Wash Post Devotes 48 Paragraphs and 2850 Words to Touting the Liberal Ron Reagan
Although the Washington Post had no mention on Monday of the annual March for Life rally in Washington D.C., the paper still found time to devote 48 paragraphs and 2850 words to profiling Ron Reagan and his controversial claim in a new book that his father had symptoms of Alzheimer's while in the White House.
Staff writer Manuel Roig-Franzia made sure to highlight in the fifth paragraph, "The son, now 52, can't muster enthusiasm for present-day Reagan worship, either. He disdains the communal gushing and deifying, 'the fetishistic veneration,' while nurturing a private, though complicated, affection." [Emphasis added.]
The journalist added, "Ron's mother, Nancy Reagan, is always after him to attend this or that commemoration or unveiling. He always has the same reaction: 'Oh, no. Not another aircraft carrier. Not another bridge. Not another highway!'"
However, Roig-Franzia waited until paragraph 30 to note, "[Ron Reagan] worked as a television political commentator and radio host, but his show on Air America, on which he tended toward liberal flame-throwing, ended a year ago amid the talk radio network's bankruptcy."
The article concluded with a gratuitous shot at brother Michael Reagan, hinting that he's just attempting to cash in on the legacy of the 40th President:
Michael is also coming out with a new book timed to the centennial: "The New Reagan Revolution: How Ronald Reagan's Principles Can Restore America's Greatness." Among Michael's many Reagan-related enterprises is a company that sells e-mail addresses with the host name @Reagan.com for as much as $39 a year; the proceeds support conservative causes. He says he's sold between 4,000 and 5,000.
Ron has no such projects planned. He'll promote his book, then - well - who knows? "I'm still asking myself the question," he says, "about what I want to be when I grow up."
Roig Franzia did include critics of Ron Reagan's assertion that his father displayed symptoms of Alzheimer's while President: "Reaganites and Reagan watchers are reacting with varying levels of disbelief and rage. Edmund Morris, the biographer, says in an interview that he doubts the claim in part because Reagan's daily diaries are as "clearly expressed and well-written" at the end of his presidency as at the beginning."
However, Michael Reagan might not want to hold his breath waiting for his 2850 word, 48 paragraph profile.
Over a span of five days and three programs, ABC touted Ron Reagan's book for 24 minutes.
— Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter.
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Comments
His latest hissy fit?
Submitted by Tomorama on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 1:58pm.
"OMG, another carrier or library, OMG, OMG".
As he slams the phone down and ponders his next deviant move, he also ponders what he is going to wear to his next "visit" to some lamestream media outlet so he can smear his father's good name.
What a disgrace, he never mentions anything good his dad did, NEVER.
He believes his dad is Ronnie Raygun I bet.
If he was Ronnie Lipshitz would he have ANY platform?
Not a chance.
Switched at Birth
Submitted by Red Jeep on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 2:07pm.
I am convinced. There is a second son of Ronald Reagan, ...somewhere.
Patti Davis, his sister, has been very quiet. Wonder why the MSM are not courting her comments on anything.
→ Yes, Jeep
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 2:10pm.
He is actually the product of Barney Frank's first and only attempt at heterosexuality with Margaret Hamilton.
Cool---
Submitted by matthewdean on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 6:21pm.
I KNEW it !notfernuttin
Submitted by theduck6 on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 8:41pm.
exactly what is this d'bag's credentials other than the Eukanuba Dog Show MC gig?
What a little creep.
Submitted by NeoKong on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 2:19pm.
Pissing on his own father. A man who is beloved by millions and an American icon but Ronny Jr. is much too sophisticated to fall for all that adulation crap. He has got a lot of nerve claiming his brother is cashing in on his father's name when that is the only damn reason little Ronny ever gets on camera. If it wasn't for his family name he would be just another guy working at Starbucks.
→ Cashing in on dad
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 2:25pm.
Michael is carrying on his dad's dream. His dad would be proud at being honored by a loving son.
Little Ronnie just can't stand having chosen a life of foolishness.
I think that he chose the
Submitted by Seashell on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 4:07pm.
I think that he chose the political avenue that would give him more "face time" on TV. He saw that going against his father would give him much more popularity with the media. He craves the attention and adulation he gets by bad-mouthing his Dad. What a little weasel.
→ Seashell
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 5:47pm.
"Face time"? That's certainly a diplomatic expression.
At a guess
Submitted by NevadanConservative on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 5:42pm.
at some point he slipped a little too far past the point where he could recover from his foolishness gracefully, and then employed the old bootlegger's maxim.
"If it ain't gonna help to put on the brakes, floor it!"
Which he has done, to the point of pushing the pedal knee deep thru the firewall. The only problem is when he finally runs out of gas, and is still moving too fast... over the edge or splat into into a wall.
The die is cast, and the media that is lapping up his sludge now will be the first to run him right into more sludge when the ride is over.
Anyone know if Michael has 'it' to take a swing at public office himself?
NVCon
This is not a new issue for President Reagan
Submitted by American.Patriot on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 8:42pm.
If you read the Reagan Diaries, you'll see that Mr Reagan had several issues with his " son" during his years in the White House."Father never came to watch me prance around in ballet tights"
Submitted by SickofLibs on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 2:27pm.
Now I'm gonna make him pay.
I honestly think it may be as simple as that.
Submitted by Mike Bratton on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 3:00pm.
As a father of two, I'm thankful that I don't know how it feels to be disappointed in your children.
My concern is that Mrs. Reagan, in Ron's case, knows that feeling all too well.
