American Morning

The eulogy Ron Reagan gave for his father included a comment that some say was a not so subtle shot at the President Bush. Here from Friday evening.

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RON REAGAN, SON OF RONALD REAGAN: But he never made the mistake of so many politicians, wearing his faith on his sleeve to gain political image.

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HEMMER: And that was from Simi Valley on Friday evening.

The issue was raised by reporters again yesterday at the White House. And a bit earlier today, Democratic strategist Victor Kamber and Cliff May, former communications director for the RNC, took turns at this and a bit more.

First Victor this morning.

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VICTOR KAMBER, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I guess as a Democrat and partisan, I’d like to believe that. I have no idea. And I think that oftentimes pundits and people speculate and make assumptions that I have no idea.

I think he was saying what he believed in his heart, that his father was a very religious man and his father did not wear religion on his sleeve, as I think a lot of right-wingers do in this country. If you don’t believe like them you’re going to hell. I don’t think that that’s the way Ronald Reagan viewed life.

I’m not sure he was pointing the finger at George Bush or anybody other than talking about his father.

HEMMER: This issue came up yesterday at the White House. Cliff, what about you?

CLIFF MAY, FORMER COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, RNC: Well, actually, I thought that Ron Reagan was talking about the Reverend al Sharpton.

But, no, look, in fact he may have been criticizing President Bush. I don’t know. I think the question of religion in politics is a difficult one.

But if — Ron Reagan has not been particularly pro Bush in the past. That’s nothing new. His brother, Michael Reagan, who I spoke to earlier this week, is rather supportive of President Bush. That doesn’t get obviously as much attention. You get a lot more attention by criticizing than you do by praising.

HEMMER: Let’s move to our second topic if we could, the old issue of Senator Kerry.

There’s a lot of rumbling right now in his home state of Massachusetts, Victor, that John Kerry should give up his Senate seat. Should he now, at this point, as he’s running actively for the White House?

KAMBER: I guess I don’t know who’s rumbling or grumbling other than Republicans who would like a ploy. I don’t remember, was it ex- Governor Bush that gave up the governorship of Texas when he ran?

HEMMER: He did that. And Bob Dole gave up his Senate seat back in ’96. Joe Lieberman, though, held on to his.

KAMBER: Most — Most do, Bill, and I don’t think it makes any sense whatsoever to give up the seat that you’re holding. You can run from that office and run from that seat for the office of presidency.

If you lose you go back to the Senate. If you win, you give it up then. That’s the way the process works.

HEMMER: Cliff.

CLIFF: I think being senator is a serious job, and running for president is a serious job. And obviously you can’t do both serious jobs at the same time and do both of them well.

Senator Kerry is not participating in very many votes, for example. He’s not participating in very many Senate debates.

I think he should consider the possibility of giving up his Senate seat so he can run full-time. He doesn’t have to do that, obviously. If he thinks, look, it’s nice to have a job to fall back on, I understand if he wants to not give up his day job.

KAMBER: The only reason the Republicans suggest it is because they have a Republican governor who would be able to appoint that seat.

MAY: Excuse me. Bob Dole did this for exactly this reason. I supported that.

KAMBER: Because there was a Republican governor — There was a Republican governor who could fill the seat.

MAY: You’re not going to change the dynamics in the Senate or the majority. Right now the Republicans control the Senate, and they still would, were he to give up the seat. And who knows what would happen after the election, Victor.

KAMBER: It makes no sense whatsoever, other than partisanship. Let’s talk issues. Let’s talk Iraq. Let’s talk the economy. Let’s not worry about a Senate seat.

HEMMER: Victor, let me take it a step further: 112 votes so far in the Senate. John Kerry has participated in 14 of those 112 votes. That apparently is what has Republicans up in arms in Massachusetts.

KAMBER: I think — I think it had Democrat — Republicans in Arizona up in arms over John McCain when he missed a number of votes.

I mean, I was disappointed that John Kerry missed one vote of that 114 this year that did cause the vote to go the wrong way from a perspective as a Democrat.

The fact is the majority of votes in the Senate are lopsided one way or the other. There was one vote that did make a difference.

It’s a crazy issue. It’s not an issue. It’s a non-issue other than Republicans don’t have anything else to talk about, so let’s raise this issue.

John McCain went through the exact same situation, and there were some Republicans even in his party that said give up his seat. You didn’t hear Democrats say it.

HEMMER: Final word to Cliff.

MAY: Look, this is an issue not because I’m bringing it up, not because you’re bringing it up. It’s an issue in the media.

He obviously doesn’t have to do this, but I think it’s something to consider because if you believe that being a senator is a full-time job, obviously that’s not a job he’s going to do for now. And he’s paid to do it anyhow, and so he should consider that. That’s all.

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HEMMER: Victor Kamber, Cliff May, sparring a bit earlier today with us here on AMERICAN MORNING.