Blogger phone call with Cindy Sheehan *EDITED*

[Skinner]

Here is a extremely rough transcript of the blogger conference call with Cindy Sheehan today. This is just what I was able to type while I was on the call, and I'm not a very fast typist. None of the words here are exact quotes. Rather, this is a rough outline of what was said on the call. I believe there is going to be a podcast of the call available later on meetwithcindy.org. --Skinner

Joe Trippi introduces the phone call and Bob Fertik

Bob Fertik talks briefly about meetwithcindy.org, and introduces cindy.

Cindy Sheehan: Thank you so much. I'm overwhelmed & amazed by the support. It's a miracle. It's mushroomed because of the Internet and the blogosphere. On Saturday the secret service was trying to intimidate me. Blogs spread it around. If something happens it'll be because of the Secret Service.

They can't ignore us or shut us down. Thank god for the Internet.

The mainstream media is a propaganda tool for the government. Without the Internet, we wouldn't really know what is going on. We the people have to cause the change. I never got involved before because I didn't know one person could make a difference. But now I know that one person can make a difference. Thanks to all of you.

Trippi: Tell us about your day.

Cindy Sheehan: Woke up 3:30. Thunder, lightning, rain. Got in the car and went to crawford. Sore throat and fever. But I'm feeling better, strength is coming back. We need to pace ourselves for the long haul. I had to cancel some interviews today because my voice is going out. So many people are here, from North Carolina, San Diego, Oregon, all over Texas. Texans have come out in droves. Texas is not Bush country.

Deborah White from About.com (?): Read in Kos diary that a couple days ago the Secret Service said be careful or you'll get run over by a car.

Cindy Sheehan: They said we don't want to stay there because we might get run over by a car at night.

Q: I got the impression that they were trying to intimidate you. But they don't know what they're dealing with here.

Cindy Sheehan: Secret Service came out and talked to Ann Wright (?), who is in charge of camp management. People are spontaneously coming to Crawford. Nobody else can stay here at night. Crawford town sheriff has been very supportive. Letting us use the High School stadium for rallies.

Greg from American Free Press (?): White House and CNN both reported that Cindy changed story of her meeting with the President.

Cindy Sheehan: Matt Drudge took the things from original story out of context. Vacaville Reporter (?) wrote an op-ed contradicting Drudge. Your account is true, not Matt Drudge.

Brian (?): How many people are there. How do we get there?

Cindy Sheehan: Can drive out here. (She gave directions)

Q (?): Are you receiving medical care?

Cindy Sheehan: No.

Crooks and Liars: I posted the video of O'Reilly and Malkin attacking you. Are you going on his show?

Cindy Sheehan: No. I don't like it when people lie about me. He attacks me personally about it. He asked me to go on show. My first reaction is that I'll go on if he publicly apologizes for lying about me. But my second reaction is I won't go on at all because his show is an obscenity.

Our true mission is bringing attention to the occupation of Iraq and bringing our troops home. The Bush Administration doesn't have the support of the majority of America. We do.

Q (?): We can help you with an online forum. Bring a thousand points of light to you. I'm honored that Joe Trippi has joined us. How do you see the rest of this week play out?

Cindy Sheehan: I can't even begin to guess that. Every day, every minute is a surprise. We did not plan this. Everything that happened is spontaneous. Only three things can make me leave: Meeting with the President, the end of August, or I get arrested.

Joe Trippi: Direct people to the meetwithcindy.org website.

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky: I'm so proud of you. You're doing such an incredible job. We'll try to keep our end in the Out of Iraq caucus in Congress. I would be there with you but my daughter-in-law died last week. We're doing everything we can in Congress. The noble cause is that we can help you end this war. That's the real answer.

Cindy Sheehan: I know that too. Thank you for saying that. You know how much I love you.

Liza from Culture Kitchen (?): I just came back from first women blogger's conference. I'm touched by how you said that one person can't change the world. But one person with a million other people on the Internet can change the world. How did you get involved in blogs?

Cindy Sheehan: I still don't really understand much about blogs. But I know that I didn't just come out of the woodwork last Saturday. I've been working for peace for a long time. People on Kos encouraged me to start my own blog. I want to let everyone in the world know what's going on over there.

Dave Johnson of Seeing the Forest (?): What are you going to ask Bush if he meets with you?

Cindy Sheehan: I'm going to ask him what the noble cause was that Casey died for. I don't believe that a war of aggression is a noble cause. I want to ask him, If it's such a noble cause, why don't his daughters enlist? Stop saying that we have to honor the sacrifice the fallen by completing the mission. Because he doesn't know what the mission is. The only way to honor my son's sacrifice is to bring the soldiers home.

Peter Daou of the Daou Report: MSNBC and CNN are still leading with Natalie Holloway.

Cindy Sheehan: I had four interviews scheduled with MSNBC but two of them canceled and two didn't show up. They don't want this to be the story. A lot of people have a lot at stake in keeping the war going. If they truly care they would cover this story. But they don't want to cover it. The war should be back on the front pages. It belongs there every day, even if there isn't a grieving mother in Crawford. Without the Internet, we wouldn't know what's going on over there.

Podblog (?): I've dealt with the police before. If you do not move, they can't hurt you. They don't hurt you if you just stand still. Pick your place and don't move.

Cindy Sheehan: I'll just put my butt down and refuse to move.

Someone from London (?): You were beautiful in the Guardian today. You are our leader. We love you. We're doing what we can. How can we get emails through to you?

Cindy Sheehan: You can send them to [email protected] or [email protected]

Joe Trippi: Tell people to visit www.meetwithcindy.org. Direct people there.