She's too classy to say it, but at some point, someone other than his brother Michael needs to look Ron in the eye and say, "You want to know what you're going to be 'when you grow up,' Ron? You're going to be Ronald Reagan's son. You might want to stop attempting to burn down his legacy and good name, and start attempting to live up to it." Your dad set the bar remarkably high, Ron. If you're not even going to try to follow the standard, do us a favor and retreat from public life.
And here's what your father thought of your political stance: "The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn't so."
--Mike
At Least He Protected One Family Secret...
Submitted by Beresford on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 2:47pm.
...Nancy's one-night stand with Liberace which produced this unfortunate son.
→ Or Rock Hudson
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 2:51pm.
Would've gone straight but couldn't stand the thought of leaving his friend's behind.
Why did they bury Rock Hudson
Submitted by Barack_must_go..... on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 3:04pm.
Why did they bury Rock Hudson with his ass sticking up out of the ground?
Answer: Just in case one of his friends wanted to stop by for a cold one.
Barack_Must_Go.....
Apologies to Rock Hudson
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 3:10pm.
You mean that isn't a bicycle rack??
BWAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!
Rock and Liberace were on the
Submitted by Newsbusterbrown on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 4:17pm.
Rock and Liberace were on the conservative side politically, so they can't be blamed.
“There are no easy answers, but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
As I Was Saying...
Submitted by Beresford on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 3:26pm.
Check this out and tell me if I'm not on to something.
With jr. it's a sick,
Submitted by Barack_must_go..... on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 2:54pm.
With jr. it's a sick, sadistic love / hate relationship with his long dead father.
Jr. actually has a shrine to his dear departed dad in a secreted away corner of his basement.
When all the others have fallen off to sleep, he sneaks down stairs, removes all of his clothing, takes his fist and beats himself half to death, first cursing, then begging for his fathers forgiveness.
On some occasions the beating he gives himself is so severe he cannot dress and leave the house for days on end.
Barack_Must_Go.....
Ron Reagan is pathetic...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 2:57pm.
What a miserable, shameful pos this man is. This article says that he has a disdain for those of us who venerate and honor his father, but he has "...a private, though complicated, affection" for him...What bs...It was clear while President Reagan was alive, and continues to be clear since he died that "junior's" disdain included his father. He has shown no real respect, that I've seen, for his father before or after he died. Ron Reagan was and continues to be a constant source of embarrassment to his father. The fact that "junior's" book is coming out at the same time as the 100th anniversary of his father's birth, is no coincidence...It is by design. He is blatantly using this occasion as a despicable way to try to capitalize on his book.
I can't stand this loathesome excuse for a man, and it still amazes me that he (and his sister Patti) are in any way genetically related to President Reagan...These two definitely came from the shallowest end of that gene pool.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
it's amazing....
Submitted by MidAmerica on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 3:15pm.
how such a small guy can mange to make himself look even smaller.
Al Czervik weighs in on Ron Jr
Submitted by daddysyk on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 3:19pm.
"Now I know why tigers eat their young."
Al Czervik
The article could have been
Submitted by Bruzilla on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 3:19pm.
The article could have been one line long: Ron Reagan has Daddy issues. End of story.
As for the carriers, bridges and roads...
Submitted by gwalt on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 4:30pm.
Nancy may ask you to go, but we don't want you there."A lot of briefing for a 2 hr. special with Dan Rather. Saw the show & wonder why we bothered". Ronald Reagan
What a vile little man.
Submitted by sablegsd on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 5:16pm.
What a vile little man.
Does Anyone Actually
Submitted by donabernathy on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 5:19pm.
pay attention to what lil Ronnie has to say......
roflmao
Ron Jr. looks like...
Submitted by P. Aaron on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 5:25pm.
...Don Knotts in the picture you posted here at NB.
Who is Ron JR talking about?
Submitted by Marsh on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 6:47pm.
"He disdains the communal gushing and deifying, 'the fetishistic veneration"
Is he talking about his father or the Kennedys?
→ Marsh
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 6:53pm.
Let's not mention little ron and "communal gushings" please.
NTTAWWT
WaPo Not Doing Themselves Any Favors
Submitted by Boil It Down on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 7:30pm.
In these times when the news media is losing respect and readership, why would they go to such lengths to defend the likes of Ron Jr? You would think that their every effort would be to garner as much respect as they possibly could with every word. Ron Jr. is only one example of how they support public figures who work tirelessly to disparage our country, our Constitution and even the majority of the citizens. Writing a short piece to offer Ron Jr's side would have been a wiser choice than offending the public by rigorously defending someone who invites so little respect. I would honestly like to see the Washington Post survive and thrive but they publish too many counterproductive things that cause them damage.
3000 words about ron jr?!?!
Submitted by porpoiseboy on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 9:52pm.
i got caught in 4th grade burning "stuff" and playing with matches in the basement. my dad made me write a 3000 word "essay" on fire safety around the home. i actually found myself wishing for a good ol' fashioned whuppin'. but at least he didn't force me to read 3000 words about ron jr. talk about TORTURE!!
Ecclesiastes 10:2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left
The best social program is a JOB...ronald reagan
Sad...
Submitted by bravefacari on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 11:48pm.
I'm sure Ron's mother is just hoping that the "children" will carry on her husband's (their father's) legacy. Its a responsibility and an obligation. How sad that he doesn't see it that way and how stressful for his mother. I'm sure it takes a lot of energy for her to attend all these functions and it would be really nice if her children would help her with such things. He just doesn't "get it" and at 52, I'm not holding my breath that he ever will.
One statement says it all...
Submitted by C-townGiant on Tue, 01/25/2011 - 11:28am.
"I'm still asking myself the question," he says, "about what I want to be when I grow up."
Fer chrissakes, Junior! You're 52! Grow the f*** up!