Ron Reagan To Stephen Colbert: Forget My Dad Raised Taxes And Enacted Most Liberal Abortion Laws (VIDEO)

"What are the things that I should I forget about your father so that I can keep the image in my head the way I want?" Colbert asked Ron Reagan, son of the 40th U.S. President Ronald Reagan, last night on his show.

"Probably, raising taxes, amnesty for illegal immigrants and, well, one of the most liberal abortion laws in California when he was governor," Reagan said.

The younger Reagan recently published "My Father at 100," a book about his late father's life. He is also an avid liberal, whereas his father was a champion of conservative politics. Recently, Reagan has faced opposition from remarks concerning his father's struggle with Alzheimer's.

"Did you see anything when he was president then said to yourself, 'Huh, that now in retrospect, might be some sign of it'," Colbert asked Reagan.

"Yeah, every once in a while," Reagan said. "As I've said, it'd be like you're watching TV and the focus softens a little and then sharpens back up and you think, huh, I wonder what that was."

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Comments

[Lleah]

02:30 AM on 01/26/2011

Just finished Ron's book and so highly reccomend it. I am definately not a President Reagan fan...but have always been a huge fan of Ron's. I was very interested in his story because I have always known him to love his father very much and can imagine that it must have been difficult considering their very conflicting political views. I feel that Ron has written this book to help himself examine his Dad's life and come to terms with his childhood. We all should try to do the same. It is a very important part of discovering our selves. Ron tells the reader right up front that it is not a political book. He traces his father's early life and attempts to unravel his personal relationship with him. He tells us his opinion on his father's cognitive condition while he was still in office. This was really very obvious to those of us who were around and paying attention during the Reagan years. He also tries to explain how his Dad,,,,probably unknowingly....became involved in the Iran Contra scandle. This book radiates with the love that Ron has for both of his parents without attempting to re-write history. Loved it.

[softvoice]

02:55 PM on 01/25/2011

I cannot wait to read this book! I know it will be an honest reflection from Ron Reagan. Glad he wrote it.

[Jetwash]

09:44 PM on 01/24/2011

This shows plainly how far to the right we have tacked in this country and where we are sailing today. What was center right is now liberal and what was extreme far right is the center right.

[Oilvike]

04:59 PM on 01/22/2011

Forget he raised taxes, supported amnesty for immigrants and as governor signed a bill making it easier for women to obtain an abortion? OK. Done deal.

[Steve Shonder]

02:55 AM on 01/22/2011

Why would you try to cash in on your dad's life? Lazy.

[androiddreamer]

11:21 AM on 01/22/2011

He was also a radio host, and a political activist in his own right. Why have some random biographer cash in on Ronald Reagan when you can get the first hand account of his son?

[blackmagicIII]

01:55 PM on 01/23/2011

You obvioiusly don't know the first thing about Ron Reagan, so best you keep such simple minded comments to yourself.

[3fingerbrown]

03:50 PM on 01/21/2011

Ron is a classy guy. It can't be easy being the famously liberal son of a conservative icon, but he handles it with grace and good humor.

[conscioushope]

10:04 PM on 01/24/2011

I couldn't agree more, and I couldn't have said it so well!

fanned!

[addisonsteele]

02:34 PM on 01/21/2011

Shortly after he was elected as governor of California, Reagan signed into law the largest proportional tax increase in US history (it was equivalent of 1/3 of the California budget at the time). Then, as president, he raised taxes every single year of both terms after the first year. Of course, he raised taxes on the middle class and working poor, not the rich, but he did raise taxes.

[rain33]

11:55 AM on 01/21/2011

ronald reagan is the WORST president that we had ever had! don't forget he started his famous reaganeconomics meaning trickle down on the working poor while the rich stays richer! reagan made fun of poor folks, created drama for unions and didn't want to have medicare yet he was covered until his timely death. i am no fan of reagan but he didn't give a damn about working poor folks only the rich so ronny jr was right! daddy had alzhemiers so our country's policies were screwed for a long time!

