Andy Ponders Presidential Names

(CBS)  The following is a weekly 60 Minutes commentary by CBS News correspondent Andy Rooney.

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When you look at our political system and the way we do things in this country you have to wonder why we're doing as well as we are.

The smartest president we ever had was probably either Thomas Jefferson or Franklin D. Roosevelt. Jefferson was not only a good president, he was a real intellectual and while not everyone would agree that Roosevelt was a great president, he turned this country around when it badly needed to be turned. Both Roosevelt and Jefferson had names that sounded presidential, too. I like that.

This year we started the presidential process Thursday with what we call "the Iowa Caucus." The winners were named Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee.

Do you think the name "Barack Obama" compares to "Abraham Lincoln" or "Mike Huckabee" to "George Washington"? Maybe "Obama" is the new Washington, the new Lincoln.

The former mayor of New York, Rudolph Giuliani, wants to be president of the country. Our nation's capital was named after our first president, George Washington. If Rudolph Giuliani had been our first president, do you think Washington would be called "Giuliani"? "Giuliani DC"?

If you were flying from New York to London, maybe you wouldn't go to Kennedy Airport anymore. Instead you'd fly from Mitt Romney International.

Tourists in the nation's capital wouldn't have a "Washington Monument," they'd go climb the "Huckabee Monument."

The names of our government leaders have always been important in this country. A lot of schools were named "Roosevelt." Both Lincoln and Washington have a lot of things named after them: streets, parks, even cars -- the Lincoln Continental for instance. How about a Biden Continental or Kucinich Navigator?

It would be nice to be so famous and popular that they named something after you but it'll never happen to me. There's something inconsequential about the name "Andy." Maybe my mother knew something. She always called me Andrew.
Written By Andy Rooney

[cd_banks]

I am as angered as I am saddened by Andy Rooney%u2019s most recent comments regarding what constitutes a name that sounds %u201Cpresidential.%u201D

Simply, what was his point other than to continue a legacy of systematic racism and intolerance - and based on what %u2013 his understanding of a familiar sounding surname to the U.S. ear???

How dare he insult me and the US voter with such inane gibberish?

Where were the producers here? Who is accountable for this shame?
- Cynthia Banks

[wangtih]

I am very disapointed by Mr. Rooney''s remark on the president names. He seem to think that only people with names like Washington, Clinton, or Bush should be president. He made fun of the names Obama, Huckabee, and Giuliani. What a shame! I thought Mr. Rooney is more fair minded than that.

[SimonATL]

FDR - one of the smartest presidents? Politically, yes, otherwise, not close! Rooney ought to compare bios of FDR & 5th cousin, Theodore Roosevelt, "TR." FDR had no illusions that intellectually speaking, he was any match for his cousin, TR & complained to his mother that he simply coudln''t compete with the intellectually titanic TR. TR graduated Harvard 37th & Phi Beta Kappa even after falling in love spending & far too much time with his fiance, Alice Lee. FDR didn''t come close. A unchallenged "cousin Ted" finished the finest history of the origins of the US Navy written to date just after his graduation. When FDR complained to mommy, she said, "Don''t worry Franklin, those Roosevelts of Manhattan might have the brains, but we (Hyde Park Roosevelts) have the beauty & the brains." While charming to the limit, FDR was known by his Manhattan Roosevelt cousins as the "featherduster." All knew FDR was an intellectual flash in the pan compared TR. Outputwise, TR was internationally recognized intellectual giant of his time, the author of over 35 books (none written by editorial hacks and was fluent in French, modern and Rennasiance Italian & German & could recite hundreds of lines of poetry from the Italian, Dante to the Germans, Schiller and Goethe. TR also wrote literally all of his own speeches. As president, FDR collected the intellectual talent of his time as advisors called his "brain trust." TR used his OWN brans & needed no such advisors or speech writers at all!

[janwaley]

Andy Rooney should be ashamed to show his face after his comments about un-presidential sounding names. Not so long ago in many cities Rooney would have met signs saying "Irish need not apply".

