Posted on 07/13/2004 11:53:19 AM PDT by jmstein7
Remember the Democrats complained that Bush "might try to exploit Ronald Reagan's death in the campaign," but note who's doing it. (story) The Democrats are exploiting the death of Ronald Reagan by asking his son, Ron, a longtime liberal, to speak at their convention. I notice this hypocrisy has been missed in "The Media," which is why we point it out. Of course, the Democrats are all excited about this. Ron Reagan, Jr., to give prime-time speech at Democrat National Convention on stem cell research, as though there's some sort of royalty: You get one Reagan, you've got Ron. Any Reagan is equivalent to getting President Reagan. Of course it's not the truth. Now, Bob Novak has a piece. Yeah, this is 12th of July. Novak has a piece today entitled "Buckley vs. Reagan, Jr.," and it's fascinating. He said:
"Amid the spontaneous outpouring of respect and affection for Ronald Reagan [Ronaldus Magnus] after his death, a discordant note was sounded by his son. In a succession of television and newspaper interviews, Ron Reagan Jr. used the occasion to trash George W. Bush by drawing invidious comparisons between his father and the current president. Nobody knew how to respond in a time of national mourning. Nobody, that is, except William F. Buckley Jr. The elder statesman of the conservative movement considered Ron Jr.'s remarks a public challenge that ought to be challenged publicly. Buckley wrote Reagan a letter that specifically addressed his claim in an interview with the New York Times that he, [Ron Jr.] as a self-professed atheist, admired the Buddhist teachings of 'mindfulness and loving kindness and compassion.' Buckley [responded:] 'You proceed in a single interview to profane/deride the faith of your parents, which is not very mindful.'
"There was more than one interview. In his graveside eulogy, the son threw a dart at President Bush by saying his father never wore 'his faith on his sleeve.' That was just the beginning of attempts to dispel any notion that Bush was another Reagan." Ron Jr. Said: "'My father did not know George W. Bush from Adam,' he said on CNN, adding: 'My father was a man -- that's the difference between him and Bush.' As far as Republicans using the Reagan heritage, he said on MSNBC, 'This is their war. If they can't stand on their own two feet, they're no Ronald Reagans.' This fit the desperate effort by Bush-bashers to keep the president from politically benefiting as a result of national grief over Reagan's passing," and again, the hypocrisy here is glaring because it was going to be the Republians "exploiting Reagan's death," right? And now it's the Democrats doing it. This is not us-versus-them. This is me simply responding to what I think are attacks against a great man -- even if they are by his son. "With publication in the New York Times Magazine of Ron Jr.'s interview with Deborah Solomon, Buckley wrote the son with a point-by-point response." Actually wrote him a letter.
In the New York Times Magazine, Ron Reagan Jr. said: "'The nude picture of his sister Patti in Playboy was 'just something that is not too exciting.' BUCKLEY: 'Why then was there so much excitement about it?' RON Jr.: As for his father's reaction when he dropped out of Yale to join the ballet, 'That was fine with him.' BUCKLEY: 'It wasn't fine with him and [your father] enlisted my aid in trying to persuade you to stay in college.'" (Gasping.) Really? Now, that's interesting. "RON Jr.: Having three cats while being childless 'is like having children.' BUCKLEY: 'No, it's not like having children.' RON Jr.: As to whether his mother helps him out financially, 'Of course not. My father felt that children should make their own way.' BUCKLEY: 'I know, and you know that I know, something about that question. But to say that 'of course' your mother does not help you out suggests she will not do so even if there were a need. Are you saying she would not acknowledge you in her will?'
"RON Jr.: As to the Abu Ghraib prison abuses, 'How can Christians tolerate it?' BUCKLEY: 'I don't know of any Christians who "tolerate it." The perpetrators are reviled.' RON Jr.: In an answer to a question, he said he did not vote for Bush in the last election. BUCKLEY: 'Odd that you should permit this invasion of privacy whose only purpose is to remark the political infidelity of the son of Ronald Reagan.' RON Jr.: His father 'worked hard to impress upon his children the value of kindness.' BUCKLEY: 'If he did, he was manifestly unsuccessful.'" So now Ron's going to speak at the Democratic National Convention on stem cell research. Yeah, pretty good stuff, right? So now Ron, Jr., is going to speak on stem cell research at the Democratic National Convention, and the word is that's all he's going to say. He's not going to go bash Bush. He'll save that for his commentatorship at MSNBC where he regularly appears with Chris Matthews.
He is NOT a "Jr". His name is not the same as his father. I think they should refer to him by his initials, like they do GW to distinguish him from his father of whom he is NOT a "Jr." No one in the media refers to him correctly; they all use JR. Just bothers me. Enough said.
I hadn't really thought of it, but it IS true. Imagine the hue and cry if the Republicans had done this.
How did on Reagan turn into such a ungrateful son and angry man? Something must have happened years ago. In any case, he is, at this stage of his life, as appealing as a hair shirt. Put a sock in it, hotshot.
BTW, his "speech" at the Democratic convention won't sway anyone.
No soup for you, Ron! Next!
Nothing will compare to Paul Wellstone.
In politics - anything goes. Don't forget Ronald Reagan himself was once a Democrat & Union Pres.. Perhaps young Ron is just getting back to his father's roots. :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.