Transcript: Anti-War Warriors
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This is a partial transcript from "Your World with Neil Cavuto," August 26, 2005, that was edited for clarity.
TERRY KEENAN, GUEST HOST: Cindy Sheehan (search) is back in Texas and holding court outside the president's ranch. This weekend, she will be joined by Reverend Al Sharpton (search). And both will call for an immediate end to the Iraqi war.
Joining me now is Reverend Al himself, before he packs his bags and heads to Texas.
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Reverend, welcome. Good to have you with us.
You know, even people who are sympathetic to Cindy Sheehan's cause do not like the circus-like atmosphere that has come up in Texas in the last couple of weeks. Why are you just kind of throwing your hat into that ring?
AL SHARPTON, FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, no, I think that there have been a group of ministers that have had vigils there in support of the anti-war efforts. They are having another one Sunday and I'm just one of the ministers that responded to come. This is the last Sunday she is there.
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I think it is appropriate. On Sundays, they have service. And I think it is appropriate we support Mrs. Sheehan, who I think has been unfairly attacked by many people. I think what she has done is the right thing and good for the country.
KEENAN: Are you be carrying an anti-war message along with you?
SHARPTON: We are having a prayer vigil. We are having a prayer for peace. We are having a prayer to give her strength to Ms. Sheehan and the other families that clearly have stood up on a strong moral position and have challenged the president, who apparently saw her when she was not overly opposed to the war, will not talk to her now. I think that that is a very, very insensitive thing to do to this lady.
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KEENAN: I mean, her own family, though, is saying that she is not honoring Casey's cause, her son's cause, by this protracted stay in Texas.
SHARPTON: Well, people can have various opinions. There's no one that feels for a child like her mother. And I think that does a disservice for families to question a bond with a mother.
And if she felt that the pain of losing a child would cause her to stand up, we ought to respect that. I happen to admire it, but I think everyone should respect that.
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KEENAN: And you can't not respect it and you can't look at her without feeling her grief, particularly as a mother. But how can a mother's grief, one mother's grief dictate the policy of this country?
SHARPTON: I don't think she is trying to dictate. I think she is trying to express herself, just like some of those that are on the other side have expressed themselves, just like some of the swift boat guys expressed themselves during the Kerry campaign.
So, I think that what really made this story larger than it was is the president's insensitivity and inflexibility. What would it have taken for the president to walk down and talk to this woman for 10 minutes and say, even the moms that disagree with me, at least I'm going to hear them out?
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I think that he made it by acting so inflexible and insensitive. He made it an outrageous story by his insensitivity.
KEENAN: Well, now we have both sides at an impasse. This has been going on for weeks. Are you surprised that more Democrats haven't come to Cindy Sheehan's side?
SHARPTON: I don't know. I was surprised early in the war more Democrats didn't oppose the war.
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I think everyone should do what they can to support her and show that she is not some extremist woman. This is a woman whose child gave their life for this country and she has the right to question those policies. I understand she has announced a bus tour. I hope Democrats, Republicans, everybody comes out and sees her and supports her during her tour.
KEENAN: But that looks unlikely, given what we have seen from other Democrats so far.
(CROSSTALK)
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SHARPTON: Well, unlikely or not, I think regular people feel the pain. Even the polls have changed in the opinion of this war. I think a lot of that had to do with the courage of Cindy Sheehan.
KEENAN: And you think she is here to stay? It's not just an August 2005 story.
SHARPTON: I think she has been a spark, as she has said. And I think what she has sparked will be here long after her and long after these incidents that we are looking at right now.
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KEENAN: All right. Thanks, Reverend Al Sharpton for your side of the story.
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