Obama Apologizes For Reagan Seance Joke

President-Elect Calls Former First Lady After Making Remark During First News Conference

(AP)  President-elect Obama called Nancy Reagan on Friday to apologize for joking that she held seances in the White House.

At a news conference in Chicago, Obama said he had spoken with all the living presidents as he prepares to take office in January. Then he smiled and said, "I didn't want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about doing any seances."

The 87-year-old former first lady had consulted with astrologers during her husband's presidency. But she did not hold conversations with the dead.

Obama spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said the president-elect later called Mrs. Reagan "to apologize for the careless and offhanded remark." She said Obama "expressed his admiration and affection for Mrs. Reagan that so many Americans share, and they had a warm conversation."

It actually wasn't Nancy Reagan who was linked to conversations with the dead; it was Obama's top Democratic challenger for the presidency, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.

In either case, use of the word "seance" might be overstated.

Nancy Reagan consulted an astrologer to help set her husband's schedule, wrote former White House chief of staff Donald T. Regan. The revelation created a furor and President Reagan even broke with his policy of not commenting on books by former White House staffers.

"No policy or decision in my mind has ever been influenced by astrology," Reagan said.

In his book "The Choice," Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward described how Clinton consulted with a spiritual adviser who led her through imaginary conversations with her personal hero, Eleanor Roosevelt. Newsweek magazine, which was promoting the book, characterized the visits as "seances," a term that White House officials quickly tried to squelch.

"These were people who were helping her laugh, helping her think," said Neel Lattimore, Clinton's spokeswoman. "These were not seances."

[bobnjersey]

[President-elect Obama called Nancy Reagan on Friday to apologize for joking that she held seances in the White House. ]

what''s this ... cbs news covering something bad about obama?

how can this be ... they''re totally in the obama camp ... filtering all the bad stuff ... only reporting the good.

isn''t this the claim from the right ... the msm and all that? what''s going on? can someone please outline why the msm is printing something bad about obama?

[briannorwood]

I heard the remark, and thought it pretty funny. Quick wit and not at all mean-spirited. Considering it was well published that Nancy Reagan did consult with astrologers while she was first lady.

After all the rancor of the last eight years, it would be nice if we could laugh at ourselves once in awhile without having to be 100% politically correct.

Also, that Obama would be big enough to personally call Mrs. Reagan shows how classy the guy really is. I''m sure he meant no harm by the joke, but still was kind of him to show Nancy her well earned respect.

[mytoosense]

Obama makes a huge gaffe so to cover himself he throws someone else under the bus, Nancy Reagan
Posted by perceptions5

First, I would not call the gaffe, huge.
Second, his correction was more funny than insulting.
And Third, It is refreshing to listen to a leader who actually listens to himself while he speaks.

Most of the Bush gaffes, Bush was told about after he was through speaking.

[libra217]

barrack is a classless loser, just liked we always knew.

Posted by USA-No1 at 11:27 PM : Nov 09, 2008

I guess you haven''t heard yet - McCain was the loser. Obama WON the election and is now the President-Elect. And a very classy one at that.

[abbe91]

"then he will certainly not rise to the level of President Bush.
Posted by CBSisPravda at 12:16 PM : Nov 08, 2008"

Maybe Joe Biden should out an undercover CIA agent too ?

[libra217]

It''s not bias. It was a stupid punk joke showing no class, exactly what this punk doesn''t have.

Posted by FromTexwLove at 04:01 AM : Nov 09, 2008

President-Elect Obama has alot of class. You have shown through your mind-numbing posts that you do not.

[libra217]

Only a bully like Obama feels the need to pick on a 90 year old woman.

Posted by deathofusa at 09:43 PM : Nov 08, 2008

What an odd interpretation. What I saw was Obama making a self-deprecating joke on himself. He had started saying that he had talked to "all living Presidents", then quickly saw that that was a silly, redundant thing to say because of course he hadn''t talked to dead Presidents. He tried to make a joke on the silliness of his statement by referring to seances and made a reference to Nancy Reagan in this context. That''s hardly "picking on a 90 yr old woman". Your bias is showing.

[libra217]

Only a bully like Obama feels the need to pick on a 90 year old woman.

Posted by deathofusa at 09:43 PM : Nov 08, 2008

What an odd interpretation. What I saw was Obama making a self-deprecating joke on himself. He had started saying that he had talked to "all living Presidents", then quickly saw that that was a silly, redundant thing to say because of course he hadn''t talked to dead Presidents. He tried to make a joke on the silliness of his statement by referring to seances and made a reference to Nancy Reagan in this context. That''s hardly "picking on a 90 yr old woman". Your bias is showing.

