Q: Mr. President, we know you met with Cindy Sheehan a year ago, but she says a lot has changed since then; she has more to say to you. And even some Republicans have said that you should meet with her. Why not do that when you get back to the ranch?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I did meet with Cindy Sheehan. I strongly support her right to protest. There's a lot of people protesting, and there's a lot of points of view about the Iraq war. As you know, in Crawford last weekend there were people from both sides of the issue, or from all sides of the issue there to express their opinions.
I sent Deputy Chief of Staff Hagin and National Security Advisor Hadley to meet with Ms. Sheehan early on. She expressed her opinion. I disagree with it. I think immediate withdrawal from Iraq would be a mistake. I think those who advocate immediate withdrawal from not only Iraq but the Middle East would be -- are advocating a policy that would weaken the United States. So I appreciate her right to protest. I understand her anguish. I met with a lot of families. She doesn't represent the view of a lot of the families I have met with. And I'll continue to meet with families.
Cindy Sheehan has now met with the President, the President's National Security Advisor and a Deputy Chief of Staff. In addition to that, the President has taken (on more than one occassion) the time to respond directly to Cindy's calls for the withdrawal of troops. He has handled this situation respectfully and forthrightly, which is more than you can say for Sheehan or her supporters.
Now bearing all that in mind, what more can we reasonably expect from the President with regard to Cindy Sheehan? It seems to me that the President has gone above and beyond what is required of him as our nation's leader with regard to this situation.
On a related note, does anybody ever wonder if things would be different with Sheehan were her views not anti-war? What if she were camped outside of Crawford demanding that the President send more troops into Iraq to wipe out the terrorist scum who killed her son? Would she be the subject of endless media attention then?
I don't think so.