Is Cindy Sheehan's divorce off-limits?

When it came out recently that the New York Times was investigating the adoption of Supreme Court nominee John Roberts' two children, Conservative bloggers were outraged, and the NYT's backed down quickly.

The latest buzz on the right side of the Blogosphere are reports that Cindy Sheehan's husband has filed for divorce.

From The Smoking Gun...

The next well-wisher approaching Cindy Sheehan at her tent encampment outside President George W. Bush's Texas vacation home may actually be a process server. That's because the California woman's husband--in a curious bit of timing--filed for divorce Friday afternoon (below you'll find a copy of Patrick Sheehan's complaint, lodged August 12 in Solano County District Court). With Sheehan, 48, entering a second week outside Bush's Crawford retreat, her husband's divorce petition cites "irreconcilable differences" for the demise of the couple's 28-year marriage (the Sheehans, the document states, have been separated since June 1). Along with a Vacaville home, Patrick Sheehan listed other "community assets" as "any and all benefits payable as a result of son's death," including a Prudential insurance policy and "benefits from the U.S. Government."

While the MSM is also reporting it, others are criticizing Conservatives bloggers as hypocrites, claiming a double standard since we voiced objection over the NYT's investigation of Roberts.

So is it the same?

First of all Roberts' adoption has nothing to do with his qualifications as a Supreme Court Justice, and the investigation involved small children. Cindy Sheehan and her estranged husband are adults, and the legitimacy of the letter written by her family, opposing her activities has been  questioned by some bloggers. The fact that her husband has filed for divorce after a separation caused, according to Cindy Sheehan herself, by her activities, makes it a legitimate story to report. Sheehan's claim to sympathy is based on her status of the mother of a fallen soldier, but even her own family are rejecting her actions, and this latest action from her estranged husband is certainly a noteworthy event.

It seems to me the double standard is coming from those who are whining about reporting the Sheehan divorce, but had no objection to the NYT's sleazy investigation of small children.

I also find it odd that while Cindy Sheehan herself likes to drag Bush's daughters into her screaming rants, she now is having a fit because people have noticed that her husband is dumping her. She has the gall to screech, “The people who are dragging my family through the mud need to grow up and look at themselves. The Christ said: ‘He who is without sin, cast the first stone.’” And what exactly are you doing in Crawford, Texas, Cindy, watering the plants?

Oh, and Cindy, the phrase is “..it's between my husband and me” not “...it's between my husband and I” (Sorry, a pet peeve of mine)

Coverage: Michelle Malkin, Outside the Beltway, Angry in the Great White North (also here), Independent Sources

Posted by Danny Carlton at August 16, 2005 09:33 AM