Ronald Reagan: The Original "Reverse-Sexist" (VIDEO)

Conservative pundits have railed seemingly endessly about Judge Sonia Sotomayor's supposed "reverse racism." But it appears conservative hero Ronald Reagan would disagree.

Jed Lewison has unearthed footage that suggests Ronald Reagan was "the original reverse sexist."

In the 1981 footage, then-President Reagan says, "It is time for a woman to sit among our highest jurists." He goes on to say that his nomination of Sandra Day O'Connor for the Supreme Court fulfills his pledge to nominate "the most qualified woman I could possibly find."

"As I said during the campaign, I've long believed that the time has come for the highest court in our land to include not only distinguished men, but distinguished women as well. ... I had the pleasure of meeting with Mrs. O'Connor last week and I can report to you that she not only has a long and brilliant record as a legislator and jurist, but she also impressed me as a thoughtful, capable woman whose judicial temperament is highly appropriate for the court."

Reagan also says:

"Needless to say, most of the speculation has centered on the question of whether I would consider a woman to fill this first vacancy. As the press has accurately pointed out, during my campaign for the Presidency I made a commitment that one of my first appointments to a Supreme Court vacancy would be the most qualified woman I could possibly find."

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Comments

[Greywolf Borealis]

Although Justice O'Connor ended up being one of the most open-minded jurists to ever sit on the Supreme Court, Ronald Reagan was a political opportunist and every one of his decisions was made to further his own agenda, the advancement of the rich and powerful of this country. We can only thank God Justice O'Connor did not always follow that agenda.

[Budokan]

I'm sick and tired of hearing how great Reagan was. I lived during the Reagan years (unlike many people who view him as a saint) and I'm here to tell you it wasn't that good. He was another empty Ratpig who used hate and division to win political contests. He was also an adulterer, but that's okay since he was a RepubliKan, they get special dispensation for those "family values."

[Cheryl2]

I was there too, there is a reason he was called the "teflon President"!

[Oldchef]

There were more indictments (and convictions) of officials in the Reagan administration than any before him, even Nixon.

[Cheryl2]

No one ever remembered anything in that administration, and no one questioned the faulty memories!

[bklynfinest]

Ronald Reagan was the worst president ever. the crackhead was invented under his regime.

[Bompa]

You can also add... Worst Governor......

[floridafun]

surely this decision was influenced by his very own psychic sylvia browne

[KillBillV2]

UHOH HE IS USING THE TELEPROMPTER AGAIN!!...

[danonchalant1]

Just a prop, I assure you! St. Ray-gun was the G.O.P. patron saint, as well as being a distinguished member. As such, he could not read.

[bklynfinest]

Ha! good one!

[Eric8]

Reagan was an alien from Zultronica, a human bioengineered planet developed four million years ago. Has anyone ever seen his birth certificate, no, because it would be extraterrestrial. The truth is out there.

[gopSTEALSyourTAXmoney]

FAVORITE POST!

[freethinkergirl]

So that was it............been trying to figure him out since he was my governor in CA. Thanks for helping me explain the dude to me. Nancy still talks to him every night, she was "channeling" out to the aliens from Zultronica while he was pres, ever notice???

[Petey131]

Was that a teleprompter? No, not Saint Ronnie!

[alienufo]

OMFG HE USES A TELEPROMPTER!

[ThermoChemist]

As I've posted in the past, whenever "they" make their silly talking points it almost ALWAYS comes back to haunt them..!

[a] http://thinkprogress.org/2009/05/06/cheney-little-guy/
"I...watched the way administration officials ran for cover and left the little guys out to dry" -- Cheney; on why he's been speaking out lately.

Reality:
Exactly what YOUR Administration did with Abu Ghraib..! (oh, ye of short memory).

Little Guys:
Pfc. England, dog handler Sgt. Santos A. Cardona, dog-handler Sgt. Michael Smith, US army reservist Sabrina Harman, Pvt. Charles Graner, Staff Sergeant Ivan Frederick, etc.

...while Lt-Col Steven Jordan was found not guilty; Col Thomas Pappas had pay deducted; Brig-Gen Janis Karpinski was reduced in rank. [and the Cheney Admin?]

[b] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/28/michele-bachmann-links-sw_n_192493.html
Bachmann Links Swine Flu To Democrats (when it happened under a Republican President)

[c] "God is the one who chooses our rulers." -- Katherine Harris; August 2006.

-- So, IF God chooses our rulers, then he chose Pres. Obama, right..??? WHY all the SILLY "Anti-Obama" talking points (not a citizen, teleprompter, dijon mustard user, etc.). According to your own [faulty] logic, you're talking against one of God's chosen ones...!

