08/11: Barack Obama and Nancy Reagan
Category: Politics
Posted by: A Waco Farmer
What Barack Obama said at his first press availability as president-elect:
When asked if he had spoken with any ex-presidents since his election on Tuesday, Obama responded that he had spoken to all former presidents "that are living."
When a few titters of laughter ensued at his awkward phrasing, the candidate attempted to recover with humor:
"I didn't want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about, you know, doing any seances."
Why this is disturbing.
1. It is mean. Why go out of your way to slam a former first lady in her nineties?
2. It is wrong. Nancy Reagan never had any seances. She famously consulted an astrologer about her husband's schedule after the 1981 assassination attempt that almost claimed his life.
3. It is a disturbing conflation. He was probably confused about the allegations that Hillary Clinton used a spiritualist to communicate with the ghost of Eleanor Roosevelt.
4. As good as he is in some facets of his public performance, he is often tongue-tied and extremely uncomfortable in other situations as a public speaker. This is a strange paradox that will plague his presidency and, undoubtedly, have some unexpected deleterious consequences.
Even more disturbing.
1. The Press laughed. If Obama "bagged" on an elderly woman, it must be pretty funny and appropriate.
2. The Press gave him a pass on the facts. No reporters challenged his erroneous assumption. He was wrong--and certainly there must have been some reporters who understood how wrong he was--but no one said anything. The coverage of the press availability generally ignored the comment. Of course, the right-wing media picked up on it and responded with outrage--but the mainstream papers are only now, and with palpable reluctance, reporting on the slight.
A Small Reason for Hope?
The best thing about this (and admittedly I may be grasping here), the president-elect has reportedly already called Nancy Reagan personally and apologized for his callous comment and his erroneous insinuation.
Thank you, Mr. President-elect, for that gesture of civility.
When asked if he had spoken with any ex-presidents since his election on Tuesday, Obama responded that he had spoken to all former presidents "that are living."
When a few titters of laughter ensued at his awkward phrasing, the candidate attempted to recover with humor:
"I didn't want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about, you know, doing any seances."
Why this is disturbing.
1. It is mean. Why go out of your way to slam a former first lady in her nineties?
2. It is wrong. Nancy Reagan never had any seances. She famously consulted an astrologer about her husband's schedule after the 1981 assassination attempt that almost claimed his life.
3. It is a disturbing conflation. He was probably confused about the allegations that Hillary Clinton used a spiritualist to communicate with the ghost of Eleanor Roosevelt.
4. As good as he is in some facets of his public performance, he is often tongue-tied and extremely uncomfortable in other situations as a public speaker. This is a strange paradox that will plague his presidency and, undoubtedly, have some unexpected deleterious consequences.
Even more disturbing.
1. The Press laughed. If Obama "bagged" on an elderly woman, it must be pretty funny and appropriate.
2. The Press gave him a pass on the facts. No reporters challenged his erroneous assumption. He was wrong--and certainly there must have been some reporters who understood how wrong he was--but no one said anything. The coverage of the press availability generally ignored the comment. Of course, the right-wing media picked up on it and responded with outrage--but the mainstream papers are only now, and with palpable reluctance, reporting on the slight.
A Small Reason for Hope?
The best thing about this (and admittedly I may be grasping here), the president-elect has reportedly already called Nancy Reagan personally and apologized for his callous comment and his erroneous insinuation.
Thank you, Mr. President-elect, for that gesture of civility.
