Politico: Obama calls Nancy Reagan to apologize for seance comment. That's my classy President!

[DemsUnited]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15433.html

Obama telephones Mrs. Reagan
By MIKE ALLEN | 11/7/08 7:03 PM EST


President-elect Barack Obama telephoned Nancy Reagan shortly after his debut news conference on Friday to apologize for what he called a “careless and off handed remark” he made about her during his appearance in Chicago.

President-elect Obama Transition Team Spokesperson Stephanie Cutter said: “President-elect Barack Obama called Nancy Reagan today to apologize for the careless and off handed remark he made during today’s press conference. The President-elect expressed his admiration and affection for Mrs. Reagan that so many Americans share and they had a warm conversation.”

Obama had been asked whether he has “spoken to any living ex-presidents” as part of getting ready for the job.

His reply: “In terms of speaking to former presidents, I've spoken to all of them that are living. Obviously, President Clinton — I didn't want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about, you know, doing any seances.”

Donald Regan, a White House chief of staff to President Ronald Reagan, disclosed in his memoir that his wife had consulted an astrologer during her White House years. The former president later said no decision had been impacted.

Bob Woodward wrote in “The Choice” that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), then first lady, had held imaginary conversations with Eleanor Roosevelt with the help of a spiritual adviser. The White House denied news accounts referring to “séances.”

Obama’s slip instantly received heavy air play, and he was criticized by conservative radio hosts.

It was a sour note in an otherwise well-reviewed appearance.

[Kahuna]

1. I'm glad he did that. That was not cool. nt

[spooky3]

5. me too. He looked and seemed very tired during the pc today, and I think

we all say things when we're tired and a bit slap-happy.

I would like to see him take at least a few days off to rest. We did not get into these messes in a couple of days and it will take much longer than that to get out. Going from a grueling campaign into a grueling job without a break is a recipe for a health collapse.

[anneboleyn]

18. I thought he looked tired too, and he looks like he feels the strain of the job already. He needs a

serious vacay with Michelle and the kids. He won't want to do this because his mind is on the economy, but he should take some time to rest. He will have a hell of a lot to do starting 1/20/09.

[Whalestoe]

26. delete

Responded to wrong post.

[JuniperLea]

2. Good for him...

He just keeps going above and beyond my expectations...

[liberalmuse]

3. I think he was formulating that phone call as soon as the words slipped.

Good for him!

[nini]

4. I wonder what her reaction was to that

because that's the only one that counts after all.

Very considerate of him to talk to her himself though. I'm sure she appreciated that.

[monmouth]

6. She has a good sense of humor and am sure she had a good laugh...n/t

[Tiggeroshii]

7. Yeah i thought that seance remark was rather rude...

I'm glad he had the decency to apologize, and not just in general, but to her directly.

[EffieBlack]

32. you're right . . . No "I apologize if anyone was offended" copout for our President-Elect

[wildflower]

8. I had a feeling he would do that (call her)

It seemed to me he regretted what he said as soon as he'd said it.

[Pirate Smile]

9. I knew he was going to do that.

[BOSSHOG]

10. Why was it a "sour note?"

Why the need for apology? I don't understand. Will our president acquiesce to every grotesque insistance by right wing radio which is fueled by poorly educated white trash who couldn't get a job any other way? Fuck them. And Barbara Bush should be next. Oh those cute black people are so well off after Katrina. Fuck conservative values. They deserve to be ridiculed.

[a la izquierda]

11. I laughed when he said it.

She conducted seances. It's true. What's there to apologize for?

[skygazer]

13. I sincerely doubt it was fueled by rightwing radio

I imagine he realized as soon as he said it that it was an inappropriate remark - which is what I thought when I heard it. And it was inappropriate. Digs - whether intentional or not - at former first ladies are not something to toss around lightly. Obama has gotten where he is by focusing on the issues, not getting into pissing contests.

[Pirate Smile]

35. I'm sure he apologized because he felt a bad about it not because of any RW idiots.

There have been quite a few instances when the RW idiot chamber or others call for an apology from Obama and usually he doesn't do it. I think he only apologizes when he thinks he should.

