 |
|
|
 News from Around the Americas | August 2005 
Sheehan to Visit DeLay Next
 Reuters
| | Iraq war protester Cindy Sheehan plans to meet with majority leader Tom DeLay on first stop of bus tour. |
Crawford, Texas - Iraq war protester Cindy Sheehan, whose vigil near President George W. Bush's Texas ranch has become a symbol for the anti-war movement, said on Friday she plans to focus on Congress, starting with House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, a Bush ally and fellow Texan.
Sheehan has been demanding a meeting with Bush to discuss the U.S. presence in Iraq, where her son was killed in 2004.
She plans to begin a bus tour next Thursday from Bush's ranch to the White House to campaign for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.
One of DeLay's Texas district offices would likely be the first stop, she said. That is about a 5.5 hour drive from Bush's ranch in Crawford, where he is on a month-long vacation.
"I think our first stop might be Tom DeLay's office," she said, surrounded by supporters. "I just wanted to let him know so he'll be in his office when we get there."
"The president is not going to meet with us, probably," Sheehan said. "We the people need to influence our congressional representatives and I hear he's pretty close by," referring to DeLay.
A spokeswoman for DeLay said his schedule was already set and did not plan to change it to meet with Sheehan.
"Mr. DeLay disagrees with those who believe we should give the terrorists the timeline they want and simply cut and run from the war in Iraq," said DeLay spokeswoman Shannon Flaherty.
Sheehan met once with Bush after her son, Casey, was killed but has sought a second meeting to ask Bush to explain why he believes the 24-year-old Army specialist died for a "noble cause."
Almost 1,900 U.S. troops have been killed in the conflict.
Bush has said he sympathizes with Sheehan as well as the families of all the soldiers who have died. But he has staunchly defended his actions in Iraq and has said leaving now would lead to greater dangers for the United States and Iraq.
A Gallup poll released on Friday showed Bush's job approval rating among Americans had slipped to the lowest point of his administration, with 40 percent of the poll's 1,007 adult respondents, supporting his performance and 56 percent disapproving.
Bush's previous low point was 44 percent, one month ago.
The latest survey, conducted this week, noted a drop in support among independents and confirmed the findings of other recent polls, which showed Bush's approval rating even lower.
Compared to other post-World War II presidents at this point in their second term, only Richard Nixon had a lower job approval rating and he was in the midst of the Watergate scandal, Gallup said. The others were all above 50 percent. |
| |
|
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us