Bush has time for donors

For days now, Cindy Sheehan has been camped outside of the sprawling Bush compound near Crawford, Texas, waiting to ask Our Dear Leader one simple question: "What is the 'noble cause' that my son and over 1,800 other sons and daughters have died for?" Recently she has been joined by other mothers who have lost sons or daughters in the occupation of Iraq.

Mr. Bush's motorcade drove right past them - headed to a fund-raiser where the "haves and have mores," also known as Bush's base, greeted him with $2 million in contributions to the Republican National Committee ("President passes protesting mother," Aug. 13). I wonder how many of the 200 or so attendees to that soiree had children fighting and dying in the desert half a world away.

Obviously, Cindy and the Gold Star mothers have it all wrong. If you want to get the attention of this president, having made the hardest sacrifice a parent make just isn't enough.

For this president, it's money that talks. If you are not Halliburton, Exxon Mobil, or a Bush Pioneer you aren't worth his time or attention. Just how does he sleep at night?

Ellen Lewis

Spokane, WA

The Spokesman-Review