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...
I don't know. I could see Carter, but Clinton campaigned for eight plus year on un-doing the Reagan revolution. Seems a little inappropriate to me.
He was President when Nixon died. It was appropriate for him to speak then.
There is no reason for him or Carter to speak. George W. is the present Commander in Chief, and George H.W. served as V.P. under President Reagan and succeeded him to the White House. As far as all of this is concerned, The Gipper planned his own funeral and church service years ago. If that's the way he wanted it, that's the way it should be and his wishes should be respected by everyone.
Newsflash to Bubba:
This is NOT about YOU!
If he had respect for the Reagans, much less for the office of the President of the United States, he would remain in reverent silence, even if his feelings were hurt.
What kind of person would want to speak at someone's funeral when they're not a friend or even a close associate? What possible motivation could someone have, other than being seen?
No, Clinton wasn't know for brevity, but I'd tell Hillary that if he went over 2 minutes, the Marines would give him the hook, which she would not want to see. Or tell him that if he's still talking after 2 minutes, Jennifer Flowers and Monica will be unleashed on him.
I don't want that lying adulterer anywhere near me, dead or alive!
To Clinton: It's because his family is looking out for him, you schmuck. Something Clinton would never understand.
That's the controversy? Heh. That's absolutely choice.
Bubba, if you can talk Nancy and the kids into letting you on the schedule, have at it, bucko. My bet is that if they have a Democrat speak, it's likely to be somebody who knew him a lot better than you did.
And besides, knowing Clinton, he'll probably deliver his own eulogy when he dies.
I was wondering about Kennedy's funeral too...somehow I don't think Jackie was worried about taxpayer funding dictating that she ask a Republican to speak so JFK's funeral would be "nonpartisan."
It strikes me the only person turning the funeral into a partisan issue is Clinton himself, with his very charges that excluding him is nonpartisan!
The state funeral is being paid for by tax dollars, the Clinton "source" says.
SO WHAT???? We the people WANT to honor President Reagan. It's one place our tax dollars will be appropriately spent.
So if we the tax payers are paying for President Reagan's state funeral, how does that mean that automatically Clinton be allowed to speak?
Don't get the connection.
God bless President Reagan and Rest in Peace.
Another very good point. Can you even imagine Hillary nursing Bill through a wretched disease like Alzheimer's? Watching him go from vigorous to slower to twilight to darkness, keeping him safe from the press, making sure he doesn't want for anything or die alone?
I know you don't.
Nancy Reagan is the epitome of dignity. A true First Lady.
What a perfect silent rebuke for his defiling of the White House.
Does Nancy Reagan get to pick the seating arrangements? If so, she should place Clinton and Carter on a far back row seat behind the post! Oh, and for all the protesters, how about some freepers out there slicing up onions so that when the protesters are shown on tv, their eyes are watering big time!
not even after he's dead will he shut his piehole... I'm sure of it
You don't get the connection because there isn't one.
Correction to end of my last note, Clinton's charging that excluding him is *partisan*...
I believe I answered that way back in post #276:
"When my time comes, I'd rather be dumped in a ditch than to have a loathsome creature like clinton speak at my elaborate funeral."
My guess is Carter has zero desire to speak. I think the Clinton person included Carter's name in the complaint so it wouldn't look like it was all about Bill, which, of course, it is.
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