Bill Clinton (and Ted Kennedy) to Speak at Sen. Paul Simon's Funeral

NBC5 ^ | Dec. 12, 2003 | AP

[mountaineer]

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Bill Clinton heads a list of past and present government officials scheduled to speak at the funeral Sunday for former Sen. Paul Simon at Southern Illinois University.

Clinton will deliver an address at the public funeral, as will Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy, former Wyoming Sen. Alan Simpson and Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, university spokeswoman Sue Davis said Thursday.

The funeral is set to begin at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the SIU Arena. Carbondale is about 100 miles southeast of St. Louis.

Simon, 75, who had served as director of SIU's Public Policy Institute since retiring from the Senate in 1997, died Tuesday from complications after heart surgery.

Other speakers at Simon's funeral will include Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, who once was on his staff, and Abner Mikva, a former federal judge who served with Simon in the Illinois House, Davis said.

[sharkhawk]

Simon was one of the first to defend the sinkmeister. He was just another typical Rat who won his senatorial seat using massive illegal campaign contributions from Richard Denis to defeat Chuck Percy.

[TheRightGuy]

Simon would roll over in his grave if he knew Clinton was coming to his funeral.

Clinton wil manufacture a teary eye, humbly bow his head, ask forgiveness, and then pronounce that Simon didn't really mean to endorse Howard Dean the day before his death.

[N. Theknow]

Simon always reminded me of Mr. PotatoHead.

However, his was empty.

I cannot forget how he claimed to have "grown" in his knowledge of racial issues when he was lecturing someone who was up for confirmation before his committee that had been nominated by Reagan.

Quite an accomplishment to be pandering, pompous and condescending in one single statement.

Does he have any kids to "rally" the Dumbocrap base in attendance?

[Liberty Valance]

Get ready for the cameras to roll...The DNC will produce a campaign ad in there somewhere.

[Revolting cat!]

He was a good man, yes, a decent man who scuttled the impeachment trial of a, uhm I guess, a decent and good President! (Good and decent when he dies, by this logic!) Yes, a good man and a decent scoundrel. Heck, Bubba and Teddy could pick up handy quotes from this hate site to compose their oratories at the cemetery oratory!

[haywoodwebb]

Clinton at a funeral:

[ken5050]

Will the Dem 9, and Gore, and the Clintons, all attend...gonna be cute, no?

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

You miss so many shades in between with such a black and white perspective...

[TheRightGuy]

Will the Dem 9, and Gore, and the Clintons, all attend...gonna be cute, no?

Myself, I just can't wait to hear Al Sharpton's eulogy.

[wizardoz]

It's ironic, just two months ago, Simon hosted an appearance by Walter Cronkite at that very same arena. I was there. It was... interesting.

I might attend, and give Freepers a report after.

[wizardoz]

So why insult the man's character by having people like Clinton and Kennedy - utterly devoid of integrity - taint his funeral?

Listen, I know as Freepers we don't want to be like DU-ers and slam the dead, but let's not get carried away about Simon. I'm here at Carbondale. He took part in an America-bashing seminar after 9/11 where many students were required to attend by their professors. He was a huge fan of sending American soldiers to die in civil wars in Africa if and only if we had no vested interest to protect. He thought the marxist ANC in South Africa was great, and when I pointed out that they were hand in glove with the CPSA and that South Africa was worse off in terms of crime and human rights, he compared me to some nut who used to write him saying that Lithuanians secretly rule the world.

Of course, being Paul Simon, he did it very politely and with charm, but essentially, most of people's adoration of him stemmed from his Cronkite-like ability to deliver stunningly arrogant lines with a self-deprecating chuckle of humility. He was a great speaker. But there's no question what his ultimate goal for America was, and that puts him in the same league as Kennedy and Clinton. He may have refrained from some of the tackier things they have done (sex & alcohol) but... well... let's just not get carried away.

[aardvark1]

I'm glad I sold my stock in that bowtie manufacturer.

[Cicero]

I'll second that. His manners were charming, but his politics were poisonous. He did great harm to our country over the course of his career.

[Chi-townChief]

Well, Simon never said an intelligent thing in his life so these clowns can continue the tradition.

[mountaineer]

Good point. Simon's politics stunk big time, but even if he had a tiny shred of integrity, it's still an insult to have slimeballs like Clinton and Kennedy delivering bon mots at his funeral.

[MJemison]

. .if he knew Clinton was coming. .

I wonder how much BillyBob will charge Simon's estate for his "appearance".

[cajungirl]

I never get tired of that film clip,,it is an all time classic!

[Gritty]

Paul Simon had an ACU lifetime rating of "5".

A bigger Liberal, one can not imagine. May he "rest" with most of his Liberal friends,... and I think we have a pretty good idea where that is!

[Moby Grape]

I can see the bitting of the lower lip now....and, will Clinton also CRY if he spots the camera on him?

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Matt Baughman, Development Officer
Phone (618) 453-4009
Fax (618) 453-7800
baughman@siu.edu

Public Policy Institute
Southern Illinois University
Mail code 4429
Carbondale, IL 62901