The son of Ronald Reagan is officially backing Barack Obama

[Ichingcarpenter]

MARK KARLIN'S EDITOR'S BLOG
November 1, 2008

Call it the final stake in the myth and destructive path of the Reagan era. On the evening of October 31, Ron Reagan -- son of the Gipper -- officially endorsed Barack Obama for President.

Reagan now has an evening program on Air America (and is quite good), and had withheld an "official endorsement," he said, because he figured that listeners knew by now where he stood. But you also sensed listening to him that he decided to make a clean break that began when he appeared at the Democratic Convention in 2004. He didn't endorse Kerry then; he spoke on behalf of sickle cell research.

I was there in Boston when he spoke in the convention center and the crowd didn't quite know how to react to the offspring of the Moses of the kooky right wing. Eventually, he received a warm but still restrained round of applause.

Since that time, Reagan -- as anyone who listens to his Air America program will learn -- has become a clear progressive, and if he had not formally endorsed Obama on Halloween Eve (on his radio show), you knew that he was going to vote for him.

But now it's on the record. The son of Ronald Reagan who bears his name is officially backing Barack Obama for President.

What goes round, comes round.

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/editorblog/135

[FrenchieCat]

1. That's like a complete set, hey?

The Einsenhowers, Nixons, Goldwaters, and the Reagans.

Who's left?

[Lifelong Protester]

3. I am not sure if any Hoovers have weighed in...

[SoonerPride]

4. Jeb Bush?

The coup de grace.

[RoadRage]

5. The Bushes. :)

:puke:

[SuperTrouper]

43. Jenna Bush will vote for Obama...I just got her hint when

she refused to endorse McCain on Larry King's show.

[Cha]

7. It boggles my mind..I can

imagine what it does to the "true believers"!

[Island Blue]

8. Well of course Stepanie Miller,

whose dad William Miller was the running mate of Barry Goldwater in '64 is a huge Obama supporter.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[PBS Poll-435]

37. ...

:wtf:

[Lifelong Protester]

2. Wow! that is way cool!! eom

[tilsammans]

6. I heart Ron Reagan!

:yourock:

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

9. Good on ya, Ron

I've always liked him whenever I've seen him in the MSM. Nice guy, thoughtful. Hasn't his sister Patti also endorsed Barack?

I can say one good thing about the Reagans: They raised two damn good kids.

[cali]

42. Patti and Ron turned out well despite Ron and Nancy

Both kids were ignored as children by their parents and they both were estranged from Nancy and Ron for years.

[Cha]

10. Ron Reagan was in a cafe

where I was working on Kauai in the '90's..it didn't mean that much to me then but now..!

Thank you, Ron Reagan..a Halloween to Remember!

[vikegirl]

11. K & R !!!! n/t

[stuntcat]

12. you mean.. no one's told him the conspiracies?

How could this wise son-of-a-president not know the details of the many reasons Obama is ineligible to serve/the key to all Hell/whatever else?

Someone needs to contact Ron right away and alert him to the truth!!

[Ichingcarpenter]

14. If he could get his mom Nancy on board

Heads would really explode

[whistler162]

21. NOW that would be news!

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

23. I wouldn't be surprised one bit if Nancy

voted for Obama in the privacy of her own absentee ballot. I believe she's too frail at this point to actually go and vote. She hated Grampy on a personal level for dumping his first wife, who was a personal friend and has stated through Ron that she respects Obama.

[CitizenLeft]

35. totally agree with you

I can't remember what the event was, but Brian Williams (I think it was him) was talking about Nancy Reagan after she fell and fractured her hip. He was talking about how she has very strong political opinions, of which he couldn't speak, and how active her social life is, and how she stays in touch with her friends... and how she speaks, in particular, to Ron Reagan every single day. That struck me at the time - what, no mention of that rightwing nutcase Michael Reagan? LOL. You can't tell me she and Ron don't talk politics, impossible! I'll betcha she'll vote for Obama too.

