Barnes rejects 'Reagan Day' push by GOP

Atlanta Journal Constitution | Friday, January 25, 2002 | Jim Tharpe

[Lance Romance]

Barnes rejects 'Reagan Day' push by GOP
Jim Tharpe - Staff
Friday, January 25, 2002

Republicans are accusing Gov. Roy Barnes of snubbing their elder statesman by refusing to issue a proclamation declaring Feb. 6 "Ronald Reagan Day."

But the governor's office says the state GOP is not playing by complex rules governing the 400 or so proclamations the governor issues during the year for things such as Vidalia Onion Week or Georgia Pecan Month.

"Proclamations do not commend individuals or organizations," reads the governor's office rules that determine who and what is honored by the state's chief executive.

House Minority Leader Lynn Westmoreland (R-Sharpsburg) three weeks ago sent a letter asking Barnes to honor Reagan's 91st birthday.

About two dozen governors, including Democrats in South Carolina and Hawaii, have issued such proclamations as part of the Ronald Reagan Legacy Project, said executive director David Kralik.

Kralik said other states have gotten around bans for individuals by honoring Reagan's presidency or the day of his birth. "If they really wanted to do it, they could," he said.

[Lance Romance]

I don't blame Barnes. Reagen invented homelessness, nuclear arms races and budget deficits. Oh yeah, he did that little thing where he destroyed the Soviet Union and had the Berlin Wall torn down. That certainly doesn't deserve any praise.

[Savage Beast]

Didn't Barnes have something to do with designing that stupid new flag Georgia now has?

[KC_Conspirator]

Reagen invented homelessness, nuclear arms races and budget deficits.

You forgot how he also created AIDS and baked crack in the White House basement so he could spread it all across American cities.

[dead]

You'd think the Georgia GOP might spend their time looking for some taxes to cut.

I guess that's not as important as day naming in meaningless proclamations.