wives she doesn’t have a fake bone in her body. As stated above, I’d vote for her anytime.
Ever since I saw her on CSPAN sitting in some pig farmers lawn talking about the problems w/ farm bankruptcies, I’ve admired her. While she looked that man in the eye and spoke to him about his concerns, the Kerry’s looked uncomfortable and John looked … well, like he always looks.
Smart as a whip, and genuine.
We’d have been much better off if SHE’D been our candidate last time. I never could understand why they didn’t bring her out in the campaign more.
Maybe we could start a “Draft Elizabeth” web site for 2008. Can you imagine her going up against Hilary?! Now that’s something I’d pay to see!!
From one classy woman to another.
http://tinyurl.com/8gcu8 this is the link to the Oneamerica/Edwards site where you can sign the petition.
I get email updates about what her and John(and daughters are doing). Particularly like the fact he’s on a tour working to get minimum wage raised. And yeah she’s one smart woman. When I saw her at some town hall meeting by herself and she answered detailed questions for at least and hour or so and all without any kind of notes to rely on I was really impressed. She’s the ‘real deal’ alright.
Exactly chocolate, she was fabulous, best speaker I have ever heard in that kind of impromtu arena.
Articulate to the nth degree.
debraz to Elizabeth E – talk to your hubby. After all, he was on the Senate Intelligence Committee, you know, the one that got the real intel on Iraq? And hubby, who knew the anguish of losing a son voted to send other people’s sons off to war just in time to get his presidential campaign into gear. And Elizabeth, tell him that it is not only okay to mention Iraq these days, it’s necessary. Really.
We do have two Americas, one that champions illegal wars they and theirs will never have to fight, and one that believes American lives and Iraqi lives are more important than political careers.
The tragic, heartbreaking death of Wade is something that the Edward’s did not seem willing to talk about all that much on the campaign trail. It was actually startling to see Elizabeth referring to it this much here. The empathy that you feel for anyone who has experienced an event that most parents fear the most is universal. It makes you realize there is something incredibly cold and heartless in Bush not wanting to meet with Cindy. His approval ratings are plummeting. The intensity of his disapproval ratings are increasing. It is one of the most just things to have seen as of late in our unjust world.