An open letter to Cindy Sheehan, from the administrator of Democratic Underground

Dear Cindy:

My name is David Allen, and I am the lead administrator of Democratic Underground. Like the vast majority of people here on DU, I was surprised and dismayed to learn of your resignation as the public face of the anti-war movement. Even more upsetting to me is the fact that apparently a post here on my website was one of the reasons for your decision.

I am going to try to keep this note relatively brief. I cannot match the eloquence of your public statement, or the eloquence of the many people on Democratic Underground and elsewhere who have asked you to reconsider. My intent is merely to add my voice to the huge chorus of people who believe you are a vital voice in the anti-war movement. As the administrator of Democratic Underground I would like the opportunity to provide a little bit of context with regard the offending post referenced in your resignation letter. Having read your statement, I know that the post here on DU was not the only reason you made the decision you did, but it seems that that post may have been the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.

The most important thing I think you should know is this: The vast majority of DU members support you and your efforts to bring an end to this terrible war. That has been true for as long as you have been fighting to end it -- as you know from the many DUers who stood with you at Camp Casey and elsewhere. It remains true today.

I understand how frustrating it is to give your heart and soul to something, and then get personally insulted for it. It is even worse when those insults come from people who are supposed to be our friends and allies. I am not going to provide an excuse or justification for that ugly post -- the person who posted it does not in any way speak for me or most of people on this website. But I am also not going to lie to you and tell you that it was posted by a troll. As far as I can tell, the person who posted it is a legitimate member of this site. (As an aside, the specific language used was not acceptable under the rules of this website, and the post in question was deleted by the moderators for that reason.)

Democratic Underground is not like all those other blogs, where one person (or a small group of people) regularly sets the tone by articulating the "official" point of view. I sometimes share my opinions, but I only do so occasionally, and I don't think of myself as a blogger or pundit. I think of myself as more of a "referee" between different factions. As a discussion forum, we see our mission as different from that of a traditional blog. Rather than requiring that DUers champion a particular viewpoint, I believe our members are best served by permitting a (relatively) wide range of opinion. That includes many viewpoints that I disagree with, and the majority of our members disagree with.

When you made it clear that you were going to challenge Democrats as aggressively as you challenge Republicans, you knew that many Democrats would not support your efforts. Likewise, it was inevitable that some here on DU would not support such efforts. You are a public figure, and as such the rules of this website permit our members to criticize you, just as our rules permit members to criticize Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid. If anything, such criticism shows that you are making a difference. You are being criticized because what you do matters. If your goal is to change the direction of this country, then there are worse things than being criticized by a small number of anonymous keyboard commandos on the Intertubes. Far worse that you be ignored.

If you simply cannot go on any longer, and you feel you must resign, then you have my understanding and my gratitude for everything you have done to fight against this terrible war. You have already done way more than anyone to help bring an end to the war in Iraq. You have earned your place in history, and you have earned the right to step aside if you feel you must.

But if you feel you still have some fight left in you, if you feel that you can still keep going, then I hope that you will do so. The anti-war movement, the country, and the world need people like you. Please do not let the criticisms of a few people get you down.

With heartfelt thanks,

David Allen
Democratic Underground

thank you

her on behalf of DemocraticUnderground. You said it the best for all of us.

To Cindy,

Go home, take time, find peace and solace and come back when you are ready.

There are lots of us Cindy, that have been right where you are.

We love you.

Peace.

I'm really impressed with the community here and I hope, Cindy, you can take some time to read how much you are loved, you can see the difference you've made and that you will know that Casey did not die in vain.


We love you. D & S

the frustration level directed toward Democrats by Democrats has increased dramatically. Cindy reached a point of realization earlier than most of us, but unless things change there will be more like her than Yellow Dogs in the next cycle.

She isn't the only one feeling punked by the Dems. And it hurts more when they feed us shit and tell us it's fertilizer than when the Orwellians do that. We expect it from the other side.

from the Republicans it is business as usual.

Funny you should mention Orwellian, some of the post vote spin from the Democrats could have been written by those very same Republican spinmisters. What the Democrats failed to realize is that the reason we supported them is that we knew the fabrications were lies. We still know it, regardless of the source.

I hope this works, thanks for trying Skinner.

Cindy has recognized this. Our only defense to save our democracy is "Campaign Finance Reform" so elected officials don't have to depend on corporate money to be elected. The only lobbyists in Congress should be people and grass roots organizations and not big business. Increase taxes to cover campaigns and cut out profits to corporate media forcing free air time for debates and campaigns. If you truly want to stop the war machines that is EXACTLY how you do it. Cindy made it known that our great grandchildren will be dealing with the same war tragedies we deal with now and these wars will continue on until we get rid of corporate owned officials. The media is now corporate owned but they still can be stopped. Cindy found that the peace, anti-war movement is actually a process of stopping the war profiteers and they are not bound by party affiliation though the republicans are almost entirely owned by these same corporations. That is what Cindy found, a corporate war machine in bed with politicians and controlling the Justice department and the corporate media and the only way to stop it is by governmental intervention supported by an enraged public who will stand up against them. To the war profiteers, peace supporters are terrorists because they are trying to stop their war. This is the only way to I know of to carry the ball Cindy has been bouncing for us...Campaign finance reform, get corporate money out of politics, then our officials will represent us and act accordingly when we say withdraw the troops and end the needless killing of our troops. Support our troops by protecting them not funding their destruction, do what Cindy is asking us to be responsible for, and for what she and her son and her family have sacrificed everything to accomplished.

