9, 2007 3:25 pm US/Pacific

Cindy Sheehan Announces Run Against Nancy Pelosi
(AP) SAN FRANCISCO Citing her son as inspiration, a tearful Cindy Sheehan announced her candidacy Thursday for the U.S. House of Representatives.

The anti-war activist is running as an independent against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has represented San Francisco in Congress since 1987.

"The country is ripe for a change," said Sheehan, who spoke at a podium with her son's photograph attached to it. "It's going to start right here and right now."

Sheehan's 24-year-old son, Casey, was killed in Iraq in 2004. Since then, she has gained international notoriety by setting up camp outside President Bush's Texas ranch and demanding to meet with the president.

Last month, she announced her intention to run against Pelosi if the speaker didn't move to impeach Bush by July 23. On Thursday, she said Pelosi had "protected the status quo" of the corporate elite and had lost touch with people in her district, most of whom, she said, want American troops out of Iraq.

Nadeam Elshami, a spokesman for Pelosi, said the speaker has always opposed the war in Iraq and has focused on bringing troops home "safely and soon."

He would not comment on Sheehan's candidacy.

Sheehan admitted she has no funds for a campaign, but planned to immediately get started raising money. Without giving further specifics, Sheehan said she wouldn't accept money from corporations and would run on a platform of universal health care. Sheehan said she also wants to make college affordable and improve ethics in the legislative and executive branches.

She also said the money being spent on the war in Iraq would be better spent domestically.

Daniel Ellsberg, the former high-level Pentagon analyst who in 1969 leaked the Pentagon Papers to Congress and the media, showed his support for Sheehan. Ellsberg was arrested twice with other protesters outside Bush's Texas ranch.

"At the moment, facing a well-funded, powerful incumbent without party support, the odds against Cindy appear insuperable," Ellsberg said. "But we plan to change that."

   

This gal is only maginally smarter than Taliban Jack.

   

If her son was alive he'd disown her just like the rest of the family.

   

True enough, and with loyal honest, non self serving people like Daniel Ellsberg helping I'm quite sure mainstream America is ready for an independant media seeking anti war representative like Cindy Sheehan to lead them to the promised land.

Next stop on the campaign trail........ Hanoi Janes house, for a few joints, a group grope and a chorus of kumbaya, led by the ever popular former Governor of California Tom Hayden.

(sarcasm off)

   

not sure what her chances of actually geting elected are , likely not very good but she is running in san francisco where she is well known .

but independents rarely get elected so most likely this is nothing more than a publicity stunt / protest .

   

Absolutely. As we all know the left wing anti war movement uses these type of things to draw attention to themselves and their causes, look at Fonda in Hanoi, sitting on the anti aircraft gun.

Although, I wonder if Tom Hayden ever really expected to be elected Governor of California or if it started out as a publicity stunt and the electorate almost decided to call him on it?

   

God that's depressing, frothing at the mouth mommy in mourning or a nutcase.