[d] Insinuating that BHO is a dijon mustard using elitist; while the Bushes posted a recipe which included (..drum roll..) -- dijon mustard..!
http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/president-bush-and-his-dijongate-recipe

[gloriousbeing]

That's cause they don't "get" the internets.

[smiththomas]

one of the worst titled blogs and insinuations yet. Reagan was for putting woman on an equal footing with men and rightly so. To suggest that this is an endorsement of the particular nominee is rediculous. thats how propaganda originates. there is a lot of this title spin on this site but this really goes for it all the way.

[t iessa]

What is "reverse sexism?" Sexism is the discrimination or devaluation based on a person's sex. I don't understand what the reverse of that is. No discrimination based on a person's sex?

On another thread there were several references to "reverse racism." Racism is the hatred or intolerance of another race or other races. So the reverse of that is what? No hatred or intolerance?

Where do people get this stuff????

[Ohioan730]

I guess they call it "reverse" racism because the racism that comes from minorities towards whites is usually a reaction to the racism inflicted on them by whites first. The term "racism" implies that someone has power to deny you justice based on your race. Minorities don't quite have that power against white people at the moment no matter how much people pretend like they do. Therefore its reverse racism. Hating someone because they hated you first.

What Ronald Reagan did was deny a chance to a qualified man because he was specifically looking to choose a woman and he boldly admitted it. Therefore, it would be considered reverse sexism because in this case, men had more power over women, yet O'Connor was chosen by Reagan as a reaction to that old sexism. Reverse sexism.

[punkingale]

They get it from The Drugster (as Ed calls him).

[Bagger]

Teleprompter. Teleprompter. Teleprompter.

[Wiseronenow]

"Her judicial 'temperament' is highly "appropriate" for the Supreme Court".

Wondering if he made the same claims for any of the men?

[GOBsaysCOMEON]

Judicial temperament is frequently touted with Supreme Court nominees. It's considered one of the most important qualifications for the job. You're looking for sexism because it's a Republican saying it.

[imsosure]

Reagan sucked, he wasn't a very good actor and an even more mediocre President.

[Jaladeno]

I can't believe "Bedtime for Bonzo" never won an Oscar. Another liberal conspiracy, no doubt...

[ThermoChemist]

"66 Things to Think About When Flying Into Reagan National Airport"
http://www.thenation.com/doc/19980302/corn

"The firing of the air traffic controllers, winnable nuclear war, recallable nuclear missiles, trees that cause pollution, Elliott Abrams lying to Congress, ketchup as a vegetable, colluding with Guatemalan thugs, pardons for F.B.I. lawbreakers, voodoo economics, budget deficits, toasts to Ferdinand Marcos, public housing cutbacks, redbaiting the nuclear freeze movement, James Watt."

"Getting cozy with Argentine fascist generals, tax credits for segregated schools, disinformation campaigns, 'homeless by choice,' Manuel Noriega, falling wages, the HUD scandal, air raids on Libya, 'constructive engagement' with apartheid South Africa, United States Information Agency blacklists of liberal speakers, attacks on OSHA and workplace safety, the invasion of Grenada, assassination manuals, Nancy's astrologer."

"Drug tests, lie detector tests, Fawn Hall, female appointees (8 percent), mining harbors, the S&L scandal, 239 dead U.S. troops in Beirut, Al Haig 'in control,' silence on AIDS, food-stamp reductions, Debategate, White House shredding, Jonas Savimbi, tax cuts for the rich, 'mistakes were made.' "

OpEd writer Joe Strupp wrote "...the overwhelming praise for a president who plunged the nation into its worst deficit ever, ignored and cut public money for the poor, while also ignoring the AIDS crisis...slashing federal grants for poor students and cutting survivor benefits for families of the disabled."

http://www.actupny.org/reports/reagan.html

[BlueFloyd]

it's too early to dive into all your words, but dont forget ann burford gorsuch.....uccchhh.....

she was bush's christie todd whitman...

[koalaholik]

And that is not including what he did to California when he was governor

[punkingale]

You might enjoy reading "The Man Who Sold The World: Ronald Reagan and the Betrayal of Main Street American".

[spiritpony1]

regardless, I could never stand his hair or his wife----

[Jaladeno]

Which wife, Jane or Nancy? And which hair, when it was brown or when it was orange? (for some reason - divine intervention? - it was never gray)

[Wiseronenow]

I recall Reagan claiming he NEVER dyed his hair and had his barber confirm that. Yeah, right.

[Petey131]

Wow "Jaladeno" defending St. Ronnie's hairdo. Sweet!