There has also been some confusion regarding the political affiliations of the American Gold Star Mothers. Cindy Sheehan and her fellow anti-war on terror supporters have done an impressive job of misrepresenting the actual AGSM group with the anti-war group Gold Star Families for Peace. The Sheehan’s are founding members of GSFP, but AGSM is not a political organization.

GSFP currently is registered as a 501C3 non-profit organization. When arriving in Crawford, Sheehan spoke for the group when she called for President Bush’s impeachment. She has also demanded “answers” from President Bush on a daily basis. As the Associated Press reported on August 8th, “We GSFP members will not leave until we get answers from George Bush. We deserve and expect him to welcome us with answers to as why our loved ones are dead.”

However, the IRS has established the following guidelines on 501C3 organizations and political activity: “If any of the activities (whether or not substantial) of your organization consist of participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office, your organization will not qualify for tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3). Such participation or intervention includes the publishing or distributing of statement.”

The actual non-political American Gold Star Mothers has attempted to distance themselves from Sheehan via a message on their website: “Cindy Sheehan is currently in the news. She and her organization have no connection whatever with American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. We are a 501(c)(3) organization and, as such, do not engage in political activities. We do support our troops. After all, they are our children.”

It would be up to the appropriate officials to determine if Gold Star Families for Peace are violating the IRS guidelines for non-profit organizations. However, it's clear Sheehand and her supporters are masking their anti-Bush rhetoric in the non-partisan cover of American Gold Star Mothers.