Should Clinton & Carter be allowed to speak at the funeral?

[charlie105]

If either of them express an interest in doing so, I would expect that they be allowed to do so. Foreign leaders get a chance to speak, so why not interested ex-presidents of the USA? This is a state funeral paid for by the taxpayers, not the RNC.

It would be a good thing to contrast Clinton eloquence with Shrub's painful delivery.

[wndycty]

1. I am wondering if Drudge can source his story. . .

. . .he said Clinton expressed privately. So even if he was upset, he did not call Nancy to complain. I am sick of this shit.

[charlie105]

4. The point is, if he expressed interest, should he be denied the 'honor'?

http://www.drudgereport.com/rr1.htm

Again, it Drudge, so take it for what it's worth.

[lancdem]

11. Somehow I doubt sources close to Clinton

would blab to Drudge. Notice the source tries to blame Nancy, too. I'm a bit skeptical of that.

[lancdem]

5. What Drudge story?

Does Clinton want to speak?

[alonso_quijano]

2. Whatever Nancy wants...

...and I think she'd be willing if either of them wanted to say anything.

As far as I'm concerned, anyway; I don't know that there are any rules about this.

[arwalden]

13. It's Really Up To The Family To Make Such Decisions

and I think Nancy Reagan is strong enough and has been running the show for so long now that she's not about to let the RNC or Bush/Cheney '04 take over for her.

But then again, I could be wrong.

-- Allen

[noonwitch]

19. I agree-it should be up to the family

Clinton would probably do a better job on the eulogy than shrub, just because he has that way about him, but I would guess that Bush probably knew the man better and has more personal recollections of him.

[Yupster]

38. agree ardwalden

The most anyone should do is send a notice that if requested, they'd be happy to speak. It's up to Nancy and no one else.

[SaveElmer]

3. I'm surprised Carter was not asked

My understanding is the Carters and Nancy Reagan have become close over the last 10 years.

[lancdem]

14. And the list of speakers is all conservative

I think it should be more nonpartisan, but it's not my decision.

[charlie105]

6. But who makes the call? With all due respects to Nancy,

this being a taxpayer funded function, I would assume that she does not get the full and final say, does she?

[wndycty]

7. So we are to believe that Nancy wants both Bush's not Clinton

LOL

[charlie105]

9. Also, if the British and Canadian PMs are invited to speak,

why not Clinton and Carter?

[StopThief]

27. Ummm. . . .

Mulroney and Thatcher were huge friends and allies of Reagan. Neither Clinton or Carter has ever really said anything truly positive about Reagan.

[theboss]

32. Because Thatcher, Mulroney, and Reagan are linked by history

They worked together and were friends.

[Jacobin]

8. Who gives a fuck?

Jeeze. Give it up already.

Reagan was a mediocre president whose followers lie about his record to try to make him look great.

[okieinpain]

10. does anybody smell that, it smells like hmmmm rove, maybe.

[wndycty]

12. Well I want to know who the Fuck gave this to Drudge

:kick:

[jackstraw45]

16. I'm sure the source was as good as the Kerry-Intern affair source

Waiting for the day someone sues Sludge for slander and puts him out of millions.

[lancdem]

18. I doubt the source

is really a Clinton insider. Such a person would never talk to Drudge.

[BigBlackPeter]

15. I say let them speak.

I say let them speak.

While both Carter and Clinton are political rivals of RR, I would assume they would be very respectful and admiring of Reagan at his funeral. Politics isn't about 'hating' the opposition, and I think many in todays society do not understand this.

[lancdem]

17. They absolutely would be respectful

BTW, welcome to DU :hi:

[BigBlackPeter]

20. Think of the damage

that being anything but respectful/admiring at Reagan's funeral would do to not only the Demorcratic party but the image of American politics.

I believe that if either Clinton or Carter couldn't find something nice to say they would simply choose to not speak at all.

Oh, and thanks for the hello.