[Tatiana]

15. Good for Ron! And his radio program is fantastic. Actually, I think he could give Rachel

a good run for her money.

[ShadowLiberal]

16. Obama should talk about all these endorsements from conservatives in his ads

Seriously, the one positive ad I'm disappointed he hasn't made is one highlighting his support from kids of the last few republican presidents, and Colin Powell to, and say a few of their best lines about why they're supporting Obama. It would combat McCain's 'he's the most liberal senator ever' attacks better then anything, and make him look like a moderate.

[Phredicles]

17. When did Ron the Younger come to see the light?

In any case, I like his show (although I'll admit it took me a while to get past his name); he seems like a good-hearted guy.

[whistler162]

20. 30+ years ago!

IIRC... He traces his progressiveness back to the school he attended and that his father was willing to hear different views over the dinner table.

This "news" is hardly startling.

[expatriate]

33. Both Ron Jr. and Patti have been progressive as long as I can

remember. Patti always raised hackles with her parents, she didn't agree with her father's conservatism at all. There was another son that Reagan Sr. adopted when he was married to Jane Wyman, who I believe is quite conservative.

[expatriate]

34. Both Ron Jr. and Patti have been progressive as long as I can

remember. Patti always raised hackles with her parents, she didn't agree with her father's conservatism at all. There was another son that Reagan Sr. adopted when he was married to Jane Wyman, who I believe is quite conservative.

[rebel with a cause]

39. Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman also had a daughter

named Maureen Reagan who was an actress. She ran for office twice as a republican and lost both times. Jane Wyman was a republican and evidently more conservative than Nancy because both her kids turned out conservative. Funny thing is that Jane was married five times including Ron Sr.

[tbyg52]

40. Ron Jr. has always been a good guy. It's just hard to get past the name and the father! nt

[az chela]

18. Ron is so smart and such a great guy but his brother is

a real prick

[Ichingcarpenter]

22. His brother, Michael Reagan, the fascist nut, was adopted

[Critters2]

27. Which isn't really relevant. An adopted brother is still a brother. nt

[Ichingcarpenter]

41. Agree but different mother from Ron's first marriage

Nancy wasn't his adopted mother.

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[progressivebydesign]

38. sounds like someone has had too much caffeine. geez. nice talk to a fellow duer. n/t

[Rosa Luxemburg]

19. Ronnie is a nice guy!

[trayfoot]

24. Thumbs UP!

[democrat2thecore]

25. Ron was a professional ballet dancer

It gave his mom and dad cause to pause. However, he tells an affectionate story about his father coming to a performance after he was president and, when they were alone in the hall, hugging him and telling him he was proud of him. He said you would have to know his dad and the family dynamics to understand how much that meant to him.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

26. K&R

I actually prefer Ron Reagan to Rachel - a little less giddy. Needs his own TV show - ultra sharp!
:toast:

[Critters2]

28. He's on every evening here, on WCPT--Chicago's Progressive Talk. nt

[whistler162]

29. Kinda wish he would come out in support of Lizzie Dole.

just to watch her head explode from being endorsed by a atheist.

[Blondiegrrl]

30. I've loved Ron Reagan ever since he danced in his underwear

in the White House (a la Risky Business) during a SNL skit.

:toast:

[The River]

31. It Goes To Show

that the best laid plans of powerful patriarchs for a family dynasty
most often fail or go extinct within a few generations, or less.
History is full of examples. Prescott would spin in his tomb if he
knew how thoroughly Dumbya has ruined the family name.
At least Ron is helping change the impact of the whirlwind
his father helped to sow.

[progressivebydesign]

36. I LOVE Ron Reagan! He is my favorite person on AA!!!

He is just so human, and so funny, and has no ego at all. I look forward to his short program.

He is so interesting to listen to because he has this understanding of the right.. because well.. of his father. Wish his show was longer!

[Hope And Change]

44. K & R!

[EconomicLiberal]

45. Tells you how much his father fucked up that his son has completely disowned his father's policies.