:hi:

And welcome to DU And, keep posting!

:hi: and :kick:

"your own side" sucker punching you. I am spending much in the way of time and energy doing volunteer work for my local Democratic party. Deciding to work for the Democrats wasn't easy as I am familiar with the shenanigans of the corporatists such as Clinton, Emmanuel, Pelosi, and Hoyer who often speak with forked tongues in order to pacify the progressives and keep their corporate controllers happy at the same time. I decided last year that I had no choice other than to work for the Dems as our two-party system doesn't allow for much wiggle room and also I hoped the tide was turning enough that it would carry the Democratic corporatists along with it. Now I feel that I misjudged the situation. I am still laboring away here in the trenches, spending hours in town halls copying out voter histories (they won't be automated 'til next year), marching in local parades, attending four or more meetings a month, teaching myself web skills in order to maintain party web pages, and running up my gas bills doing all the above, but I am not sure how much longer I will be able to keep on. Events such as those in Congress last week concerning the Iraqi Occupation and trade issues sap my energy and leave me unwilling to waste my time and skills on a party which is essentially Republican Lite and knifing me in the back. I am beginning to feel that my efforts are worse than wasted, they are actually helping maintain the status quo of militaristic greed. How much longer I can last as an activist Democrat is a question I ask myself every day.

freefall

is that the Democratic Party doesn't even care that they're losing people like us, we're a nuisance. They know that there are enough people out there who haven't a clue as to what's going on and those people will vote as they always have.

you have done.

I appreciate the heartache of the loss of your son, Casey.
I appreciate what it took to stand up for what you believe
I appreciate that you said on many occasions that you stepped out of your comfort zone to take this cause on.
i appreciate that you kept on, showing resolve and fight.

I regret I have not had your personal courage
I regret that I let you down, because if I would have added my one voice (one candle) to your cause, it might have grown bigger
I regret that your vision was lost in the noise of criticism.
I regret that your voice was dimished by criticism.


I regret that the American people, as a whole, don't have the will, the muster, the courage, the desire, the vision, or the committment to follow you into the streets.
Because all other methods......have failed.

Bless you dear Cindy.
Peace and Love to you.

so that people can find it if they want suggestions for ways to help her and continue supporting her - literally AND figuratively:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x992292

Thank you, Skinner, for a wonderful post. You think your eloquence is lacking? I think not.

Thank-you Cindy.

Cheers

I has been a rough couple of weeks and I am saddened to see the elevated amount of infighting. What a waste of energy eating our own when we need all of our available energy to be united in our fight against a very formidable enemy of our democracy.

You captured what many of us feel.

Well spoken.

I've met Cindy a few times, and she has always been gracious and kind.

Cindy:

Take the time you need to heal. It may take months or years; listen to your body. It knows what you need.

Peace,
uhc

Cindy has always had and will always have my support.

the comments of "see ya Toots!" and worse, by the asinine few, make me SICK. We LOVE you Cindy, I had planned a Cindy Sheehan tribute video more than a week ago, but did my anti-televangelist/bush/antiwar video first the night before Falwell died! http://youtube.com/password but I will try and find time to do my Cindy video for all her work, I find it ironic that I thought of doing one for her, and she's making big news now herself (and I'm glad she's still with us!).

I pray she'll come back and make us stronger, but I understand her angst at our leaders who caved in to Mr 28% and respect her nonetheless, for I won't turn on a friend who's given so much energy to the antiwar fight.



www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable <<-- check it out, top '08 stuff

Thank you, Skinner.

Might be a good idea.

I understand how Cindy can be so tired. I especially understand how those nipping at you eventually take their toll, although I can't imagine to the degree Cindy has endured.

What I hope Cindy will eventually realize is that if she were never noticed, she would never have made a difference. And make no mistake, Cindy was/is the galvanizing force that brought the country together against this war.

Even though she hasn't stopped the war yet, when it is stopped, she will have been a pivotal part of that, even if she never does a single other thing. We owe her such a debt.

I've stayed out of this fray so far, but I am glad, Skinner, that you did this. It hurts me to think that Cindy would be left with that impression of DU.

Thank you, Cindy. Rest awhile, join us again when you can.

God knows, she subjected herself to nightmares beyond which most of us could possibly imagine and kept on fighting until she just had no more to give.

I am hoping that in time she will heal and contribute again to the peace movement, though hopefully in a way that is not so taxing on her physically and emotionally.

We should not lay all our hopes and burdens on the one person who helped us be heard. It is our responsibility to do what needs to be done. It's easy to sit at a keyboard and "expect" her to somehow fight for everything we want her to fight for. Sorry, we're supposed to be grownups and we shouldn't lay additional burdens on her.

She's right, this movement has to grow larger and rise up from the great mass of people. It is not her job to do what we want her to do. It is our job to do it.

Cindy, thank you. You helped us see what can be done by one person with a strong committment to what is right and just.

Now it's our turn.

And thank you Cindy. No matter what you decide, know that your effort was appreciated.

:hug:

nt

Your words are (IMO) very representative of the true DU.

I do hope that somehow this reaches Mrs. Sheehan.

IMHO Cindy has done much to foster the discussion and move the debate in the right direction. My thanks for that and all the sacrifice involved.

I hope that she takes some time to rest and contemplate her journey. I also hope that once she does, she'll be recharged and ready to re-join the fray. Her voice is needed and appreciated.

Sometimes we forget the civility in our discourse. I wish we didn't but we do.

All the best.

OHT

thank you ...

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

:kick: & Recommended!

I'm crying now.

I love Cindy so much.. and always will!

Thank you Cindy Sheehan!

E-mail the open letter to Cindy Sheehan at campcaseymom@yahoo.com.

I wrote yesterday that Cindy Sheehan deserved an apology and you have done so quite nicely, but it's pointless if she doesn't see it, and after being called...well, you know...I doubt she's reading the DU mesage boards.

Regards,

LM

...to anyone who hasn't read Will Pitt's post yet, do so.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x987221

No one.

There's a quote I always keep in mind:

“Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.”


I'm sure it does get old after a while, having to endure criticism. Especially from those you would normally consider your friends.

admire Ms. Sheehan and are grateful for our courage.

Cindy, I SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS!!!!!!

Thank you.

... that her loss and her round-the-clock activism must have taken. Cindy's entitled to a break, and frankly this may be a good time given the immovability of one party and the hesitation of the other. I hope she and the friends and supporters she's brought together remain close, whatever happens: she shouldn't be left alone with her loss after all she's done to spare others such grief. I doubt that giving up is her thing, but there's only so much we can expect of anyone. I wish her a peaceful rest & hope to see her restored & fighting fit when she decides the time's right. And I'm sure DUers will do their bit to make her extra-special birthday on Jul 10 an even more special one.

I'm glad you clarified this point for Cindy, that DU is one big, rollicking Town Hall. Perhaps she will know now she has more support here than she previously believed possible.

You said just what needed to be said, and much more eloquently than I could have.

We must hold our side to the same flame that we hold the other side and Cindy was doing just that. If they are not listening to the people that elected them, then we must raise our voices until we drown out all others.

Thank you Cindy.

Her work in August 2005 started the slide of Bush's popularity, and he hasn't recovered from it.

She needs a break. Hell, we ALL need a break once in a while to re-charge.

We'll see her again sometime in the future. Probably sooner than we think.

:thumbsup:

I'm glad to see this.

Pug

No man is an island. Everyone needs allies, EVERYONE.

When you should up to wag your finger and issue veiled threats the minute the Dems were sworn in I was dubious.

Cindy, you were never a "Dem" as in all for one and one for all. You were a Dem as long as Dems marched in lockstep behind you.

Sorry friend but no matter the level, be it in the lowly trenches or on the national scene, if you aren't a team player, you are on your own.

I never saw any reason for the Dems to be all that supportive of your cause and I never saw you make the effort to become a part of any team.

I respect what you have done and mourn your loss for you. My 15 year old son will never see an enlistment form, thanks in part to your mission. but, with that said, don't make a big deal out of "withdrawing" from the Dem party as you haven't been a part of that team. Some of us have put heart and soul into it. You were a brief flash in the pan who gave the anti-war movement some much needed visiblitiy but beyond that (aka "the long haul") you have not done much of anything.

I respect what you have done, I just don't see you as "saintly" or "beyond reproach" for how you've done it. Frankly, to see you categorize the odd, off statement calling you "an attention whore" as one of the "milder rebukes" on DU tells me you are not above twisting the truth to enhance your self portrait at a martyr. With one who has years invested in the effort, having thrown family "under the bus" for the "cause" for many years now, your pleas for sympathy fall on deaf ears.

Julie

how tacky.
:thumbsdown:

Take it somewhere else. This is a conciliatory thread to Cindy.

protected your fifteen year old son.

I have tons of respect for what Cindy has done. Knowing military people who have hoped and prayed and fasted WITH CINDY, I feel much more confident in supporting her. Cindy has been injured by her protests. The media didn't report that. She's been attacked, smeared, and defined by media hacks who know they have to take her down in order to support Bush. Cindy has done more for Peace and for human rights than you have Julie. Having met and known Cindy and the Code Pink ladies as well as other whistleblowers, I find your comment to be the height of hypocrisy.


Why don't you put your whole name out there? It's so easy to criticize one on a keyboard but it's a heck of a lot harder to have the media and the publicists making up facts about you and spreading it far and wide. So go put your life, name, and livelihood out there "Julie" before you smear Cindy any more.

And while your at it. Take a look at your fifteen year old and his friends, and recognise that IF they don't get sent to Iraq, it's because of what Cindy did and because of all the people who JOINED CINDY and supported her.

Yes, oh so tacky! How dare I say anything?!?!?!? Get a grip.

Cindy did a great thing a couple of summers ago by bringing the fight to Jr's doorstep. Yep, great stuff, I loved every minute of it and even donated to the Crawford House. From one mom to another I applaud her and also mourn her loss.

As a Democratic activist, I have little appreciation for her activities in that regard.

As to my name, gosh Bunky, figure it out. My screen name is "JNelson" and I sign my posts "Julie". Think that might be "Julie Nelson"??? So ambiguous! Unlike the completely upfront "ray of light" screen name that reveals nothing.

Grow up.

Julie

Hey Julie, haven't seen you getting arrested at the White House for trying to end the war. Haven't seen you called a 'floozy, a slut, a left-winged crazy nut" across the media.

Get a grip.

It's YOUR fifteen year old and YOUR KIDS friends that her activism may have saved.

You had at least 50 threads in which to bash Cindy without getting criticism. You chose the timing and you chose the absolutely most INAPPROPRIATE place to give your 'few hints' to someone who has done a hell of a lot more for Peace than you have. Boo hooo so you donated to Crawford house. Did you go to Congress and speak to our representatives to get them to end the war? Did you put a soldier's name in the White House fence and get arrested for it? Did you get beat up sitting in front of the United Nations so that you could hand a letter to the Iraqis representative and get your shoulder pulled out of the socket by the police? Oh and yes Julie--I HAVE DONE those things with Cindy and with others under my real name.

So grow up yourself.

Thank you.

Seriously, does anyone honestly believe that?

watching the American Idol and eating popcorn?

So to answer your question...Yes. Civil disobediance is one of the major ways we have to voice our displeasure to our government officials. It's as effective as protests, calling our Representatives. Furthermore, by using her name and the brave actions she's done, the media finally started talking about ending the war and the misuse of the term 'patriot'. Before Cindy stepped up to the plate, we couldn't even get 5 seconds on the media.

If we had your philosophy women would still not be allowed to vote, blacks would never have made the gains they made at Civil Rights during the 60's and 70's (that the Republican Party is still trying to stifle) and the Boston Tea Party would never have happened (and thus the American Revolution would never have happened.)

So to answer your question: Hell YES it made a difference.

I have little appreciation for your viciousness. Perhaps you should go join in on another thread dedicated to piling on Cindy. This thread was meant to reach out in peace.

:rofl:

and glad your 15 year old will not be cannon fodder anytime soon thanks to Cindy's efforts.

how you would... then she actually told the truth about peple you work for. so, throw her out like a used tissue, you'll never put human life above the goal of winning next november, right? and a little war is good for our party as long as no one fucks it up and says we're complicit. (doesn;t matter if at this point, we are)

Resentful. Highly inappropriate, IMO. Even IF your points are appropriate (highly debatable), they have been delivered in a tone and spirit you say Cindy lacks --- and so, obviously, do you.

I know you don't care in the slightest,but there ya go.

thank you for your efforts in person at Camp Casey III. I hope you find the strength and the will to carry on but if you choose not to, I understand and support you.

God bless you Cindy and, again, thank you.

You have lots of other threads to post this in, why in this one?

It's not about Democratic Underground. It's not about her being called names. It's about the party itself and what is actually DOES and stands for and it's future. I suggest you read her letter again. She is not someone that would be welcome on this site according to your rules. The fact that no one gets that is just amazing. Read the letter again. Really read it, ten or twenty times. She really means what she says. The letter is an indictment of the entire Democratic party. And sadly, I agree with her.

You're one of them. So turn off your cell phone and just listen. This is a listening thread. You've been heard, now just shut up.

Thank you. :)

Thanks.

I have been overwhelmed with the negativity about Ms. Sheehan, not that she is perfect, but that for a community that has been kicked around so much in the past six years, we are so inclined to kick around someone on our side. I repeat: on OUR SIDE. It's truly breathtaking. Is it Stockhom Syndrome?

they want it buried for a while so they can triangulate....

....I am quite sure I respect you the most.

I disagree usually because I'm more of an idealist. I do want the Democratic party to work "my way" on many points, and if it doesn't I get grumpy and want to force it to change. I would even go outside the party to get my "will" done, if I thought that would yield the best chance of success.

You are a lot more loyal than I am. But you are also fracking smart. :)

So, I enjoy reading your stuff. I don't really agree with your reasons for taking issue with Sheehan here, but thats alright. We've argued about why many times before. I also post as sel, and I just wanted to say you're alright in my book. :)

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

God bless Cindy Sheehan.

It's democratic, not dramatic.

Thanks for supporting her. I hope that even if she remains firm in her decision to withdraw that a thousand others will honour her spirit and pick up her torch.

BTW, WTF is up with your leaders these days? I haven't seen such a rapid public putrefaction in years! Rove and Co. must be getting a really good snicker out of it.

thank you for all you have done, Cindy. Rest well and should you feel like it, please join us again. :hug:

Very well said.

The attacks were disgusting,and I'm not easily disgusted.

Even if it doesn't change anything, it should at the least do some good in the fact that I'm sure she'll take it to heart and think about your words, and hopefully it will help her feel a bit better. Coming from you, the lead man of DU, I would think she'd take this post very seriously.

I feel for Cindy. I've posted publicly here that I have had trouble supporting her with the vigor I once had, and that I disagree with some of the ways she has gone about things recently. In my opinion, she had drifted a bit too far away from where I am comfortable. But it didn't occur to me the impact such dissent, when grouped together with many others, could have. I think sometimes we forget when posting on an internet message board that there are real people with real feelings on the other end.

Though I disagree with the direction she had been going, I don't want her to hang up her gloves for a second. I was a bit taken aback after reading her resignation letter, as I was a bit surprised as to how deeply it hit me. It broke my heart and I felt like shit for having publicly stated my lack of support such a short time earlier.

I may disagree with her, but that doesn't mean I don't admire or respect her. The strength and sacrifice she's shown is more than about anybody I've seen in this movement. I can only hope that she'll rethink her resignation and continue to fight, even if I don't agree with how. I think she deserves a break and very well may need one. But I hope it is short lived and she's back doing what she does best.

And Cindy, if by some slight chance you're reading this, I want to offer my humble apologies if any of my words have ever effected you. Whether I agree fully with you or not, you are more valuable than I'll ever be in this effort. That holds true for anyone else who has disagreed with you as well. Don't let us ever break you down. I wish I could take any of my criticisms back, even if I believed in them, because in the end of it all I'd much rather have you in the fight than out of it. It's funny sometimes how ya don't know what ya got till it's gone, huh?

So thanks Skinner. I was hoping DU would put out an official statement. I know I publicly disagreed with her and now I feel like shit cause of it. I can only hope that your words and the words of the mass amount of DU'ers who support her with such passion, can undo any of the hurt that dissent like mine may have caused.

Nothing wrong with expressing disappointment or disagreement, even on a thread like this, when it's handled with tact and class as you have done.

So, thanks for that, OMC, and thanks Skinner for your eloquent expression of a very pervasive sentiment here amongst us proles.

Cindy has shown tremendous courage and truly fought the good fight. Even in the various cases where some of us perhaps feel we would've handled things differently, I think very few of us DU'ers ever lost sight of the fact that her heart has been in the right place, she has acted primarily out of love for her son and indeed, every mother's sons and daughters.

What she's accomplished over the past few years may well turn out to have saved a good many lives, so I can't help but feel losing her leadership may ... well ... end up costing some lives.

I for one hope she reconsiders her relinquishment of her leadership role, at least, regardless of whether or not she tows the (growing ever thinner) 'party line'. She has been a true leader at a time when true leaders have been few and far between, and I don't see anybody out there that can fill her shoes.

Last weeks disappointments, including losing Cindy's leadership, REALLY makes me hope that Al Gore will jump into the race and come out swinging for the fences like he has nothing to lose. We are going to need to see a great, inspiring Democrat to step up and LEAD this Nation (and this party, especially) out of this darkness FAST, or I fear we could end up fractured beyond repair (at least in the immediate future, which happens to be a VERY IMPORTANT timeframe...).

Cindy whichever role you choose for yourself in the future, thanks for your contributions up to this point. Sorry you've went thru so much pain. Peace be with you and yours.

Cindy. One single grieving mother did more than all of our elected officials have, in attempting to bring the light of justice to this war of profit motivated greed based on artificial fear and lies. She was, and I sincerely hope will continue to be, a catalyst for the nation's conscience.

I hope you come back to the movement. Betrayal stinks, but like war it exists.
As well you know, it's not about those who have been betrayed but by those weak enough to betray.
Holding you in the Light,
Melissa G

Thank you for all that you have done for our Country and for our troops.

And to Cindy: Please do what feels right in your heart for yourself. As a mother who has lost a son I can identify a bit with you. You have my respect, admiration and wishes for well being and some semblance of peace for your shattered soul.

Peace.

Heartfelt thanks to Cindy. Many here will keep her in our personal versions of prayers, that her health and energies return to give her new joys and priorities in her life.

We'll keep a candle in the window, in case someone wanders our way again.

:patriot:

This was really needed after some of the crap that was posted here yesterday. I can understand people being upset at Mrs. Sheehan wanting to bow out, but some things that were said were very uncalled-for. And I, too, hope she'll find the strength to fight again someday. But if not, she has done more than anyone could ask already.

and a big thank you to Cindy for all that you do!

Reason prevails, yet again.

:kick:

... I was very dismayed Cindy's mention of DU as one of the reasons she is leaving the peace movement. I hope we all learn something from this and work TOGETHER to end this terrible war.

Cat In Seattle

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Cindy, if you happen to read this, just know that many people here feel as David does. Sometimes people forget that other people are people too.

Please take care and thank you for all you have done.

http://tinyurl.com/2y2leq

There are quite a few remarks posted in the Comments section by C&L readers which slam DU for criticism of Cindy. One in particular, bdrude, was particularly accusatory of our maltreatment of her:

I totally agree with Cindy about Democratic Underground. I know from personal experience that the site is full of pathetic losers who midlessly attack antiwar activists if you merely point out such "inconvenient truths" as the fact that Hillary voted for the war.

And here's what ST said:
Just further proves why I continuously get banned from the Democratic Underground. Because those idiots are just as terrible of the Republican Party is when it comes to PARTISANSHIP.

I got banned last time because I said I respected the fact that Thom Hartmann criticizes Republicans AND DEMOCRATS, when they deserve to be criticize ... When Cindy Sheehan decided that she no longer wanted to be a part of the Democratic Party, those idiots over their turned on her because she no longer had the "LABEL," and that's all that some fools care about.

From Mr. XXXX:
Its also a crying shame that the people in DU who attacked Cindy Sheehan are out of touch with political reality that the Democrats themselves cast onto their own individual selves.

I posted a comment and invited all of them to visit DU and read the threads in tribute to Ms. Sheehan. No one responded to my post in the C&L Comments section, and I think there has now been in the blogosphere quite a bit of damage done to DU by Cindy singling out DU in her statement. I think it's a misperception on her part, and I think it's very sad that there are so many members here who are devoted to her completely, with an allegiance rarely found towards anyone these days, and yet in her mind the criticism from a few members outweighs the praise and commendation.

I have tended to stay on the sidelines as regards Cindy, because, to me, she has a right to grieve and express her grief and channel that grief however she wants to. Never being in her shoes, I have no right to tell her how to conduct her antiwar effort. But it pains me to see this forum slammed so publicly, when most here support her unconditionally.

It wasn't DU which hurt and betrayed Cindy. It was the refusal of the MSM to portray her for what she is, a grieving mother persevering against all odds to end an unjust, illegal war. We did our best to promote her cause and to support her.

That is all I want to say on this subject. Thank you.

I've time and time again criticized whoever the hell I wanted to criticize and I've never, as far as I know, been in danger of being banned.

Some people are just terminally stupid.

Stupid is as stupid does.

If people were banned for such things, I'd have been gone a LONG time ago!

Unfortunately, there will be people who believe them. I suspect some of the posters on that C&L thread are freeper trolls, seizing an opportunity to spread lies, rumor, and innuendo about DU.

I think you have it right there-- Cindy has an unfortunate misperception of DU. IMO for the most part, this forum has been very solidly behind Cindy from the first time she came on the scene. But being burnt out sensitizes people and often they can't get over the negativity they might otherwise scoff at if they felt stronger.

Though I understand why Cindy had a strong reaction to the decisions of the Democratic party
congressionals it's not fair to DU to lump everyone here in with them --just because some jerks make some rude comments in an open forum. But I understand her discouragement in general. I'm sure she feels pretty raw and strung out right now.

The reason given was "you are not required to like Cindy Sheehan to post on Democraticunderground". I know people who have been publically smeared and while they may put up a brave front, the smears hurt them. The Sheehan attacks were widespread here and while DU protected free speech over loyalty to a leading democrat, DU also allowed the same smear machine that flourishes in propaganda networks to flourish here.

By allowing the smears, you did indeed hurt her. In any "free" society there are always limits on acceptable behavior and my suggestion to DU is that in the future you think about limiting the smears on leading democratic figures in the same way you limit smears on anyone else, especially because the very name of the site has "democratic" in it.

Your post was not shut down because you "stood up for her." Your post was shut down because you referred to some of the members of this site as "a bunch of fckheads."

That was some funny exchange! :rofl:

Cindy is one who has paid a deeply painful price, the loss of her son, in this disaster. It is simply crass not to treat her with the respect she deserves.

:thumbsup:

thank you. I think your voice was necessary at this point.

And it further outlines one of the main problems regarding the Republicans. To paraphrase Matt Groening in Variety recently, "The troublemakers eventually get tired and find something else to go after." Sadly, this works against us as well as for us, when the squatters in the White House know that they can do business as usual and that those of us who are against it cannot apply the same amount of time and energy to stop them. Bush can, in words, not actions, capitulate regarding Iraq, so long as he and his buddies rack up that next $128 billion in profit.

However, I am of a mind that every single thought, every single word, and every single action against the warprofit people stays around somehow, and is built upon, and eventually becomes self-sustaining as new people add to it. We cannot stop because the option is horrific. This is why we will not stop. And we must thank Cindy for being the loudest among us. She must have given many the courage to speak up, and act up. Is there any greater legacy than peacemaking?

Best Regards to Skinner and Cindy. Pardon my soapbox.

That is more than most of the so called "Elected Leaders" in Washington have ever done. I as a veteran, salute her bravery and her love for her country. I will always be grateful to her for her many great sacrifices. She truly deserves her "Gold Star" if any American ever did.

:thumbsup:

Thanks for this.

...otherwise she may not see it posted here.

group here and that's as it should be, but lately I have found this place to be far too SNARKY and downright NASTY!!

I come and go now, where I once blogged all the time! I myself am worn out and feel that mostly what I do is "spit into the wind!"

I posted at Will Pitt's thread too and want to thank him again! America seems to be coming apart at the seams and I see less and less Democratic Unity!

she's done a hell of a lot more for our cause than her biggest critcs. If she needs to get away for her own self-preservation, so be it. We will carry on. Anonymity makes some so vicious, it's sad.

If you read this Cindy, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your personal sacrifice to the cause of ending this war. Millions respect and admire you. I am sorry a couple of vocal critics have hurt and discouraged you. The odds against us are so great. You will be sorely missed.

Be well, and thanks to your family for their patience and sacrifice.

Peace.

It's dismaying to know that something posted here was part of her decision to resign.

103 recommends in just over an hour! I suspect this may have the highest recommend count ever.

You are right. This is not a partisan issue. Some of our Democratic leaders are just as entrenched in the corporate blood money as their Republican counterparts. I'm hoping that your leaving will incite the people to turn up the heat on our so called representatives. Let them feel us breathing down their necks.

I found it hard to believe the negative comments some DUers made about Cindy, and so sorry she had to read that. Dissent is of course acceptable but all the ugliness directed toward her was concerning to me and obviously many, many others. Thanks for speaking for us. I expressed my support for Cindy in another thread. Hope the word reaches her!

Tired Old Cynic

/s/


My mark placed here with assistance from
the University of Kansas

If anything could get her to reconsider, this could be it. Even if not, I believe that the expressed appreciation for her valient efforts is richly deserved and should be appreciated.

Thank you both.

nice letter Skinner

However, she clearly needs a break.

heartfelt thanks to Cindy and to you!

K&R

Thank you for taking the time to respond and make the point that a minority of people here shared that sentiment.

Again, thank you.

I hope Cindy gets a chance to read this and perhaps reconsiders her decision. If she still decides to bow out, I totally respect her choice and understand it. Some time with her surviving children would probably be a good thing for both her and them.

