Posted on 06/08/2004 8:54:12 AM PDT by lainie
Edited on 06/08/2004 11:18:28 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
Controversy develops over Reagan funeral speakers...
'President Clinton really held out all hope the funeral would be a nonpartisan event, like Nixon's was,' a top Clinton source said on Tuesday morning. 'He's angry and disappointed neither he nor President Carter have been asked to speak, as of yet'...
CLINTON DISAPPOINTMENT: LEFT OFF FUNERAL SPEAKERS LIST
Former President Bill Clinton has privately expressed anger he has apparently been left off the speakers list of Friday's Reagan State Funeral, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.
"President Clinton really held out all hope the funeral would be a nonpartisan event, like Nixon's was," a top Clinton source said on Tuesday morning. "He's angry and disappointed neither he nor President Carter have been asked to speak, as of yet."
The top source says Clinton has been critical that both Bush presidents will address the crowd gathered at National Cathedral.
Nixon's vice president Gerald Ford did not speak at Nixon's funeral.
Clinton's inner circle is convinced Nancy Reagan has personally shut out Clinton from any high-profile participation.
"It is a state funeral, using tax dollars," the top Clinton insider explained.
Former President George H.W. Bush, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney will join President Bush in eulogizing Ronald Reagan, Reagan's office announced. Presiding over the service will be former Sen. John Danforth of Missouri, who is an ordained Episcopal priest. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and the Rabbi Harold Kusher will give readings, while Irish tenor Ronan Tynan will sing.
The eulogy is being prepared by President Bush's chief speechwriter, Michael Gerson, who also wrote the president's moving speech for a memorial service in the same cathedral after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Developing...
He spent eight years trashing everything the man did (blah blah blah rich blah blah blah 12 years the wrong way blah blah) The family should decide who speaks and we (and he) should butt out..
Clinton's performance at the Nixon funeral was for me the highlight of his presidency. He conducted himself with great class and dignity. WJC and RMN had at least a cordial and friendly relationship. WJC actively seeked out RMN's counsel on foreign policy in the months before he assumed office. RMN's last book was in preparations for publishing at the time he died. In it RMN made known his first criticisms of WJC's foreign policy. RMN made sure WJC received galleys ahead of time so that there would be no surprises.
WJC was not merely magnanimous, he was truly generous in both spirit and word for RMN. I have little doubt he would do so for Ronaldus Magnus.
Either way, Thank God!
I expected this type of public comment. (I'm sure many here did.)
Typically tacky. Typically inappropriate.
The speakers at Nixon's funeral were Kissinger, Dole, Pete Wilson (CA governor) and Clinton. (Thanks to Google and the Nixon Library site for supplementing my memories.)
This is classic Clinton. They want to divide us, destroy the unity of the moment. So they inject politics by accusing Republicans of injecting politics.
There is a special place in hell reserved for the Clintons.
Clinton and Carter should clearly understand that:
You don't take a bologna sandwich to a state banquet!!!
It sounds like the Dems - true to form - are going to politicize this funeral by demanding "equal time," and then accuse the Republicans of politicizing the funeral, even though it is not "the Republicans" who are in charge, but the family.
My distinct recollection during the first six years of the Clinton administration was that he and his shrill wife constantly slammed over and over "the last 12 years" of the presidency as somehow being, in their eyes, an awful failure.
And now he demands to speak at the great one's funeral.
Go pound sand, Clinton, you insignifigant wimp
Yep .. These people don't know how to show proper respect for the dead
The Wellstone memorial proved that
BTW .. didn't they Boo Trent Lott for going?
I don't doubt it.
God Bless you, Nancy.
They do it at their peril.
CLINTON DISAPPOINTMENT: LEFT OFF FUNERAL SPEAKERS LIST
Posted by Salvation to lainie
On 06/08/2004 9:10:54 AM PDT #118 of 118
Ex-President Bush Set for Parachute Jump
Posted by Tamsey to alisasny
On 06/08/2004 9:10:52 AM PDT #7 of 7
_____________________________________________
Caught in time.
Kinda sums it all up.
Get a life, Clinton!
WJC trashed the "Reagan years"...and everything he stood for. Why in the name of God should he be allowed to turn this moment into a political boost for his book?!
You got Freepmail.
Of course, one thing I *can* say. If they accuse this of being a partisan event, and the TELEVISED service shows otherwise...
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