[cyoohoos]

02:46 AM on 01/23/2011

I think GWB gave him a run for his money on that title. Something about starting never ending wars that will only serve to bankrupt the treasury is hard to overlook

[blackmagicIII]

01:58 PM on 01/23/2011

Not to mention the tens of thousands who have died, and even more maimed. And the millions who had to flee their home country and were otherwise left homeless.

[doctorjay48]

12:54 PM on 01/23/2011

you forgot all the dead people from all the unnecessary central american wars to support dictators who were good for American business and his support for Saddam Hussein. negotiated with Iran to hold the hostages until after the election to ensure his victory. This was substantiated by Iranian officials.

[holyghostie]

09:47 PM on 01/20/2011

In my opinion the funniest news item last year was the adopted Michael Reagan screaming that Ron JR. was a disappointment to Dad and is on bad terms with mom.

Mickey don't you know that blood is thicker than adoption papers? Geez louise.

[WRPrintz]

09:53 PM on 01/24/2011

Or that his own father did not recongize Michael at his graduation, as he had not seen him for some time? Seems like Michael is grasping at staws.

[ruburnt]

07:06 PM on 01/20/2011

This guy must be really hard up for money to throw his father and family under the bus. Looks like Reagan was a better father to his adopted children in his younger years than when he was older. All men, even great ones, have failures to point to during the course of their lives. Some failures outlive them. Ronald Reagan was one of our greatest presidents....Ron Jr was his greatest failure....

[azatrox]

10:06 PM on 01/20/2011

Uh, okay I'm confused. In what way did he throw his father and family under the bus? If anything, it was clear from this interview that he had fond, loving memories of his father. He didn't say anything here to debase his father, so what are you talking about?

[justin7122]

09:17 AM on 01/21/2011

A republican having a liberal son is apparently a reason to feel the son is a failure, and anything he says is "throwing his family under the bus" I remember Ron Jr had a TV show in the early 90's, and it was pretty good.

[Pennsylvanianne]

03:11 PM on 01/21/2011

Reagan was NOT one of our best presidents. He did not lift a finger to make trade agreements fairer, so it became cheaper to import manufactured goods, rather than make things (like steel) in America. He dramatically made over our nation into one of services instead of goods, and we are still feeling the effects. Ron Jr. is brave to be telling the truth about his father, who now seems as if he might have been manipulated by corporate interests in his debilitated state.

[tompoe]

03:36 PM on 01/20/2011

Reagan proposed amnesty, tighter border security, employer enforcement law. It failed utterly. Useless as the GOP repeal, yesterday. Totally symbolic crap. Raising taxes, while driving the real U.S. economy into the ground. Why would we want to forget that?

[blood1]

03:22 PM on 01/20/2011

One of the most egregious things that Reagan did was to eliminate the USGOV funding of mental health. Now some will argue that he "just" approved of the idea that Mental Health could be best administered by the STATE and that the FED would send money. Yeah, just mention block grants and you will know that this was a targetted approach to attach those at the margins.

Now, consider all the individuals who perform a heinous crime, like the Tucson shooting. The body politic is all for placing the alleged shooter outside of a political ideology and saying instead that he really needed Mental Healthcare. But as state's regulate that treatment, it goes to the back burner or chopping block when state revenues are low. Just this week, the Gov of AZ, Brewer, has decided the state does not have funds so where are cuts made, Medicaid and Mental Health.

Obviously, this idea that attacking at the margins (those disenfranchised) is alive and well thanks to Ronald Reagan. After all, if we all have guns the problem will be solved. Very Very Sad!

[holyghostie]

09:49 PM on 01/20/2011

I'll fav that. If one looks at the charts....from the time Reagan defunded mental health the growth in prisons has gone off the charts. Instead of treating people in mental hospitals we warehouse them in prisons....with inferior treatment and greater risks to their safety.

[xlntcat]

04:32 AM on 01/21/2011

Not to mention the cost of frequently housing the mentally ill in jails not for crimes but because of the danger to self or others or their inability to care for themselves.

[Dana Seilhan]

03:24 AM on 01/23/2011

You were doing fine til you started ranting about guns. You know, sane and law-abiding people have the right to buy them too.

[Phaedrusnyc]

04:37 PM on 02/08/2011

Very true- so why does the NRA keep fighting to make sure that people who aren't sane and law-abiding also have access to them?