Michael Reagan On The “Hussein” Flap
What Would Reagan Do? Not belittle the name of another candidate. Michael and I spoke a few minutes ago, and he told me, “Dad would have been appalled.” He then sent out this email:
From: Michael Reagan
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 6:09 PM
To: Alan Colmes
Subject: michael reagan statement on cunninghamBill Cunningham, by introducing Barak Obama’s middle name as part of the national debate was wrong. This use of code speak, to somehow undercut Barak Obama cheapens the debate in this nation and cheapens those who use it.
So many conservative talk show hosts claim the mantle of Ronald Reagan, yet would be hard pressed to find a time my father, Ronald Reagan ever issued an ad hominem attack on a political foe. Name Calling is best left on the playground and not in the arena of ideas.
These pretenders to the throne would do well to study the civility, dignity and graciousness with which my father ran his campaigns and might seek to conduct themselves accordingly.
In 2008 it is time to debate ideas, not middle names.
Good for you, Michael!
Cunningham was just on Fox News stating that he uses a candidate’s middle name out of respect and in the name of tradition. He can try to suck the words back in his mouth all he wants but I didn’t hear him asking Alan if George Walker Bush kept everyone safe, I heard him say George Bush.
Kudos to Michael for his comments on this issue. I would underscore the part about “civility, dignity and graciousness” for the likes of Coulter, Hannity & Cunningham.
February 27th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
I agree that Ronald Reagan wouldn’t belittle the name of another candidate. But McCain, with all due credit, did what Reagan would most likely have done. Hannity should be asked (since he’s backing Cunningham) if Ronald Reagan would have done this.
February 27th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Colmes was right, what Cunningham is, is just an entertainer, he ain’t no different than those actors on porno movies, not that i watch or anything LOL, cunningham is just an entertainer. He is what Colmes was when he was younger, a comedian.
But using his middle name, to smear Obama and using his middle name to bring up terrorists and islam is a new level the far right has gone..
Cunningham is a racists bigot and will go to any level to smear Democrats.
If he wants to promote hillary now, like ann coulter did, hillary should go public and denounce both of them. Not only will Hillary look good in the face of Americans for condeming hatred, she will show strength what obama refused to do when it comes to the obama pastor that keeps popping up in the news.
February 28th, 2008 at 3:02 am
Finally, it’s nice to hear that Michael Reagan is starting to see the light ! I hope others will follow his lead and steer this country away from those who use the media to promote hatred, racism, and weak behavior! maybe you should CC: the message to Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Dennis Pragaer, Medved, and all the other right wing talking point talkers!
February 28th, 2008 at 3:50 am
Gen. Omar Bradley, who bore a Semitic, Muslim first name, and shared it with the second caliph of Sunni Islam, was the hero of D-day and Normandy, of the Battle of the Bulge and the Ruhr.
Would Cunningham see Omar Bradley as un-American, as an enemy because of his name?
Gen. George Joulwan, former NATO supreme allied commander of Europe? “Joulwan” is an Arabic name. Or there is Gen. John Abizaid, former CENTCOM commander. Abizaid is an Arabic name. Abi means Abu or “father of,” and Zaid is a common Arab first name. Is Cunningham good enough to wipe their shoes? Is he going to call them traitors because they have Arabic names?
February 28th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Great that someone in the Reagan family is finally standing up to the Cunninghams and Rush Limbaughs of the world who like to mention Ronald Wilson Reagan as their messiah, but run their mouths with none of the class and dignity than Reagan did during his entire career. I’m sure that Reagan would be appalled by most of what these talk show hosts have to say. John McCain did what Reagan would have done, regardless of what Cunningham would like to believe. I applaud McCain for his class. That’s something that’s been gone a long time in the world of politics, but fortunately it seems to be making a comeback for this campaign.
Barack Hussein Obama ‘08!!! :)
February 28th, 2008 at 5:42 pm