Comments on: Andy Ponders Presidential Names

Andy Rooney Wonders: What's In A Name?

[ocvictor]

Wow. On behalf of all of us who don''t have completely Anglo-Irish heritages, I apologize for offending your fragile, xenophobic sensibilities.

Seriously. I can''t even sustain the sarcasm, the racism here is beyond the pale. How did "60 Minutes" let this through?

[ocvictor]

On behalf of all of us with non-Anglo names, Andy, let me be the first to apologize for offending your sensibilities.

Geez. I can''t even keep up with the sarcasm. That was the most racist thing I''ve seen in ages. "60 Minutes" should be ashamed of itself.

[ocvictor]

On behalf of all of us with non-Anglo names, Andy, let me be the first to apologize for offending your sensibilities.

Geez. I can''t even keep up with the sarcasm. That was the most racist thing I''ve seen in ages. "60 Minutes" should be ashamed of itself.

[frank_white6]

Andy has finally gone over the edge. His commentary on Presidential names, in one word, was disgusting. From now on I will be turning 60 Minutes off when its time for Andy.

[bobschwed]

I too was at first taken aback by Mr. Rooney''s comments on Presidential names. I then became highly offended as his comments continued. Over the years from his commentaries it has become clear that Mr. Rooney has not dealt well with recent changes in technology, popular culture, etc., but this time he seems to wishing for a return to a time when our political leaders were predominately male, white and Protestant. To Mr. Rooney, various ethic names--especially those that end in a vowel--seem to be disqualified from high office. Such names are not "American" enough, apparently. As a grandson of immigrants and someone whose name has five consonants and only one vowel (and is often mispronounced despite its shortness), I am deeply disappointed in Mr. Rooney.

[ritzrm]

I entered this site for the first time to state how shocked and outraged I felt last night after listening to Andy Rooney''s commentary. Each week my husband and I chuckle after Rooney''s commentaries and comment about how out of touch he has become. This week there was no chuckling, he was outright racist. His comments show that this country still has a long way to go. Senetor Obama on the other hand shows that this country has come a long way. I too call for his prompt retirement, comments such as these are no different then those uttered by Don Imus in my opinion.

[Netterz]

I think alot are missing the ending. Rooney, is a seriously unusual name. I think the point he is trying to inject here, is that presidential names, are what you see everywhere you go, and ALOT of people name there kids after them, companies profit by using names on cars, planes, airports, tourist sites, historical sites, and that we tend to make choices based on what we know, are familair with, and that some people, that would still be immature, as childre would be on a playgroud, mking up derogatory rhymes over another childs name. Not to mention, how may people every year, change there name, because they dont like it for what ever reason, as well as women who wont take there husbands last name, because they dont like the way it sounds. So the real question here, is "Whats in a name?"

[sneezy--2008]

The US lacking moral conscience and tolerance?
Authority? How very odd.
Just by having the opportunity to express yourselves here speaks volumes of what the US is all about.
I wasn''t born here and have an odd name.
I thinks its time for some of you to see how the rest of the world lives.

[sneezy--2008]

I apologize for the multiple postings.
I was told the publish button was temporarily turned off.

[sirius.geology]

As a Canadian citizen who has been watching 60 Minutes and Andy Rooney since before he arrived on the scene in the 1970''s, I have always admired its incisive style and, of course, Mr. Rooney''s unquenchable sense of humour with a touch of irony. I too have to confess that his diatribe about presidential names was a disgraceful piece of work that owes a collective apology to those who bear perhaps unusual family names but certainly the future of the United States in their hands. Are we to consider that names such as "Ulysses", "Van Buren", "Polk", "Grover", "Hoover", "Millard", "Coolidge" and "Dwight", whether they be first, middle, or last names are "presidential" enough for Mr. Rooney? Would he put "Fitzgerald" in that same category of names too strange to be "unpresidential"? This rant does a great disservice to what we abroad once thought was the shining light of democracy and tolerance in the free world (the USA). It would serve CBS, 60 Minutes and Andy Rooney to concentrate on issues such as why the United States has lost its moral conscience and authority even amidst all the potential persuasiveness that exists among your people. To paraphrase Shakespeare..."he whom we would call a "Jefferson", by any other name, would govern as well." Please apologize Andrew...your mother would want that I suspect.