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FLASHBACK : REAGAN DECIDES TO JOIN HANDS ACROSS AMERICA
NY TIMES ^ | 5-24-1986 | BERNARD WEINRAUB

Posted on 08/28/2014 10:53:38 PM PDT by Citizen Zed

President Reagan, in a change of plans, decided today to join ''Hands Across America'' on Sunday. The project seeks to help raise money and demonstrate compassion for the nation's hungry and homeless.

Donald T. Regan, the White House chief of staff, said Mr. Reagan told him this morning that after a family discussion Thursday night, the President had decided to participate in the effort to raise $50 million by forming a chain of millions of Americans from New York to California.

Ken Kragen, an organizer of the event, said it was ''terrific'' that Mr. Reagan and his wife, Nancy, were joining ''Hands Across America,'' in which participants contribute at least $10 each to help the hungry and homeless.

The climax of the event is scheduled to take place at 3 P.M. when the participants, including the Reagans, are to link hands and sing, ''We Are the World,'' ''Hands Across America,'' and ''America the Beautiful.'' While there has been concern about gaps in the line in the deserts of Califonia, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, Mr. Kragen predicted that the line would be 10 deep when it begins in New York.

Mr. Regan, in an interview, denied that the President had switched plans because of criticism that has emerged after his remarks this week that hunger in America was the result of a ''lack of knowledge'' by the poor about where to obtain food. Mr. Regan said that the President ''always wanted'' to participate in the event but that White House aides, including himself, initially opposed it because security and logistical problems.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS:
Now a days the country can burn through $50 million in about 5 minutes.
1 posted on 08/28/2014 10:53:38 PM PDT by Citizen Zed
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To: Citizen Zed

I hear that one-third of Americans are now on welfare.


2 posted on 08/28/2014 10:55:54 PM PDT by Slyfox (Satan's goal is to rub out the image of God he sees in the face of every human.)
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To: Slyfox

3 posted on 08/28/2014 10:58:32 PM PDT by Citizen Zed ("Freedom costs a buck o five" - Gary Johnston, TAWP)
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To: Citizen Zed

He is in heaven waiting for us all.

4 posted on 08/28/2014 11:03:34 PM PDT by Slyfox (Satan's goal is to rub out the image of God he sees in the face of every human.)
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To: Citizen Zed

I’d forgotten about “Hands Across America.” Such a classic example of “feel-good” liberalism. Ken Kragen was the biggest showbiz agent at the time (and had organized that other classic example of “feel-good” liberalism, USA For Africa — “We are the World”). I’m sure Reagan was pretty much shamed into taking part by his celebrity pals, and I can almost hear him sighing and grumbling about it! :)


5 posted on 08/28/2014 11:09:37 PM PDT by JennysCool (My hypocrisy goes only so far)
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To: Citizen Zed

And what was the result of “Hands Across America,” other than make liberals feel good about themselves for a few days?


6 posted on 08/28/2014 11:14:06 PM PDT by Cowboy Bob (They are called "Liberals" because the word "parasite" was already taken.)
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To: JennysCool

What’s wrong with private charities?

Have you read Malachi 3 where the Lord implores us to help Him “fill up His storehouses and He will “pour down an overflowing blessing(pressed down, shaken together) upon you”?

Help Jesus and someday He will pay you back 100 fold(Mark chapter 10).


7 posted on 08/28/2014 11:17:36 PM PDT by Finalapproach29er (luke 6:38)
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To: Finalapproach29er

NOTHING is wrong with private charities. Where did you come up with that from my comments?


8 posted on 08/28/2014 11:23:05 PM PDT by JennysCool (My hypocrisy goes only so far)
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To: Citizen Zed

The food bank people came to our Lions meeting and he went on about how it was hard to come by peanut butter and that it was a good source of protein, so I was going to try and find the money to buy a case for them, then he prattled on about how they didn’t ask for documentation and that many of their clients were illegals. My wallet snapped shut.


9 posted on 08/28/2014 11:31:11 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out for himself.)
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To: JennysCool

Hands across America raised a lot of money. I think that’s something Reagan wouldn’t have supported without pressure from others.


