Obama Apologizes To Nancy Reagan For Joke About Seances

UPDATE: AL BROOKS: LIGHTEN UP AMERICA

WASHINGTON — President-elect Obama called Nancy Reagan on Friday to apologize for joking that she held seances in the White House.

At a news conference in Chicago, Obama said he had spoken with all the living presidents as he prepares to take office in January. Then he smiled and said, "I didn't want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about doing any seances."

The 87-year-old former first lady had consulted with astrologers during her husband's presidency. But she did not hold conversations with the dead.

Obama spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said the president-elect later called Mrs. Reagan "to apologize for the careless and offhanded remark." She said Obama "expressed his admiration and affection for Mrs. Reagan that so many Americans share, and they had a warm conversation."

It actually wasn't Nancy Reagan who was linked to conversations with the dead; it was Obama's top Democratic challenger for the presidency, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.

In either case, use of the word "seance" might be overstated.

Nancy Reagan consulted an astrologer to help set her husband's schedule, wrote former White House chief of staff Donald T. Regan. The revelation created a furor and President Reagan even broke with his policy of not commenting on books by former White House staffers.

"No policy or decision in my mind has ever been influenced by astrology," Reagan said.

In his book "The Choice," Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward described how Clinton consulted with a spiritual adviser who led her through imaginary conversations with her personal hero, Eleanor Roosevelt. Newsweek magazine, which was promoting the book, characterized the visits as "seances," a term that White House officials quickly tried to squelch.

"These were people who were helping her laugh, helping her think," said Neel Lattimore, Clinton's spokeswoman. "These were not seances."

Comments

[Ridgemore]

Apology required, apology given. But let's not forget that Mrs. Reagan's seances and 'just say no to drugs' position are what sent the republicans tumbling into the abyss of faith (in something) -based government, anti-science (climate change, fruit-fly research), abstinence-only sex education, anti-intel­lectualism and style over substance.

[pahpah25]

WEL, THE REALITY IS THAT NANCY REAGAN DID CONSULT ASTROLOGER­S....WHICH I THINK IS TO HER CREDIT....­.......AT LEAST SHE DIDN'T RELY ON RELIGIOUS ZEALOTS ......

[Big0725]

You win "Dumb Comment of the Day".

[newpantaloons]

Oh? You're for the 'religious zealots'?

[bby328]

The 1984 Camp_pain:

The crowds . . . they cheered

They went on and on . . .

Four more years

More Ron . . . More Ron.

[eirrac]

McCain never had the grace to apologize for calling Chelsea Clinton "ugly." That was awful. And then there was the use of the "B" word for Hillary. McCain thought that was a joke too and never apologized. Actually, Nancy Reagan's use of seances and consulting astrologers to plan what the Reagans did in the White House was kind of funny to a lot of people at the time, so I doubt that Nancy Reagan took issue with it. But, I'm glad Obama had the grace to sense that what he thought was funny might be a sensitive issue to Nancy Reagan , and to apologize. I'm not going to spend much time thinking about this one.

[Big0725]

Why the hell was Nancy Reagan holding seances in the White House anyway?

[jfalick]

I don't think the Bush administration every apologized for anything any time! Good for him. It was a silly comment (and funny, although he could have said Mary Todd Lincoln or Houdini) and he did the classy thing right away.

This is a sign that he is going to be a HUMAN president!

[Mabo]

She wasn't. He should leave the jokes to real comedians. Apparently, to Sen. Obama, real history isn't that important either since she DID consult astrologers, but the seance part was more Mary Todd Lincoln. Oh, well...he doesn't have to be accurate to be the Messiah.

[vallon]

Meow

[newpantaloons]

Dry up.

[jsump]

It was a bad joke. However, comedians don't have an exclusive on humor. As a parallel, using your logic, we could just as easily tell you to leave writing to journalist. That would leave us all dimensionless and bland.

[grizhead63]

It is sad the GOP has become so anal/ret complex that no one can crack a lite joke without being attacked by a bunch of pitbulls.

[Thinking-It-Through]

"bitter" are we?

[Annemariefay]

p.s. He also referred to himself as a "mutt," so he is willing to poke fun at himself as well,
and in a pretty sharp way. Give him a break.

[SmellyOne]

What's wrong with being a mutt? I'm a mutt. You got a problem with that? A mutt can't say he's a mutt without it being "poking fun"? I'm proud to be a mutt. I'm sick of people of one heritage coming down on me because I'm a mutt.

I can't get ahead at work, because my boss is of Italian heritage, and he favors other "italians". He looks down on me and I get less opportunity because I'm a mutt, not italian.

Mutt rights NOW!!!!

[Mabo]

Calling himself a mutt makes insulting the wife of a dead president okay? He was referencing that he consulted all of the living presidents, then cracked a joke about Nancy, whose husband died just a few years ago...clas­sy. Then, you defend him by saying that he was willing to make fun of himself?? Not the same.

[Fatetwister]

I'm a caucasian heterosexual and I think of the three people living today who above all others astonish and delight me with their humanity, their talent for empathy, their talent for rising above the noise and fury, their talent for transcending the pettiness that is the fuel of so much space-filling media - Mandela, Ali and Obama - no prizes for seeing the other thing they share.

Did you see Obama smile when he was asking the reporter what had happened to her arm? I thought I was the king of cynicism, all bases covered against seduction, but somehow this guy Obama just blows me away! What a guy! What a really, really nice guy!

[roshni]

Yes, and that was completely overlooked in the brouhaha of this apology. Obama really cares about people. He talks to people and asks them about their particular life and issues. It's one reason so many identify with him.