[RollWithIt]

45. Because her husband was President Reagan and he's one of the dead Presidents

It's just bad decorum. At the time it was funny, but in retrospect he quickly realized it wasn't a good idea.

BTW, Nancy recently fell and broke her hip and is said to be in bad health.

[deadparrot]

56. Because we wouldn't like it if Bush or McCain did it it to a Democrat's spouse.

I understand that it was offhanded and likely said because he's exhausted and his mental filters were off, but I'm still not a huge fan of targeting people for no particular reason. Nancy Reagan didn't do or say anything to deserve being the butt of a joke. That being said, I'm extremely proud of Obama for calling to apologize.

[Median Democrat]

12. Here Is The Thing: Obama KNEW This Bit Of Trivia

Obama has obviously been preparing for the transition, and the fact that Obama makes an obscure reference to factoid contained in Donald Regan's memoir says volumes. The Newsweek article discusses how much Obama can over prepare like he is preparing for a Bar exam. While I did agree it was an odd thing to say, I think it is notable that Obama recall this odd bit of trivia about former lady, Nancy Reagan.

[nomaco-10]

15. I chalk it up to the excitement mixed with the exhaustion of the day. It's all good n/t...

[Boo Boo]

19. He got it wrong

It was Hillary that was holding "seances," speaking with Eleanor Roosevelt. Nancy was famous for consulting an astrologer.

[Not the Only One]

54. Regan brought up astrologer use, not seances

Obama got it wrong, realized he fucked up and immediately took care of the fuck up. Good for him. It's honorable.

[nomaco-10]

14. Yeah, it was the only slightly uncomfortable moment in what was ...

an excellent first president elect press conference. The man is a class act.

[Raschel]

17. He is all class. I'm not surprised he called her, and I'll bet he will check

himself from now on. He has a mind of steel.

[Psephos]

16. In baseball, that's called an unforced error n/t

[spanone]

20. it will be so good to have a human being in the white house

[nsd]

21. Good. Right thing to do.

I cringed a little when he said that, and clearly he realized immediately that he had goofed. Apologizing is the right thing to do.

We're better than the right wing and should act like it.

[doc03]

22. Why is it we are always apologizing to Republicans? Wasn't

what he said true about the seances?

[nsd]

24. Actually no.

The rumor was that Nancy Reagan consulted an astrologer, not that she conducted a seance.

In any case, that difference doesn't matter. What matters is that Mrs. Reagan is a non-combatant. She's the widow of a conservative politician (and the mother of two fine progressives), and has recently been ill. She's not fair game, even for a mild and unintentional slight.

[RollWithIt]

46. Ok, here's real change. We don't act like Republicans.... we admit mistakes quickly....

Keep in mind, Nancy's husband is one of those dead presidents. It was funny when first said, off the cuff, and no big deal. But in retrospect, Ronald Reagan is dead. Her husband. So just not good in the end.

It was good for him to immediately call her.

Also, she recently fell and broke her hip (Like his grandma) and is said to be in poor health.

[doc03]

50. I see your point but Savage said Obama went to Hawaii

to put a pillow over his Grandmother's head to shut her up about were he was born.

[RollWithIt]

53. Who? Savage? Who are you talking about?

Some crazy right wing guy? He's important because? We should act like him because?

I'm pretty sure you got my point though. :-)

[Orsino]

23. Imagine a president who admits when he is wrong in real time, and apologizes.

Imagine.

His comment was the sort of thing any of us might have said, but it was really not cool coming from a President-Elect, and not much like the Obama we voted for.

Apologies are good. Honor is satisfied.

[Thrill]

25. I heard Ron Regan on the radio today. He didn't think it was a big deal

thought it was funny

[musette_sf]

34. that's what i was waiting to hear

i figured Young Ron would be okay with it and get that it was a joke. he is well aware of his mom consulting with Joan Quigley on issues of state. i imagine he was embarrassed about it back then.

[progressivebydesign]

51. Ron Reagan is my FAVORITE on AA. And he wasn't upset because he's a reasonable guy..

.. and he knows his mother better than that turd Sean Hannity does. Hell.. for all we know she's been having seances trying to contact Ronald since he departed this earth. She's into that, ya know.

