Giving Politics a Rest: Not the NYTimes

The New York Times has an article today which analyzes the chances that President Reagan's death may or may not help President Bush in his reelection campaign. While noting that the Federal Government is taking a break for the funeral, and John Kerry has cancelled all formal events this week, out of respect, the NYTimes can not recognize that there is a time for all things, and now is not the time for nuanced political analysis. Can't we let the families (and those many who loved President Reagan who were not family) mourn for a while before slicing and dicing the event for political advantage?

"Reagan showed what high stature that a president can have — and my fear is that Bush will look diminished by comparison," said one Republican sympathetic to Mr. Bush, who did not want to be quoted by name criticizing the president.



Another senior Republican expressed concern that by identifying too closely with Mr. Reagan, Mr. Bush risked running a campaign that looked to the past, which this adviser described as a recipe for a loss.



Several Republicans added that Mr. Bush's hopes of enlisting Mrs. Reagan might be complicated by the differences between Mrs. Reagan and Mr. Bush on the issue of embryonic stem-cell research. Mrs. Reagan has been vocal in arguing that the research might help others suffering from Alzheimer's disease, which doctors diagnosed in Mr. Reagan after he left office, while Mr. Bush's policy restricts public financing for this kind of research to existing cell lines.

Yeah, yeah, sure. Whatever. As a man who has lost a father, I can tell you that the family is not currently worrying about President Bush's stance on embryonic stem cells. I can tell you most Americans will not spend the week comparing Reagan's speeches to Bush's speeches. I can tell you most people in the world will not use this week to sharpen their political spears for the next attack on the other party. Most of us will be mourning, or praying for those who mourn, that they might be comforted. C'mon, New York Times, let's give it a rest or at least tone it down until after the funeral!