Posted on 06/08/2004 8:15:44 AM PDT by kattracks
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, flying to California on Tuesday to attend graduation ceremonies for his daughter, was considering paying his respects to Ronald Reagan as the former president's body lay in repose at his presidential library.Kerry suspended public campaign events this week in honor of Reagan, who died Saturday.
Kerry and his aides were considering a visit Tuesday afternoon, the campaign said. The period in which Reagan will lie in repose at the library in Simi Valley, a community northwest of Los Angeles, was scheduled to end Tuesday evening.
Reagan's death has shifted attention from the campaign to national mourning and commemorations of his historical and political legacy.
Kerry planned to attend the state funeral for Reagan on Friday at Washington's National Cathedral.
Kerry's daughter, Alexandra, is graduating from the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. He planned to attend the ceremony and a screening of her short film, "The Last Full Measure," which tells the story of a 9-year-old girl and her father's difficult return home from the Vietnam War.
Kerry is a decorated Navy veteran of the Vietnam War. His daughter has said the film is not autobiographical.
I hope he backs out as it would be a disrespectful flip-flop.
Go to Kerry's website and encourage him to go to Capitol Hill.
Kate
WHEN (not IF) he skips the line....the same cameras that filmed him falling off his bike and falling off his snowboard will surely catch the event on tape....and then promptly burn it.
If he can get in .. he'll do it
I agree that Kerry should certainly be "allowed" at the funeral...just like the other members of Congress. He should not, however, be allowed to turn this time of mourning and respect into his own photo-op.
He has national prominence as a candidate for president supported by nine out of twenty Americans (albeit misguided, IMHO). Sorry, I think it is a class gesture.
You want him to wait in line...I don't.
Sorry, a class gesture would be sending a private note to Nancy with kind words about her husband. I'm sure that members of Congress will have the opportunity to privately pay their respects once President Reagan arrives at the Capitol. That would provide Senator Kerry the opportunity to display class....showing up in California and delaying or preventing those who have waited hours to pay their respects....is nothing short of crass.
The point is that Kerry will be attending the services in Washington tomorrow. If he makes an appearance in California today it's just for a photo op, and nothing more.
I'm sure Kerry's feelings toward President Reagan never included love.
The childish nonsense belongs to Kerry and his advisers, for even considering this.
...a US Senator, does have time constraints that are more compelling than most.
What time constraints? He's supposeedly not campaigning and he has missed many sessions in the senate to date. There are no time constraints.
This should not even be mulled over. He NEEDS to pay his respect to the greatest president of our lifetime. Unlike the idiots at the Wellstone memorial/political event, we understand that respect transends political boundries. We need to show the respect President Reagan deserves by accepting the condolences, whether sincere or not, of people like Kerry.
Beat me to it.
My thoughts exactly! Thanks for putting them down so clearly.
Cheers!
I really hope he backs out.
It would be the ultimate gaffe.
Right now he is in a no win situation and either way will be great sport to make fun of!
I hope he's already standing in line LOL
All I can say is he is just slimy. He and Billy are two of a kind. Yuck.
" If he makes the trip to the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, he should, and will be given preferential treatment - largely for security reasons".
By attending, kerry is CREATING this "security reason". This POS should stay away, and attend ceremonies in Washington, along with all of his peers.
He is nothing more than a failed senator from the most liberal state in the union, and one of the worst candidates to ever run for the office of President.
NO preferential treatment should be shown, but if he attends, decorum will be followed.
Did I mention kerry is a POS?
LLS
You need to read ANY of the statements that kerry has made about Ronaldo Magnus. These horrid lies have poured from his lips for more than two decades! There is NO class in this human excrement.
LLS
John Kerry isn't worthy of following the funeral procession, cleaning up the horse poop.
My, my, my ...
Such strong feelings!
It might have a better cachet to state that "I DISAGREE STRONGLY WITH SENATOR KERRY" ... tho your scatological musings are humorous.
Actually, Kerry has already viewed the casket before he didn't view it.
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