I miss Ronnie

I grew up down the road from where President Ronald Reagan attended college.  When Reagan was President (1981-1989), naturally I took notice of politics.  Little did I know that he would be, in my opinion, one of the greatest Presidents America has ever seen.  I often wonder how politics would be different if he were President in modern times.  I wondered last weekend how Ronald Reagan would have handled the shooting in Tuscon and the rhetoric and accusations that followed.

Don't be fooled into thinking that ridiculous political rhetoric is new. In the 1800 race between Jefferson and John Adams, the Connecticut Courant reported that if Jefferson won, “murder, rape, robbery, and incest will be openly taught and practiced.”  Reportedly New Englanders hid their Bibles for fear that the infidel Jefferson would declare them illegal if elected. In 1828, supporters of John Quincy Adams called Andrew Jackson a murderer and a cannibal. They accused Mrs. Jackson of being a whore.


If not new, it is still unfortunate that some have chosen to compound a national tragedy by politicizing the murder of six innocent lives and the attempted assassination of a congresswoman.  I believe America should embrace civil political discourse for its own sake, and no political faction should engage in demonizing rhetoric. But promoting this high principle by simultaneously violating it and engaging in a blood libel against innocent parties, such as has been done to Sarah Palin, is both irresponsible and immoral.

So what would Ronnie say?  I think I know.  In a speech in the 80's, President Ronald Reagan said, “We must reject the idea that every time a law is broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker". Yes, Ronald Reagan would have cut through the clutter, would not have used a tragedy for political gain, and would have focused on healing a nation instead of staging a political rally.  

I miss Ronnie.