Media on Reagan
By Frank Salvato

Common sense dictates that when someone dies a certain decorum should be employed. We, as a society, understand that in the moments between a persons death and their internment there is a time when even the most cynical of people should, out of respect for humanity, cease their attacks on the recently deceased, if for no other reason out of respect for the survivors, those who have just experienced one of life's hardest knocks. Even the most intellectually challenged can sense something in the air when someone dies. It just doesn't seem right when death comes to call. Animals know it and react accordingly, they become more docile and less aggressive, well, perhaps not fanatic Islamic fundamentalists but I think you get my point.

So, imagine my surprise when I recently read a story in the Washington Times that outlined some of the most hurtful, reprehensible and disgraceful comments I have ever heard about someone who has passed. I am referring to an article by Steve Miller titled, "Reagan Critics Decry Glowing Tributes." The ultra-liberal and acid-tongued cartoonist Ted Rall, the same cretin who had no problem besmirching Pat Tillman, the former NFL star turned Army Ranger who was killed in Afghanistan, is quoted as saying, "I'm sure he's turning crispy brown right about now."

Rall described Reagan as, "...a real piece of work, Reagan ruined the federal budget, trashed education, alienated our friends and allies and made us a laughing stock around the world."

Rall's statements can be discounted without much effort. All one has to do is to ask the people behind what was the Iron Curtain in Eastern Europe how they view Ronald Reagan. The fact that we can ask them that question should be enough evidence. If one adds the creation of 20 million jobs and the fact the Reagan White House successfully handled the incredible recession handed to them by the Carter Administration one has to ask what color the sky is in Mr. Rall's world.

Then we have Christopher Hitchens from Slate who calls Reagan "dumb as a stump," even in light of the fact that Reagan did most of his own speech writing. He continues to call him a "cruel and stupid lizard." Greg Palast blames Reagan for the 1983 terrorist bombing of our Marines barracks in Lebanon calling him a "killer, coward and a conman." It's hard to find any of that politically correct tolerance among these men on the Left.

But there is more. Robert Kunst, a gay activist from Florida proclaimed triumphantly, "Ronnie will spend eternity in hell for his treachery." Kunst called Reagan, "...one of the most despicable presidents." He insisted that Reagan was responsible for, "500,000 American AIDS deaths and 10 million worldwide, while he catered to the right wing in this country." Of course the promulgation of AIDS in the 1980's could have nothing at all to do with an at-risk portion of our society employing narcissistic sexual practices; it has to be the presidents fault. Tolerance? For a liberal it's just a word in a dictionary that should apply only to them. Do not even get me started about taking responsibility for one's actions.

The liberal-left, as represented by Rall, Hitchens, Palast and Kunst, represent the worst in America. They are filled with hate. They were the ones who said Reagan would lead us to nuclear war. They are filled with artificially incited and politically motivated anger. They are unwilling to employ even the least amount of common decency, even when death is involved. They represent the faction in this country that not only want to blame America first but who expect us to comply with their agenda of political correctness while they reserve for themselves the right to assault whomever they believe opposes them. They are not only misguided and incredibly wrong; they are mean.

Frank Salvato is a political media consultant and the managing editor for TheRant.us. He served as an editor and is a contributing writer for The Washington Dispatch. He writes regularly for GOPUSA, OpinionEditorials, Men's News Daily, Canada Free Press & AmericanDaily. His pieces are regularly featured in Townhall.com. He has appeared as a guest on The O'Reilly Factor, The Kevin Matthews Radio Show (Chicago) and The Brad Messer Radio Show (San Antonio). His pieces have been recognized by the Japan Center for Conflict Prevention and are periodically featured in The Washington Times and The London Morning Paper as well as other national and international publications.