San Francisco Chronicle
by Joe Garofoli

08/14/05

Coverage of Sheehan's spontaneous vigil is a godsend for the anti-war movement, which has been struggling to gain traction outside of liberal areas of the country. In Sheehan, organizers say they finally have a face that red-state America can relate to. They see in her a human reflection of sentiment expressed in this month's Associated Press/Ipsos poll, among others. Only 38 percent of respondents to that poll approve of Bush's handling of the war, a new low. The practical political question is whether the momentum gathering behind Sheehan will translate into political power in Washington. Members of Congress are circulating a letter asking Bush to meet with Sheehan, a request Sen. George Allen, R-Va., echoed in a CNN interview. But that effort won't go far unless more Americans -- particularly conservatives and those on the fence -- take up Sheehan's rallying call, 'Meet with Cindy.' Glenn Smith, a veteran Texas political consultant who is organizing a counter-event to the evangelical-sponsored Justice Sunday II gathering in Nashville, said it's rare that a voice like Sheehan's emerges. 'Probably the best thing the movement can do is get out of her way,' said Smith, whose Nashville gathering of liberal faith leaders is called Freedom and Faith. 'She doesn't need managing'...

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/08/14/SHEEHAN.TMP


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp