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Sheehan Demonstration Divides Views in U.S.
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many Americans were aware of the antiwar protest that took place outside George W. Bush's Texas ranch last month, according to a poll by Gallup released by CNN and USA Today. 61 per cent of respondents say they closely followed the story of Cindy Sheehan.
Sheehan is the mother of U.S. soldier Casey Sheehan, who died in April 2004 during the coalition effort in Iraq. Sheehan—along with other relatives of fallen soldiers—met with Bush in June 2004 at Fort Lewis in Washington. Last month, Sheehan camped outside the American president's Crawford ranch seeking a new meeting with Bush and an explanation for her son's death.
On Aug. 11, Bush publicly addressed the issue, saying, "I sympathize with Mrs. Sheehan. She feels strongly about her position, and she has every right in the world to say what she believes. This is America. She has a right to her position, and I thought long and hard about her position. I've heard her position from others, which is: Get out of Iraq now. And it would be a mistake for the security of this country and the ability to lay the foundations for peace in the long run if we were to do so."
On Aug. 30, Sheehan told the Associated Press, "I look back on it, and I am very, very, very grateful (Bush) did not meet with me, because we have sparked and galvanized the peace movement. If he'd met with me, then I would have gone home, and it would have ended there." 49 per cent of respondents express sympathy with Sheehan but disagree with her actions, while 42 per cent think she is doing the right thing.
The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein's regime was launched in March 2003. At least 1,887 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 14,200 troops have been injured.
Polling Data
How closely have you been following the news reports about Cindy Sheehan, the mother of an American soldier killed in Iraq, who is protesting the war outside George W. Bush's Texas ranch—very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not at all?
Very closely | 17% |
Somewhat closely | 44% |
Not too closely | 23% |
Not at all | 16% |
Which comes closest to your view of Cindy Sheehan?
Sympathize, agree with actions | 42% |
Sympathize, disagree with actions | 49% |
Don't have much sympathy | 6% |
No opinion | 3% |
Source: Gallup / CNN / USA Today
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 507 American adults, conducted from Aug. 28 to Aug. 30, 2005. Margin of error is 4 per cent.