[Annemariefay]

Anyone watching this press conference could see how visibly exhausted Barack is.
This man has not gotten a good night's sleep in months. Give him a break. He apologized
and made no excuses in his apology. None of this "I'm sorry IF I offended" crap that usually
passes for apologies from the Republicans.

[SmellyOne]

It's not fair that he should have to talk when he's tired.

I say we enact the "Nap Doctrine". If you say something dumb while tired, you should be allowed to take a nap and come back and say what you really meant.

Maybe public orators could have a "Nap Card" in their pocket, and flash it whenever they want a free pass on a stupid statement.

[Fuega]

HAHA LMAO...we all should have a a card...and be like I said I needed a nap what you expect?? LOL

[moderate1]

Ha. Classic.

[ProfessorDuh]

Nothing to apologize for. Nancy Reagan is a crackpot.

[DemocratVotingRepublican]

It's nothing - he apologized, even though I personally don't think the apology was warranted.
Everyone has been dancing on the PC ice, and the media loves to make mountains out of molehills.

When a republican said anything that could be considered an "off" remark, or misconstrued as, - the media ran with it. The same thing is going to happen to Barrack. The media that praised him during the elections will turn on him...why? to sell stories and get ratings.

Personally I think people need to get thicker skin and forget about being so "politically correct", be yourselves, be Americans.

[SmellyOne]

And just who do you think started the PC movement!?!?!! LIBERALS!!!!!!

[4akinderworld]

Of course, because Cons and NeoCons are more concerned with looking out for Number One, and everyone else can suck it up.

[ReportThis]

My favorite line in this piece is from Reagan: "No policy or decision in my mind has ever been influenced by astrology.­" Newsflash, Mr. President: you were losing that mind.

[SmellyOne]

Alzhiemers is a mental disease. It is very cruel to say someone is "losing that mind" in such a callous way.

[sammie mn]

It's also callous to remain in office when you've got Alzeheimer's while everyone around you scrambles to cover up the fact.

[smit9187]

+ PAposter See Profile I'm a Fan of PAposter I'm a fan of this user permalink

I had the same reaction, and I agree he probably should have apologize in public. Hey, if this is worse thing he ever says about a Republican, then I think it will be okay. Now, if someone would just be man enough to apologize to Michelle Obama, then we'll see some real progress.


100% correct

[baylis]

Its interesting to see all of the responses which make excuses for comments of someone else. Somewhere we have lost the requirement for character, dignity and common decency in our leaders. President Elect Obama may be tired. He also may find humor in comments about others at their expense. What you really have to ask yourself is simple; is this the statement you would support from a leader and role model?
Is this the example you would use to express appropriate behavior to your children?
My parents taught me that dignity, respect and social decency were characteristics of value. They also made no excuses for actions which clearly reflect an absence of these. Apologies are not the answer. Not making such statements, or better yet, not harboring such thoughts, is the true example of a person of character.
Its time we expect our leaders to behave respectfully, with dignity, and with social decency.
Comparing bad behavior to that of others is also not a justification. I have never found that success is measured by being 'less bad' than others.

[vallon]

Ahem. He apologized. Now we just have to wait for John, Sarah, Steve, Mark, Cindy, Joe, Joe, Rush, Sean, Bill-O, Laura, Ann and Neil (among countless others) to apologize to Barack and Michelle Obama....'­Dignity, Respect and Social Decency', after all.

[baylis]

Ahh, you are correct. Expecting social decency from them is appropriate. I'm replying to you because at least you avoided the desire to simply lash out with name calling or use the failure of others as justification.
But the question still stands; Should we expect our elected leaders to be role models and exhibit the traits of character & dignity?
None of the rest of the list you mentioned was elected. I'd suggest in part due to the examples of character, or lack thereof, they provide. For most of them, we can vote with our dollar by not giving them our business . . . simply not tuning in.
And I've not 'cast a stone', but simply posed a question regarding characteristics we should look for in our elected leaders. I hope that one person will actually comment on that. I welcome and look forward to that debate.
And I assure you, I'm not a troll.

[baylis]

Ahhh, I agree with you. All of those others must also be held to the standards, assuming you support the guestion that I posed. I'm responding to you because you didn't simply go down the easy path of name calling.
If you support the issue of dignified, respectful, decent behaviour, then don't vote for those who lack these characteristics. I use my dollar to 'vote' for most of those you mentioned, as they aren't elected leaders of our country. I simply don't tune in to listen to their product.
But, that still doesn't address the quesiton I posed: Do we believe our elected leaders should demonstrate characteristics we value as role models? I have not seen a response to the question, and hope someone might actually do that.
On another note, I assure you I am not a troll.

[Big0725]

When I saw this article, I KNEW this is where the tro//s would be.

[DJ23]

"Apologies are not the answer. Not making such statements, or better yet, not harboring such thoughts, is the true example of a person of character.­"

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

[Woodmist]

LOL, please. After all the vicious crap Republicans have spewed towards this man in the past 2 years the Reagan joke was nothing. Face it, Nancy looked like a kook when that info came out. Old Ronnie, your zombie saint since you have no other ideas but his lame ones, getting his schedule set by his wife and astrologers was laughable. Get over yourselves and stop with the faux outrage. No one's buying it anymore. We've seen the real face of Repubs during this election and it it and was ugly.

[radiclib]

.
.
If Obama were to hold a seance and summon Ronald Reagan, the old fraud might tell him:
``Smile a lot, favor the rich and use coded appeals to racism.''
.
.

[carrie73]

and a new era of False Republican Outrage begins. fabulous.

[SmellyOne]

Who is outraged?

[Mabo]

Funny...we just got over an era of Exaggerated Democrat Outrage, so I guess it is what follows...

[roshni]

Outrage, yes, exagerrated, no. There are lots of dead people due to the unnecessary war on Iraq. Outrage is definitely appropriate.