If this has already been diaried, please let me know and I will delete it. I scanned several of the other Sheehan-related diaries but I didn't see this referenced.
Like many others, I first became aware of Cindy Sheehan in September 2004 when I saw her in one of the ads produced by "Real Voices," an advocacy group whose stated purpose was "to engage in a critical campaign to bring home to American voters the true human cost of George Bush's reckless war in Iraq." In fact, I was so moved by the extraordinary courage and honesty Cindy Sheehan exhibited in the video that I forwarded a link to everyone I knew and asked them to make a contribution to "Real Voices" so that her ad could be widely aired.
The following text accompanied the ads posted on the "Real Voices" website:
"In our extraordinary television spot, "A Mother's Tears", Cindy Sheehan, of Vacaville, CA, talks about her son, Spc. Casey Sheehan, who was killed in Iraq on April 4th, 2004. The Sheehan family blame George W. Bush for the deceptive campaign that led America into the needless war in Iraq."
Neither the ad nor the text could in any way, shape or form be construed as an endorsement of George Bush and his Iraq policies---not even by minds as sick and twisted as Drudge's and Michelle Malkin's.
I first saw these ads on the Real Voices site in late September 2004, so they were likely produced no later than early September or late August 2004. This existence of this ad and site prove that Cindy Sheehan was willing to go public with her sharp criticism of Bush and his policies since late Summer of 2004 (at least). Looks like Drudge and Malkin owe Cindy Sheehan an apology (but I'm not holding my breath...)