[ioweign]

Wow. I guess between his bankrupting the coal producers and his purchasing medications from other countries, we will be a third world country in about 6 months. Yippee.

Posted by deathofusa at 09:43 PM : Nov 08, 2008

We are already a third world country.

Check where we stand in Infant Mortality Rate and quality of life...

[deathofusa]

Only a bully like Obama feels the need to pick on a 90 year old woman. Hey, at least now he is showing his true colors. More to come. With Obama''s health reform, anyone over 60 just needs to die. It is too expensive keeping these old geezereds alive. You are young and have a major chronic illness, too bad. You are a liability to America. No more research. That''s is done. Obama has already said that we are going to start purchasing medications from other countries. Not our own. Wow. I guess between his bankrupting the coal producers and his purchasing medications from other countries, we will be a third world country in about 6 months. Yippee.

[joezap5]

devilSPEAKS, Trying to find fault before he is president what a true American. "COUNTRY FIRST" numb NUZTZS!!!

Oh, I forgot that''s only if McLoser wins!!

[joezap5]

ChicagoRail8, Dude, I agree with you, but your only losing the point and making us look bad by texting so much no one else can make a point. Leave the silencing of opposition to neocon airhead AM Radio conspiricy theorists...

[devilspeaks]

Keep up the good work Obama?
Seances is something for CHANGE!
On your inauguration day do not forget to include the wicthes.
Also when you take your oath do not forget to use the Koran!

[likeitis5050]

Our country can finally start to get back its reputation and not be the laughingstock of the world. There is hope for our future - even yours. I am a 51 year old white woman and I supported Barack Obama in our March primary and have become more and more impressed with his ideas and the way he handles himself. The blue states are wonderful and I am proud to be in one of them.


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Posted by ggm1957

Glad to see your tolerance for differing opinions and tastes is still in tack...a trademark of the Obama supporter. Good for you, go blue...only blue...since you obviously are so patriotic....again. What garbage.

[likeitis5050]

What a kidder...I bet he and MO are just a hoot to hang with...crackin'' smack on everyone not in their attendance...then fist bumpin'' when they amuse themselves. What a breath of fresh air they are in this world...really...global freshness...universal even. Aren''t we so blessed?

[marshmy]

Posted by obamathenig at 05:18 PM : Nov 08, 2008
Posted by obamathenig at 05:00 PM : Nov 08, 2008

I usually take your posts with a grain of salt.

May I suggest you use a large dose of Epsom Salts.
Convinced you need it.
Watch out for your white sheet, however.

[ggm1957]

obamathenig, you are a disgusting piece of white trash. I voted for Obama and he already has made a difference. I am now proud of being an American which had sadly disappeared with the last 8 years. Our country can finally start to get back its reputation and not be the laughingstock of the world. There is hope for our future - even yours. I am a 51 year old white woman and I supported Barack Obama in our March primary and have become more and more impressed with his ideas and the way he handles himself. The blue states are wonderful and I am proud to be in one of them.

[element51]

Tex..As usual you just can''t resist throwing your two cents worth in. I supported Obama but NEVER, not once did I ever say anything bad about Clinton or Bush. You are such a sorry piece of ***** that you have to take other peoples words and twist them into what you want them to be. You are one of the most disgusting excuses for a human being I have ever seen. You think you are God''s gift to the world but you are nothing but a boil on the arse of humanity. And from this point forward I will NOT respond to anything you have to say. Oh, I know, you don''t care. I sincerelly hope that life crapps all over you. You deserve nothing but the worst. So, that''s it old lady. You no longer exist.

[marshmy]

Ads by Google
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Funny thing, that same ad by Google appeared yesterday, but then, Obama''''s IQ was listed as 140...

Must have lost ten points after that ridiculous press conference yesterday....


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Posted by msay3 at 11:31 AM : Nov 08, 2008

And a few days earlier it said George Bush''s was 130.
A couple of points short of MENSA membership. NOT !!

[devilspeaks]

What''''''''s not to love about Obama?
These are all things he promised in his historic campaign.

Posted by HawkSprings at 04:33 PM : Nov 08, 2008

Thats it love the good in him and not the right or wrong of the obedience to Gods word. This way there is never a standard but someones idea of good which is folly. The promise is never tasted but the hope is always squandered on someone not wanting Gods absolutes in right and wrong. You are forever lost with no hope without Christ. Perfect you always fall for it every time!