President Bush's motorcade drove right past Cindy Sheehan, the mother whose son was killed in Iraq and has been camping out outside the president's Crawford, Texas ranch demanding to speak to him. Thus far, more than 100 people have joined Sheehan's vigil to support her.
The president was on his way to a political fund-raiser but did not stop to speak to the grieving mother. Sheehan held up a sign saying, 'Why do you make time for donors and not for me?'
Local police forced the demonstrators to stay behind yellow tape while the presidential motorcade passed by. The protesters were not forced to leave their makeshift campsite.
The fund-raiser was a bar-b-que at a neighbor's ranch designed to raise money for the Republican National Committee. According to RNC spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt, the bar-b-que is expected to raise at least $2 million and will have at least 230 guests.
It is not clear if the president even looked in the direction of Ms. Sheehan and her camp when the motorcade passed by.
Sheehan has vowed to remain outside Mr. Bush's ranch during his entire five-week summer vacation until she gets some time to speak directly to the president. Thus far, the president has refused to meet with Ms. Sheehan but did say he felt compassion for her but removing troops from Iraq now would be a mistake.
More than 1,840 Americans have died in Iraq since the U.S. led invasion and occupation of the country began in March 2003.