As an aside, a very ironic thing happened to me yesterday. I've been reading "Imperial Life in the Emerald City" since January and swore I was going to finish it yesterday. After reading about everything going on with Cindy both here and at DKos, I sat down to finish it. I read about a battle in Sadr City against the Mahdi Army back in 2004 and then came to a paragraph that talked about the loss of 8 of our soldiers, including Casey Sheehan. It really caught me off guard and brought tears to my eyes. How ironic, I thought, that after all this time I've been trying to finish this book, and of all days to read that paragraph it would be the day that Cindy decided to resign.

Whatever Cindy decides to do, she has done so much good up to now and has made a huge difference.

Thank you, Cindy, for all that you have done thus far. If you've exhausted yourself and can go no further, I can certainly understand. You've done more than most of us. I think it is wonderful that you expect the same results from anyone in office no matter what their political affiliation. I wish we were seeing more action from the Dems in the House and the Senate. I expected more out of them by now.

Thank you for being a voice of reason for as long as you were able to do so.
emdee

Cindy come back when you are rested.

Do what you need to do, it is up to you. Don't let the outspoken critics get you down. Take a break and hope you feel better. You need to take care of yourself also. Thank youl.

Cindy certainly summed this country's current values up when she wrote of people's views on American Idol vs. the Iraq War.
The lady has shown more strength than all of the neocons put together.
Thank you Ms. Sheehan.

Thank you - both!

Unlike most of DU - I've just been rendered speechless by the barrage of sniping, infighting & venom displayed here of late.

I'm pleased to see some balance applied to the forum.

For as long as it lasts, anyway!

how to fight the good fight.

:kick:

Thank you.

I support Cindy and her work, and I will be ever grateful to her for greatly helping me with my motivation to fight the war. I've never felt qualified to criticize her. Yes, I, personally, am fighting my fight through the Democratic party, among using other venues; however, I respect other progressives' choices.

Well-said, David. Again, thank you.

is challenging, whether it is the anniversary of his death, or whether it is his birthday. A mother grieves anew, sometimes in silence, sometimes shared. How difficult it must be for Cindy that Casey's birthday will always fall so near this holiday which is another time each year for grieving parents to remember their loved ones lost in this insane war.

Thank you, Skinner, for this letter. I hope we can all send our thoughts to Cindy expressing our gratitude for all she has done so far. She has inspired us to carry on in this noble effort.

6 more soldiers killed today........... When will it end?

http://icasualties.org/oif/

I've been told in the past, and have seen others here berated for this, that attacking or criticizing the Democratic Party and/or its members is forbidden. Obviously I tend to agree with that (Lieberman being an exception), else I would not have voted (D), supported Representative Hodes and worked to help get him elected last year, and would not be present in this forum.

Given that, why is Cindy Sheehan an untouchable figure, given the heaps of criticism and scorn that she has piled upon the Democratic party of late? Not sure I understand why a now-vocal party critic is being given a pass to do things that forum members routinely cannot.

I very clearly state that members of Democratic Underground are permitted to criticize Cindy Sheehan. She is not untouchable, nor is any other public figure.

For one, it shouldn't even have to be said that memebers are free to criticize her. She is just another person, nothing sacred about her. So the very idea that you would need to state that criticism of her will be tolerated is, frankly, kind of insulting.

Moreover, I think the point the other poster was trying to make is that support of opponents of Dems is usually not tolerated for long here. But people who defend Dems against people like BillO and Hannity and Rush then turn around and attack them, but it is ok because its a "Cindy thread". So it is starting to feel like there is a double standard. Call a leading Dem a traitor or a criminal or an enemy in one thread, get your post deleted and/or called a troll. Do it in another thread, and you are just another voice in the echo chamber.

Now, I appreciate where you are coming from on this. No matter your personal opinions, you need to keep things civil and keep the site together. And, whether you feel this is accurate or not, you are seen as a leader here (after all, you do own the place), which quite honestly is why I am being so overly civil (LOL). So I definately recognize that you have to walk a very fine line. In many cases, you probably can't post your true thoughts on subjects because of your status.

But I just want to say that while Greens and Libertarians were very quickly reminded that we are a Democratic site, the Sheehan supporters seem to be freely and openly attacking all Dems with more venom than they show to some Republicans, and have gone even further (in my opinion, have crossed the line) by in many cases insinuating that people who do not back Sheehan are anything from unquestioning party whores to lock-step, goosestepping brownshirts!

Anyway, just wanted to get that out, maybe expand a bit on what the first poster may have been saying.

These are frustrating times.

Kinda what I was getting at, yea. While it may be technically permissible to post criticism of Sheehan around here, you get jumped on pretty quick. One can be anti-war without being pro-Sheehan, but some around here just don't seem to get that.

You might read Skinner's post AND you might read the rules. You just made all that up.
Lee

:hug:

Only double.

cindy is fine by me

:kick:

this illegal, immoral war is an optional exercise.

And thank you Cindy, you are wonderful and I am grateful for all you have done.

she's had a long emotional journey. these words of kindness might help to ease the strain.

she continues to be a hero.

I'm sure she'll appreciate it.
:thumbsup:

Thanks Skinner!

:hug:

Thanks, Skinner, for posting this.

dg

all the way (up to and including her recent frustrations). Whatever you choose, We're with you Cindy!