[charlie105]

29. Welcome to DU!!! Hope you like it here.

This place is addictive.

:hi:

[rinsd]

21. How about if the family invites them?

To presume the right to speak at the man's funeral is in poor taste. Even a state funeral.

Perhaps they will be invited to speak.

[lancdem]

22. That's why I think this story is of dubious truthfulness

A Clinton source would never go to Drudge with something like this. I think Durdge is trying to stir up trouble.

[rinsd]

24. Agreed....

It's a BS non-story made to look as if Bill is craven & PR hungry.

[Missy Vixen]

23. If the RNC is attempting to politicize a taxpayer-funded funeral

it will backfire on them. Badly.

Let St. Reagan be beatified by those partisans from his party. By Friday, the populace (who were already discussing how weary they are of the wall-to-wall and omnipresent coverage yesterday on local talk radio,) will be so sick of the Grief Olympics that they will tune out. In droves.

Have fun, Republicans. Keep fiddling while Rome burns.

Julie

[StopThief]

25. The family chooses who speaks.

I can't say that I blame the Reagans if they don't want Clinton to speak. Clinton spent alot of time blasting the '80s, and implicitly the Reagan Presidency.

[Commendatori]

37. Gee, there's a thought

I'm no fan of Reagan (or even Nancy) either, but if Carter had died and Republicans were demanding stage time, we wouldn't know whether to laugh or scream.

[rocktivity]

26. I think such a move would be in outrageously poor taste

especially since it's a state funeral. ALL former US presidents should be invited to speak--this is no time for infantile partisan game. I hope Nancy Regan isn't being manipulated by the Bush regime on this one.

:headbang:
rocknation

[theboss]

30. Nancy has never struck me as the type to be manipulated

Say what you will about the woman (and I have said a lot over the years), but when it came to her husband, she never let anyone push them around.

[nolabels]

40. delete

nt

[LTR]

28. It's not up to us

(NOTE: I posted this in a similar thread. Seems more appropriate here)

First off, I don't believe the Drudge story. It's been a few hours, and no outside source. And we all know about Drudge's tendency to grasp at straws. Remember the Kerry intern non-story? I just don't see Clinton as the type to make a stink about something like this.

And from what I saw, the speakers will be Mulroney, Thatcher, Bush I and our current resident...er president. I have no problem with this. Sounds pretty customary. If 20 Republicans went up to give eulogies, I might object. But it's his funeral, so whatever the family deems appropriate. After all, do we really want to see this thing drag on?

Besides, if any Democrat were to speak, I think Carter would be a more appropriate choice.

Let the GOP have their little party. Let's see if W starts campaigning over the casket. I'm all for giving the Bush gang enough rope to hang themselves.

[theboss]

31. I agree that Carter would be a better choice if a Dem were to speak

Like I said, I'm not sure Clinton ever really got to know Reagan (as he did Nixon).

[LTR]

33. He met him a few times, but that was it.

Carter and Mondale knew him better.

If Tip were still alive, he would be an interesting choice.

Clinton did forge a friendship with Nixon in his last years, and Nixon called and wrote frequently.

He spoke at Nixon's funeral as the sitting president.

[politicaljunkie3]

34. Since Reagan's funeral plans were planned in 1989....

...then I doubt he put Clinton down as one of the speakers. Reagan didn't become friendly with Clinton until after Clinton was President. By that time, Reagan was getting Alheizmer's.

Presidential funerals (especially Reagan's, who had to be finalized early on, while he was in his right mind) are planned long in advance, which explains Poppy Bush's role in the funeral.

[lancdem]

36. I never considered that

but that makes sense.

[charlie105]

35. It might be better if all Dems are kept off the stage.

Might help people see how the rethugs are politicizing a death.

[BeFree]

39. Would this be good enough?

Let Carter get up there and begin reciting how RR stole the election by making a deal using the hostages.

Then Clinton eulogizing the deficits spawned under RR and how hard of a fight it was to bring them under control.