Posted on 06/08/2004 5:53:46 AM PDT by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
Some congressional Democrats will not return to Washington this week to participate in the pageantry of a state funeral for a president they bitterly opposed.
It was unclear how many rank-and-file Democrats in both the House and Senate would opt to stay at home and miss the largely procedural and symbolic votes to honor the 40th president’s life.
But roughly half of the House Progressive Caucus was contemplating not trekking back to Washington for a legislatively inert week, filled only with tributes to a president they often clashed with, spokesmen for the lawmakers said.
But despite the indifferent responses of some rank-and-file members, party leaders mourned the man who froze them out of the White House for 12 years.
Some Democratic leaders predicted that Republicans would milk Reagan’s passing for political gain, musing that Gipper hagiography would dominate the GOP nominating convention in September and supplant any previously planned Sept. 11 associations.
Democrats also questioned Reagan’s political legacy, challenging the merits of his tax-cutting ethos and declining to confer credit upon him for winning the Cold War.
However, they agreed that he fundamentally changed the political calculus and economic debate in America.
“He changed the tax debate in the country — you just can’t talk about raising taxes anymore,” said Rep. Robert Matsui (Calif.), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Many Democrats won’t support any kind of tax increase, even when the economy is strong.”
The House Republican leadership canceled its floor consideration of “energy week,” instead scheduling three Reagan-related votes.
In the Senate, the defense bill was postponed, and only one vote, related to Reagan, was expected for the entire week. It was uncertain at press time if it would be a roll call or a voice vote.
That uncertainty fueled speculation that some Democratic senators would not return for what would essentially be an inactive week focused on Reagan remembrances, said several aides.
“Democratic members probably won’t come back,” said a well-placed Democratic House lawmaker. “If we just have one or two votes all week, I can’t imagine all the members come back, even though it’s a state funeral.”
Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.), a member of the Progressive Caucus, will not return to Washington unless the Appropriations Committee meets, said his chief of staff, Wendy Darwell. Nor does Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) plan to return, according to his office.
Rep. Charlie Stenholm (D-Texas), a Blue Dog who faces a tough re-election, said: “I haven’t decided if I’ll go to [the National] Cathedral on Friday or not. I have an event in my district. I will be attending the memorial service in the Capitol [tomorrow].”
All of the Democratic leaders from both chambers will attend both tomorrow’s Capitol Rotunda service and Friday’s memorial service.
Democratic leaders, as well as lawmakers who served in Congress during the Reagan administration, praised the easy humor and unrivaled integrity of the man who bedeviled their party.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) released a statement saying: “All Americans are grateful for Ronald Reagan’s great leadership and service to our country and admired his special grace, optimism, and humor.”
“He served our country with dignity and he died with dignity,” she said.
“America has lost an icon,” Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) said. “Ronald Reagan’s leadership will inspire Americans for generations to come. His patriotism and devotion to our country will never be forgotten.”
“Though I disagreed with much of his domestic policy, I remember him as a person who early in life committed to equality and justice for all and later in life to the success of freedom and democracy around the world,” said Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).
Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, recalled the sometimes difficult relationship Reagan had with black America.
“While the members of the Congressional Black Caucus did not always agree with President Reagan on issues of public policy, he was an honorable and decent man,” Cummings said. “We applauded his signing into law the legislation the Congressional Black Caucus had long pushed for making Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday a federal holiday.”
Matsui noted that Reagan was underestimated by his political opponents from the beginning of his career.
Recalling the 1966 California gubernatorial election, Matsui said, “I remember the [Pat] Brown people saying, Reagan is the guy they want to win [the GOP primary], because they were worried about the moderate Republican mayor of San Francisco. Of course Reagan overwhelmed Pat Brown.”
Matsui also said he had fond personal memories of the time Reagan invited Matsui’s family to the White House to watch an the 1952 movie “The Winning Team,” in which Reagan played the pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander.
Petty, just petty. And so contrary to Reagan's philosophy.
Too bad.
Good. The fewer of them I have to look at on television, the better.
And he says that as if it were a bad thing...
Seriously, I'm grateful. No hard feelings from me if they stay away; at least they're not hypocrites.
He wouldn't want them there either. In fact, John Kerry ought to stay home too. He disliked Reagan intensely.
I agree. The two-faced A-holes who show up for the TV exposure are much worse than the ones who stay home.
as others here have said,let them whine.
the party is just so transparent.
i could only pray to live long enough,to see the donkey party flying cardbord signs on freeway off-rramps like the garbage that they are.
Perfect time to have a quorum call and start voting on some high-profile legislation or judicial nominees.
What are the odds that Maxine Waters will show up?
How considerate of the socialists to avoid Reagen's funeral. There is a sense of justice in these people after all.
Time for the Dems to pay the Piper. All votes this week need to Be ROLL CALL votes. Get the Yea/Nay/NOT PRESENT down on paper for all to see.
SO9
Kerry needs the photo op. He'll be there.
Personally I'd never show up at the funeral of someone I didn't care for, particularly if I'd spent years bashing that person. I don't think funerals should be command performances. I've had to sit through a couple in my family, where my mom and dad were just gritting their teeth because of some idiot who'd shown up unwanted, and who they accordingly were forced to be nice to, in the midst of their grief.
It's often more considerate of the bereaved to stay home and stay quiet, IMO.
If Zell Miller and Joseph Lieberman are the only Democrats to show up, GREAT!
Damn Socialist.
Too bad Reagan wasn't as sucessful in destroying the DemonRat party as he was with the Soviets.
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