... that can help with her pain, for the loss of Casey, her son. Memorial Day is nothing but pain, and any critical DU post is even more pain, as is Casey's birthday, Mother's Day, Christmas, Veteran's Day or any special day of Casey moments? There are no words of ours that even diminish her pain, but every "causality report" only deepens her heartbreak, every day until they just stop. Try as hard as she can, more mothers are to suffer with her, to feel her pain; more & more every day? "Please make them stop!" is all Cindy is saying? Bless you mom for caring about someone other than yourself... we can see where Casey learned his selflessness. While you feel like quitting, we do not - we will fight for you :)

And bravo, Cindy. Nobody can say that you haven't done your part, and then some. Rejuvenate, then rejoin. We'll be here.

I must admit I don't know what is goin on... but I will place my bet with Cindy...

k&r

K & R

for all you have done....

I'm so sorry that you have been treated badly.

There is no excuse for it.

Love

e

Thank you.

:applause:

And once again, thank you Cindy!

...and Skinner as well! :yourock:

beautiful response to Cindy Sheehan for those of us who support what Cindy does.

I hope(from reading Will Pitt's post yesterday) that Cindy just needs a good, relatively long rest and she'll be back stronger than ever. Whatever she does, she goes out a winner in my book because she tries so hard and there's no failure in that.

Rest well, Cindy Sheehan. You know your son, Casey, is proud of you!O8) :patriot: :hug: :grouphug:

Well said. K&R

and for helping me to not lose any more faith in people than I already have. My observations of you are one of the reasons I made my first contribution to the site this year. I think you're doing well by most of us.

This is my first year of really participating in DU. For a variety of reasons, I have not really spent much time at the site since I officially joined it years ago. I regret that, but I needed to do it on my own time, and if I had tried to do it sooner, I would have probably been guilty of posting something I would later have been embarassed about or even ashamed.

I also agree with much of what Cindy said in her letter. There are some things that are said on the site that cause me to groan and shake my head. This is not a reflection on you, Skinner, as much as it is a reflection on some of our members. You give us the freedom to say all sorts of things, including the things that occasionally make us look foolish at best and downright despicable at worst, the sort of things that those posting them should later feel ashamed about.

I wish that much of what Cindy said was not true, but sadly, it is. I hope that something will happen within the Democratic party that will not make me lose faith in them as well, but each bad decision on their part pushes me a little further that way. I don't want to give up on the party just yet, but a few more major roll-over-and-play-dead moments on the part of the party "leadership" may just make me reconsider.

Anyway, thanks again man.

Take the time to read Ms. Sheehan's letter. Separate out the emotional hurt and listen to what she is saying about the progressive movement. Listen to the truth "...peace movement that often puts personal egos..." And what it has done to her personal life ... there is the tragic ... I understand, I understand. The movement intimately doesn’t care about the people in it, just the results.

Thank you.. :hug: :hug:

Camp Casey, closed or open, is now in the national and world psyche!

Wikkipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cindy_Sheehan

Thanks Skinner, for writing this! I hope this helps Cindy to know how many people love her and are grateful for her efforts.


I can not imagine what it feels like to be in her shoes. I have cried for her, made posters supporting her, stood in the streets with peace flag and my I (heart) Cindy Sheehan poster. But, to be in her shoes, must be ...... so difficult.

I hope she rests, treats herself well!

And, to those who are critical of her... SHAME ON YOU!

:)

Classy and to the point.

Thanks.

This message articulates my own sentiments perfectly.

..but I felt like Sheehan's choice to step aside was a good thing.

I've never insulted anyone, in fact I've never written on this subject before. I didn't realize there was drama at DU about it. But with all due respect, I feel like somewhere along the way the message got muddled or lost with the fame.

One of the things I don't understand is this: up until recently I worked in the progressive non-profit community (for the ACLU for some of that time) and when we tried to get Cindy Sheehan to come speak in our state, we were told we would have to pay her 10,000$ and change to do it.

I'm sorry, but that really bugs me. I don't care if every bit of that money was going to the cause of Sheehan's choice, its still pulling money out of local agencies trying to fight the good fight, and its totally limiting for groups down in the trenches battling in red states who can't afford to throw 10k around.

I can't help thinking that if I had the opportunity to gain the fame Sheehan has, I travel and speak for the cost of my expenses, nothing more. It would feel weird to me to make a profit off of the issue of the "war." I'm not saying that's what Cindy Sheehan has done. I don't know. I'm saying it was bewildering to me.

I'm totally willing to listen to other points of view about all of this. But I freely admit that that experience along with a few others really started to make me feel that may Sheehan the famous person was not the most effective thing we have going for us in our effort to stop the war.

But - I'm very willing to be convinced that I'm wrong.

and I would also surmise that if she was charging 10,000 dollars a speaking engagement for her own personal enrichment she probably wouldn't have medical bills that have gone to collection agencies. :silly:

I've read that she does have speaking fees in that range, although she has at times wavied them - but not that often from what I've seen. I've gotten this information previously from reading different places on the internet and such - many times there was a backlash at having to pay her so much, especially when she spoke at universities and colleges (I know UCLA and Chico State, for exammple, both had very unhappy students when their fees were used to pay her). I just now googled it and here's what I found:

http://forums.therandirhodesshow.com/index.php?showtopic=73984

http://www.thedailystar.com/news/stories/2005/11/29/sheehan2.html

http://thehill.com/20-questions/20questions-profiles-cindy-sheehan-2007-05-02.html

and so on....I skpipped the GOP rants against her and just tried to stick to Dem or non-partisan sites....I'm not saying it's right or it's wrong, I'm just saying I think it's true.