CNN: Shirt tales different for Sheehan, Republican's wife

Sheehan pondering legal battle

Wednesday, February 1, 2006; Posted: 4:42 p.m. EST (21:42 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Call it the tale of two different shirts worn by two very different women: a well-known peace activist who has agitated the White House and a lawmaker's wife who has staunchly supported the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

Anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan wore a shirt with the message, "2,245 Dead. How many more?" -- a reference to the number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq.

Beverly Young, the wife of 18-term Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Young of Florida, wore a shirt that read, "Support the Troops."

Both women's shirts resulted in their owners being ejected from the House chamber before President Bush's State of the Union address on Tuesday night.

Sheehan, an invited guest of Democrat Lynn Woolsey, was arrested around 8:30 p.m. ET on charges of unlawful conduct, a misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of a year in jail, U.S. Capitol Police said.

"She was asked to cover it up. She did not," said Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, U.S. Capitol Police spokeswoman.

Young was asked to leave, but was not arrested.

House rules bar demonstrations in the galleries.

Woolsey, a House member from California, has called for a withdrawal of troops in Iraq and supports legislation for the creation of a Department of Peace.

According to a blog post attributed to Sheehan and posted on "Fahrenheit 9/11" filmmaker Michael Moore's Web site, she was released after four hours.

"I have some lawyers looking into filing a First Amendment lawsuit against the government for what happened tonight," the message read. "I will file it. It is time to take our freedoms and our country back."

'She has a real passion for our troops'
Outrage also came from the pro-war Young as well.

On Wednesday, he held up his wife's shirt on the House floor and denounced her treatment.

"She has a real passion for our troops, and she shows it in many, many ways," Young said.

"And most members in this House know that. But because she had on a shirt that someone didn't like, that said 'Support Our Troops,' she was kicked out of this gallery while the president was speaking and encouraging Americans to support our troops. Shame. Shame."

Young and his wife are known as passionate supporters of U.S. service members. He has spoken in the past about their many visits to military hospitals during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and their efforts to ensure the needs of the wounded and their families are met.

Sheehan, on the other hand, was thrust into the spotlight after her 24-year-old son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, was killed in Iraq in April 2004.

The Vacaville, California, resident gained national attention in August, when she and hundreds of fellow protesters camped outside the president's Crawford, Texas, ranch, demanding an audience. She also recently penned a book, "Not One More Mother's Child."

In April 2004 Sheehan and other relatives of troops killed in Iraq met with Bush during a visit to Fort Lewis, Washington, shortly after the death of her son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, 24.

Sheehan later said that the president wouldn't look at pictures of her son and "didn't even know Casey's name." She has said she'd like to meet with Bush again to discuss her opposition to the war.

The president has declined another meeting and has taken issue with Sheehan's calls for a withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

"She expressed her opinion; I disagree with it," Bush said in August. "I think immediate withdrawal from Iraq would be a mistake."

CNN's Ted Barrett and Eliott C. McLaughlin contributed to this report.

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