Sheehan Qualifies To Challenge Pelosi

SAN FRANCISCO — Cindy Sheehan, an icon of the anti-war movement, has qualified to challenge House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her seat in Congress.

Sheehan, 51, says Pelosi failed to persuade her party to end funding for the Iraq war after Democrats reclaimed the House majority in the 2006 midterm elections. She also accused the speaker of failing to hold the administration accountable for the administration's warrantless wiretapping program.

Sheehan, who lost her son in the war, is best known for beginning a vigil outside President Bush's Texas ranch in August 2005.

"I feel like Nancy Pelosi, as the Democratic leader, has failed our country miserably, funding for more war," Sheehan said Monday. "The speaker's failed to hold George Bush and Dick Cheney accountable."

San Francisco election officials on Monday said Sheehan turned in 214 more valid signatures than the 10,198 she needed to qualify for the November ballot as an independent candidate for the 8th Congressional District seat.

The speaker welcomes the challenge, said Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill.

"The speaker has the highest respect for Cindy Sheehan. Ms. Sheehan lost her son in the Iraq war and has the right _ as every American has _ to run for office," Hammill said in a statement.

Pelosi, 67 and in her 11th term, has said she is disappointed that Democrats have not been able to stop the war in Iraq. Last year, the House passed legislation giving Bush $70 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with no deadlines for troop withdrawal.

Pelosi won her 2006 campaign with 80 percent of the vote. Sheehan also will be at a distinct financial disadvantage as she takes on one of the most powerful politicians in the country.

She said her campaign has collected more than $300,000, compared with nearly $2.4 million collected by Pelosi through the end of June.

The other candidate on the ballot for the 8th district seat is Republican Dana Walsh.

Comments

[truegreen]

Go Cindy, Go!

[lakeqi]

I recently went to SanFrancisco. I was disappointed, I didn't think the city was as radical as it should have been. This is their big chance to prove me wrong. San Francisco, the nation is watching!

[meanguy]

...and laughing

[lvogt]

Democrats should be taking a harder line against GOP corruption, the subversion of the Constitution and the Iraq invasion. I know they were afraid of the backlash that was met upon the GOP during the Clinton admin but that wasn't due to their toughness. It was due to the blatant pettiness and dishonesty of their attacks.

[jeffp26]

I am definitely sending cindy some bucks. This lady has guts and class. Truly unique in this current political season.

[naschkatze]

Go, Cindy! Not only would Sheehan knock Pelosi out of the Congress, she would also force the Democrats to choose a new Speaker in January.

[PAposter]

I think a new Speaker will be elected whether Sheehan is successful or not.

[Rjmartinelli]

That would require someone to successfully challenge Nancy Pelosi.

Here's the thing about Pelosi, I may not always agree with her short game decisions, but she's ALWAYS playing the long game and she knows what she's doing.

If you look at her decisions over time you can actually see this.

[comacoma]

I certainly hope so... Pelosi has been a complete failure.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

Sending in my donation. Good luck, Cindy.

[filo]

First let me say I like Cindy Sheehan. She is a very gutsy lady. Second I am not thrilled with the job Nancy Pelosi has been doing. Having said that I don't think Cindy will be able to unseat an 11 term congress woman if she is a one issue candidate.

[43P04T34]

Nancy Pelosi is a one issue candidate.

She uses her position as House Majority Leader to insult the people of the United States.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

Good One!!!

[WorkingClass]

Cindy on the issues.

http://www.cindyforcongress.org/article.php?list=type&type=13

[meanguy]

good Lord...is she SERIOUS????? who's gonna pay for all that?

[freebeer]

Power to the people!

Enough with these phony liberals in the Democratic party with their FISA support, continuous war funding, refusal to impeach, support for off shore oil drilling and for their shift to the "middle" on abortion rights.

Go Cindy. For all of your flaws and inexperience, your honesty is what counts, it is what our country needs right now.

Experience like Pelosi has, is just another way of saying she knows all the lobbyists and dirty Republicans in the house. We don't need experienced politicians who are dirty.
We need honest Americans, and Cindy would be a breath of fresh air to the whole political process.

[Pavane]

I admire Ms. Sheehan. She gets out there and DOES what most of us say we ought to be doing. She would make a good Speaker of the House. This lady has a spine!.

[PAposter]

She running for her congressional seat, the Speaker is voted in by the House of Representatives. Generally, the party with a majority is voted in.

[meanguy]

you DO understand that if she beats pelosi, she DOESN'T become speaker, right? i'm just saying...