John Berman has been at ABC since 1995, and allowed to appear on television since 2001. He covered the 2008 campaign extensively, following John McCain and Mitt Romney during the primaries and then Barack Obama in the general election. He also spent more than 20 months chasing George W. Bush around the country as a producer from 1999 until 2001, earning the clever nickname, "Pain in the Ass," from our 43rd president. He is a frequent and sometimes welcome contributor to all of ABC's broadcasts.

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Nancy Reagan 'Very Impressed' by Obama, Ron jr Says

September 03, 2008 8:02 PM

Former First Lady Nancy Reagan is not attending this week’s Republican convention but her son, Ron, is. Newsweek.com’s Tammy Haddad and her TamCam caught up with the son of the Republican icon.  You can watch it HERE and hear Reagan describe his mother’s fondness for the current Democratic nominee.

“John McCain and my mother have known each for years and years. Her parents, and Cindy McCain’s parents go way back in Phoenix, Arizona. She’s grateful to John McCain for standing with her on the issue of stem cells and, of course, has officially endorsed him. She’s fine with John McCain, as I said, they’ve been friends for a long time."

“I can tell you though that she’s also very impressed with Barack Obama...she’s just impressed by his demeanor, is not just that he’s an eloquent guy and a guy who gives a good speech, a lot of people said that about my father too. But she sees through that. She’s been around a long time and she looks at Barack Obama and she sees the words, hears the words and she perceives character there. She thinks this is a good guy, a guy who means well and is a strong character,” Reagan said.

And Ron, who has rarely shared the political perspective of his parents, had this to say about Sarah Palin, “Sarah Palin is in no way qualified to be vice president or certainly president. John McCain is a 72 year old cancer survivor, not just any cancer, melanoma. Not just any melanoma, melanoma above the neck. It was his obligation to choose somebody who could realistically step into the big chair and Sarah Palin is not that person.”

Haddad, always quick with the follow up, added: “What does your mom think of her?

But on that one, Reagan did not have a comment from his mother. “I haven’t spoken to her about Sarah Palin. I have no idea.”

September 3, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (106)

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Wow...wasnt expecting that one. Obama is having one heck of a great week considering this is supposed to be Mccain's week!

Posted by: mo | Sep 3, 2008 8:09:17 PM

I was not a Reagan fan (didn't like what he did to the air traffic controllers) but I always thought the family had class. Thank you Ron for being honest. What you said is exactly how so many of us feel about this election.

Posted by: Mary | Sep 3, 2008 8:19:30 PM

Sarah has EXECTUTIVE experience *running a government* (something NONE of the other candidates can actually boast, even John McCain as Governor of Alaska and got there by defeating the *incumbent* Republican Governor, who was definitely part of the “old school” and who WAS very much in the pocket of the big oil companies. We in Alaska wanted change – and we got it in the person of Sarah Palin!

Sarah Palin is everything she looks to be and more. Her approval rating as Governor of Alaska has been as high as 95% and is currently leveled out consistently in the upper 80 percentile throughout the state (and in both parties) - the HIGHEST approval rating of ANY sitting Governor.

Posted by: GoUSA247 | Sep 3, 2008 8:21:07 PM

Everyone should doubt what Ron Jr. says about anything.

Why? Because Ron Jr. has been trying to get media attention for himself since his Dad was president.

We already know that Nancy Reagan has endorsed John McCain.

Does anyone really believe that Former President Ronald Reagan would vote for Far Left Obama if "The Great Communicator" was still alive?

Posted by: USmarine0331 | Sep 3, 2008 8:21:12 PM

At Nancy Reagan is wise and smart. She is not fooled by the hype of the Republicans. You see Nancy knows the true from the fake.

Posted by: lowes4321 | Sep 3, 2008 8:24:50 PM

The Reagans understand that America's greatness in the world will revive under Obama just as it revived under Reagan. Obama, who is as beloved in the countries of our close allies as he is at home, will give America enormous powers that will have a great and very positive economic impact on American bussinesses. Bill Clinton had that effect as well.

The election of McCain would be a TOTAL disaster for our once shining and exemplary country. The country would simply collapse, Wall Street first.

Posted by: herta | Sep 3, 2008 8:28:18 PM

Thank you, Ron and Nancy, for being so honest while too many other Republicans are either in denial or too afraid to speak the truth unless caught accidentally by microphones.

McCain/Palin is finished. Over.
And to think they haven't even accepted their nomination yet!

All aboard the McSame and Failin'...
TITANIC 08!!!

Posted by: Gee Whizz | Sep 3, 2008 8:31:30 PM

It seems the more the Republicans try to sell Palin and say she has the highest this and the best this I am very suspicious. If she is doing such a good job why don't someone go to Alaska and interview some of the regular people and not the Republicans--This post by G0USA247 in on the McCain payroll. I like the people from Missouri
I will stand by and watch but you have to show me. All questions will be answered soon enough!!

Posted by: lowes4321 | Sep 3, 2008 8:32:57 PM

We need to get over worshipping former leaders and beatifying them. Instead of looking backwards, it's time to move forward.

