Yes, Ted Steven's speech veered unnecessarily into the political. And what made it seem that way was the rapid, excited political way in which he spoke. At funerals you are supposed to speak slowly and dignified. Good that he was first and Hastert and Cheney saved it.
I liked the way Stevens spoke....most people speak too slowly for people's brains....and it was obvious he had a lot he wanted to say. Are those the etiquette rules for funerals...."you are supposed to speak slowly and dignified?" President Reagan would probably be laughing about now....