[Joe the Revelator]

27. I can really relate to Obama

Sometimes in the heat of the moment you say stupid shit. I like that he manned up about it.

[cynatnite]

28. I chuckled when he said it and it was a classy thing to do, too. n/t

[Whalestoe]

29. Whatever.

Only people with really, really, really sensitive skin will get upset over this. Half hour dedicated to this comment on Hannity tonight?

[Kdillard]

30. Classy of him to do that and I hope he gets some rest soon.

I don't think it was meant in a mean spirited way so I don't really get the fuss.

[CitizenLeft]

31. poor guy - he goes nearly 2 years without making any serious gaffes...

...then in his 1st press conference as pres-elect, he has to apologize for something adlib. I'm so glad he did! He's exhausted and has had NO time off, and I'm sure she understood.

[Phoonzang]

36. We'd all make mistakes if we'd spent the last two days being briefed about the alien invasion.

:)

[Pithy]

38. Seriously

I'd imagine some of the intelligence stuff he was briefed on would be very, very sobering. He has a hell of a lot of crap to clean up. It's daunting. Thank God he's up to the task.

[southernyankeebelle]

33. OMG

Calm down people. Am sure he didn't mean to insult her. At least he called her. Hell the rightwing crazies calling Obama all kind of names haven't said a word. I found it funny. Am sure she did too.

[B2G]

37. Shows a ton of class

Great job, Mr. President.

[Vektor]

39. I thought it was hysterical, and I'm quite fond of Obama's daring sense of humor.

I'm all for a controversial joke or two. I am sick and tired of politicians being lambasted for being human.

A little irreverence is good every so often. The seance joke was quite funny. I hope he will not start editing himself too much in the name of political correctness. He's unabashedly, unapologetically (mostly) funny, and I pray he stays that way.

I personally do not care what conservatives think. Obama is funny as hell.

[beachmom]

48. You are so right, Vektor. I saw Barack at YearlyKos 2007 and he

had us laughing big time. Yes a bunch of serious bloggers had a great time listening to him talk, and laughing at his jokes.

[Vektor]

49. I can't tell you...

...how refreshing it is to have a sense of humor in the White House after 8 long, miserable, gloomy years of grizzled, curmudgeonly, scowling Bush and Cheney.

I sure am looking forward to the future! :-)

[Rosa Luxemburg]

40. the GOP are obviously grumpy

I didn't think that there was anything wrong with saying seance.

[tammywammy]

41. That was the right thing to do, call her personally and apologize n/t

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

42. still waiting for Bush to apologize for "Nope, no weapons of mass destruction here!"

which joke was more hurtful?

which leader has class and which doesn't?

[ronnykmarshall]

43. Nancy probably said ...

"Oh Mr President, don't worry about it. By the way I voted for you!"

[DemsUnited]

47. Heh, you may just be right. The Reagans were furious with McCain over his treatment of

his first wife. The Reagans were very fond of Carol McCain, helping her with housing and White House jobs after McCain divorced her and married Cindy.

If I were Nancy Reagan, I definitely would've voted for Barack.

[Vattel]

44. he said something that might offend and

he apologized. That doesn't deserve a stoning or a medal. It deserves a yawn.

[progressivebydesign]

52. Ron Reagan, their son, thought it was no big deal. And I don't either.

Nice that he called to apologize, but for fuck's sake.. is this what the next 8 years will be like?? reminds me of the primary. People walking around sooo offended about imagined slights, while we spend 10 billion dollars a month to destroy a sovereign nation.

[Uzybone]

55. Maybe this was another Keatingeconomics.com, but on a smaller scale.

Remember we were all psyched about Obama going on offense with the Keating 5 right after McCain decided to go megakitchen sink on him? Well he didnt go negative back, but showed the GOP that he had the ammo, and the willingness to hit them back.

This comment was just another show to the right that he a'int afraid of them. Even thier most sacred ones will be called out.

I still like that he had the class to call and apologize though. Even though it was a harmless. funny joke.