Though many of the signers of the Declaration of Independence had those so familiar names, we should recall that Button Gwinnett was ready to wage his life, his fortune and his sacred honor even though he had a funny name.

What we don''t need in this political season is commentary that lessens the importance of a set of candidates that, on the Democratic debate stage last week, had a woman, a Hispanic, and a Black. For the first time a serious set of Presidential contenders reflect the look of the population of the nation. Hallelujah!

Andrew Rooney, I think your mother would not be happy with you.

[davewire]

Andy Rooney''s comment on Sunday reminded me of something my 83 year old mother would say, not meaning to aggressively offend anyone, but spouting bigoted (untrue) "truisms" just the same. When it happens, we smile amongst ourselves and think, "oh that''s just Mom being Mom, she''s from a different era. We won''t change her. Luckily she is just talking to us."

It''s a little different when the same kind of slop appears on my prime time TV screen. Andy Rooney''s comments about Presidential names were disturbing and insulting. If the CBS brass has any self-respect, they''ll usher Andy into a comfortable retirement as soon as possible and find a commentator that has some marginal relevance to the majority of American society.

[hamiltongrp1]

My husband and I were aghast at the comments Mr. Rooney made on Sunday night''s broadcast. I certainly hope most of Americans felt the way we did--offended on behalf of everyone he mentioned and any others who have non-Founding Father names and may seek to serve our nation in it''s most important job. We can only pray that inclusion wins out over xenophobia in this election. Rather than fearing those who make up our melting pot, let''s celebrate their diversity, creativity, hard work, and endless contributions. Mr. Rooney, you were not funny; you represented what we should fear most--our own insecurity.

[leroyawii]

Dear Mr. Rooney, this is the very first time I''ve taken the opportunity to respond to your most recent commentary. When a man or women comes into this world, as an infant, what choice do they have in the name selection process? I suppose it would''ve been nice to sit down with my own parent and look in a ''Name Book'' of America''s most famous and glamorous people (for that time), and make a selection of my choice. However, have you looked in your yellow pages lately? Historically, it is a man''s actions that defines his name, and his alone. Is having a regal name more important than the content of his/her character? I''ll settle for integrity, even if his name is Benedict Arnold Looney.
Sincerely,
Leroy Alphonzo Williams II

[rosieboy]

I have been listening and admiring Andy Rooney''s commentaries on 60 minutes for quite some time, but I have still not gotten over last week''s commentary. I don''t think Mr. Rooney is a racist, but I''m not sure it matters. Mr. Rooney''s preferrence for presidents with anglo saxon names, exhibited prejudice and very poor judgement. It was insulting to Americans of all ethnic backgrounds and dismissive of the concept of our nation as a "melting pot". I began to think of all the things named after great Americans with ethnic names (LaGuardia Airport), all the names of places owing to our native American background (Dakota, Mississippi, etc), and names of cities and places that have hispanic or french origins (Los Angeles, San Antonio, Montpelier). I cannot believe that Mr. Rooney''s commenary even made it on TV. Perhaps it time for Mr. Rooney to apologize and say goodbye.

[tunfsws]

I have generally enjoyed Andy Rooney but his comments this past Sunday relating to "Presidential Sounding Names" was absurd and pointless. Was he trying to infer that voters for the next president should only consider candidates with Anglo sounding family names? CBS should apologize for this segment on the air.

[pensongs]

I usually like Mr. Rooney''s segment,or at-least, I put up with it. But his comments last Sunday night about Presidential names was unforgivable. I''m sick of this kind of racist/snobbish commentary from the "elite" who dominate mainstream media. The producers should fire Rooney now. In America, it seems the only people who "make it to the top" are white, male, anglo-saxon biggets. I''m a Jewish woman, who is voting for Obama. Look out Rooney, someday soon a Jewish woman with a last name that begins with Gold and ends in stein or berg or sky is going to be president of the U.S.A. Deal with it!