10 posted on 08/28/2014 11:32:03 PM PDT by Finalapproach29er (luke 6:38)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

One of our local church charities came to a Republican Women meeting and said they always require SSN cards.. when I asked about the illegal aliens who don’t have them I was told they don’t turn anyone away..

she couldn’t relate to the fact it was discrimination to require Americans to cough up documentation and let the illegal aliens get a free ride..

and that was a few years ago...


11 posted on 08/28/2014 11:43:26 PM PDT by Tennessee Nana
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To: Finalapproach29er
As the New York Times reported a year later:

Kenny Rogers stood in the blistering heat of the Southwest desert, and President Reagan participated in front of the White House. Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck joined hands with participants in Disneyland. There were parties at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, Calif,, and Battery Park in Manhattan.

But there were lots of gaps in between, and a lot of people did not send in their pledges, resulting in a net of only $15 million for the hungry and homeless after all costs were paid.

Organizers have found themselves on the defensive because the cost of mounting the event was $14 million to $16 million. Even though the cost was known in advance, its size in relation to donations hurt credibility.

"It was a net good," said Robert Hayes of the National Coalition for the Homeless in New York. "But they spent too much to raise too little and promoted a national extravaganza empty of content."

12 posted on 08/28/2014 11:44:56 PM PDT by JennysCool (My hypocrisy goes only so far)
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To: Slyfox

I LOVE THAT MAN! God Bless R. R.


13 posted on 08/29/2014 12:07:09 AM PDT by buffyt (Glowbull warming, the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on humanity.)
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To: Slyfox

One in Seven on EBT/Food Stamps.


14 posted on 08/29/2014 12:07:48 AM PDT by buffyt (Glowbull warming, the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on humanity.)
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To: Slyfox

A friend of mine who lives in a HUGE house near San Diego gets food stamps, while making $80K a year.


15 posted on 08/29/2014 12:08:58 AM PDT by buffyt (Glowbull warming, the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on humanity.)
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To: buffyt
A friend of mine who lives in a HUGE house near San Diego gets food stamps, while making $80K a year.

I remember standing in line to get surplus foods as a kid, but we were not on welfare. Yeah, we were poor. My dad worked hard to put food on our table.

My parents were looking to buy a bigger house because we needed the room. We looked at one house that the realtor told us was being rented by a single mom on welfare. This lady had a cupboard full of Pepperidge Farm cookies. Something about seeing all those expensive cookies made me proud my parents were not on welfare.

I realized later when I reflected on it that my dad's meager pay actually paid for those cookies.

16 posted on 08/29/2014 12:42:15 AM PDT by Slyfox (Satan's goal is to rub out the image of God he sees in the face of every human.)
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To: Slyfox

Nice! Your Dad sounds like a wonderful father who really took care of his family. Glad you learned some valuable lessons. Funny how that happens....that is why we have to be careful what our children see and do as it could change everything......I am referring to the liberal nonsense.


17 posted on 08/29/2014 1:02:18 AM PDT by napscoordinator (I guarantee every FRiend Misses the lost opportunity of a President Santorum!)
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To: JennysCool
...national extravaganza empty of content.

Sounds like every day under this administration.

18 posted on 08/29/2014 1:20:19 AM PDT by Rodamala
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To: Citizen Zed

link hands and sing, “We Are the World,”

Too bad they didn’t link hands around the world. How many American Liberals could we have lined up across the bottom of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans? What a contribution to humanity that would have been!


19 posted on 08/29/2014 3:04:14 AM PDT by samtheman
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To: Finalapproach29er

As far as I have been taught, that verse refers specifically to the temple, or its modern incarnation, the church. It is the churches job to give out charity and support the widow, the orphan, the downtrodden, etc. It is not the governments.

Private charities support all manner of government institutions, so the money they receive can go to their leaders and their staff. Look at all the huge six figure salaries that go along with leading some of the major charities in existence.


20 posted on 08/29/2014 5:58:56 AM PDT by wbarmy (I chose to be a sheepdog once I saw what happens to the sheep.)
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