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Anti-War Activist May Run for Senate

Posted on: Sunday, 29 January 2006, 18:00 CST

By IAN JAMES

Anti-war activist may run for Senate

CARACAS, Venezuela Cindy Sheehan, the peace activist who set up camp near President Bushs Texas ranch in the summer, said Saturday she is considering running against Sen. Dianne Feinstein to protest what she called the California lawmakers support for the war in Iraq.

She voted for the war. She continues to vote for the funding. She wont call for an immediate withdrawal of the troops, Sheehan told The Associated Press in an interview while attending the World Social Forum in Venezuela along with thousands of other anti-war and anti-globalization activists.

I think our senator needs to be held accountable for her support of George Bush and his war policies, said Sheehan, whose 24-year- old soldier son Casey was killed in Iraq in 2004.

Feinsteins campaign manager, Kam Kuwata, said the senator doesnt support George Bush and his war policies.

But with troops committed, Feinstein believes immediate withdrawal is not a responsible option, Kuwata said.

Senator Feinsteins position is, lets work toward quickly turning over the defense of Iraq to Iraqis so that we can bring the troops home as soon as possible, he said.

Sheehan accused Feinstein of being out of touch with Californians on the issue.

She said she would decide whether to run after talking with her three other adult children. The Democratic primary will be held in June, and candidates must submit their statements for the voter guide by Feb. 14.

Kuwata said Feinstein and Sheehan appear to have a fundamental disagreement over whether troops should be pulled out right now. Thats why they have elections, and if she decides to file (paperwork to run), so be it, he said.

Sheehan said running in the Democratic primary would help make a broader point.

If I decided to run, I would have no illusions of winning, but it would bring attention to all the peace candidates in the country, she said.

Sheehan, 48, who lives in Berkeley, Calif., said she would head to Washington on Sunday for protests against Bushs State of the Union address on Monday, and then return to California to discuss her idea of running against Feinstein with her son and two daughters.

I cant see if they think its going to help peace that they would be opposed to me doing it, she said.

Sheehan and other peace activists met Saturday with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, himself a critic of Bush and the Iraq war.

He said, why dont I run for president? ... I just laughed, she said.

Source: Advocate; Baton Rouge, La.

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