Open Letter to Cindy Sheehan

You’re angry with the war in Iraq. You hurt because you lost a son there. You hurt more because you get no sympathy from your family. Now you want to end the war for other sons.

You publicly plan to run for office and unseat the incumbent Nancy Pelosi, so you can vote to end the war and bring our troops home.

My question to you: And THEN what? You’ve already exhausted your efforts to make a public spectacle of yourself (to no avail) by protesting in a field and shouting down politicians at their events.

Let’s suppose for a minute that the planets align, and you actually get Nancy’s position—you WON’T be Speaker of the House, but a freshman senator, and treated accordingly. You will also have to get up to speed and keep abreast of ALL the political issues happening on the Hill AND in your state. You will no longer be a one-issue mule, and over time, you WILL succumb to the same things the seasoned politicians have for generations: money. When your term expires, will you leave office with your work done, or will you stick around as long as you can for the brass ring of high pay and good retirement?

You will have become something you despise most right now—a politician.

As a politician, do you think you will earn the respect of your fellow office-holders, the very people you shouted down at rallies and events? Do you think you can earn the respect of those you would have voting for you, now that you’ve managed to intrude upon the grief of so many who ALSO lost sons in Iraq (and grieved with dignity)?

Where are you hoping to get the experience, political background, money, and voting block it would take to seriously run for office? These politicians spent YEARS gathering these things before they ever got their names on a ballot, starting with a legal degree and a school board position. One issue isn’t going to be nearly enough, no matter how passionate you are about it.

Another thing you need to be aware of: it takes 60 votes for anything to pass the Senate, and another majority vote in the House to pass a law. Your one vote wouldn’t add up to squat unless you have a coalition willing to vote your way on issues—what are you willing to do, and how much slime are you willing to produce, in order for the wheels of politics to be greased in your favor?

Then there’s the presidential veto. All your efforts will be for naught with the stroke of his veto pen.

Do us all and yourself a favor, Cindy—go seek some grief counseling, and go take care of the son (and/or daughter) you still have. You’re no longer striving for good, only revenge, and this is what we’re all seeing on TV—we, your potential voters, who are not impressed. Your actions do come with consequences.