To me, the best part of Obama's speech was the part where he said that it's time we find what we agree on rather than focusing on what we disagree on. I believe that in spite of the partisan nonsense going on right now, McCain thinks the same way. That's enough hope for me.

Posted by: MIguy | Sep 3, 2008 8:37:32 PM

GoUSA247,

Yes, an approval rating that she shares with Putin across the Bering Strait. No wonder that they like her; she puts Alaska first, securing billions in federal earmarks for her state.

Posted by: El_Pajaro | Sep 3, 2008 8:39:46 PM

The Governor Palin pick would be more "effective" if she was a Governor in her second term or the end of her first term and from a state with a "larger" population. It would support his campaign of "experience" that he ran on all year long. He is changing his slogans every other month. I forget what his original slogan was but he immediately changed it the night Senator Obama received the delegate count to be the presumptive nominee, "A Leader You Can Believe In", which was not original. The McCain camp borrowed Senator Obama's campaign slogan which he HAS NEVER changed. Now it is "country first", a ploy to convince the easily swayed and scared to question his democrat opponent's patriotism. We forget 911 happen on a republican President's watch.

Governor Palin was selected to do just this, attract attention to John McCain's woeful campaign. He did not count on it attracting NEGATIVE attention. And of course, the second reason was to garner women's votes, but this woman, Governor Palin, doesn't support anything a woman would.

Posted by: CitizenAJ | Sep 3, 2008 8:46:41 PM

People keep saying Palin has executive experience.

Sadly they missed the part where she almost got recalled as mayor. Try to censor books. Engaged in crazed loyalty firings like the Bush Administration. THEN left her little town of 6000 with a debt $22 million.

And as Governor. . . . even her own state papers and Republican state colleagues think she's a joke. Troopergate, Bridge to Nowhere, Alaskan secessionist membership, and bankrupting an historical milk factory. There's just too much to list.

She has experience. It's just all incompetent. And no, that's not because she's a woman. That's what she did.

Posted by: ROB | Sep 3, 2008 8:52:40 PM

WHO CARES.....NANCY REAGAN HAS ENDORSED McCAIN/PALIN!
ME TOO AND MILLIONS OF US. Women voters are 54% of the population and many were sickened by what they did to Hillary...so glad we just learned a lesson and so quickly have a chance to jump on it. Palin more qualified than the "suit" on the top of their ticket!
What a joke.
HILLARY SUPPORTER FOR McCAIN/PALIN

Posted by: Debra | Sep 3, 2008 9:06:36 PM

Ron the homosexual drools over Obama....why am I not surprised?

Posted by: Debra | Sep 3, 2008 9:07:53 PM

Someone above said "Sarah Palin is all she appears to be and more" Yes, couldn't agree more..... she appears to be TOTALLY UNQUALIFIED, and worse.
HA HA HA IN YOUR FACE GOP, even Nancy sees OBAMA is a quality candidate.
GO Mr O... 2008 and 2012

Posted by: valerie in GA | Sep 3, 2008 9:15:21 PM

Boy Rob you did some digging,so did I and there is more to come.Right on the money, poor McCain what a mistake. I am a woman and I'll bet Hillary is very upset with some women leaving the Democrat party just because they are women - makes no sense to me.

Posted by: Margo | Sep 3, 2008 9:21:40 PM

just like ike,s grand daughter.. do you new wave republicans knwo why the old school republicans are for obama? because teh modern republican party is worse then they thought the old democrat party was.

Posted by: tom | Sep 3, 2008 9:38:25 PM

Ronald and Nancy Reagan were apparently friends with McCain's FIRST wife and were not happy with the way he treated her. I've read they gave the discarded wife a job in the White House and were very fond of her, and very cool to the discarder after that.

Posted by: Texas Mom | Sep 3, 2008 9:38:42 PM

Word of wisdom from the highly respected Mrs. Reagan.God will protect you we need you around to help the world,not just only USA. OBAMA/BIDEN 08/12

Posted by: mike | Sep 3, 2008 9:44:00 PM

Happy to know someone has checked how the Reagans felt about McCain leaving his first wife,they wouldn't talk to him for years.Guess I don't understand being a loyalist just because,because? I'm an Independant and have watched both conventions on PBS and never heard so many untruths and half truths on both sides,so far Republicans win that,but its not over.Hard to believe people will believe anything and write anything without really checking it out for themselves.Seems like a nation of sheep.What will happen to this great country really concerns me.

Posted by: Margo | Sep 3, 2008 9:58:51 PM

@Debra

Seriously? SERIOUSLY?? Are you that unconcerned about your daughter's welfare that you would vote for this "woman" who's against reproductive health/birth control education, who has line-item-vetoed funding for shelter/food/education for unwed teenage mothers (even having one herself, suddenly), for governmental corruption, cronyism, and abuse of power comparable and possibly exceeding that of the Bush administration? You were never a Hillary voter, and you're being disingenuous by trying to fake it here.

Posted by: VaginaVoter in IN | Sep 3, 2008 10:02:00 PM

Obama will change America for the good. We have had 8 years of the worst administration in modern history. There were many qualified Women on the Republican side. Sarah Palin is not one of them. McCain will flip flop in a minute for a vote.

Posted by: scott rank | Sep 3, 2008 10:17:44 PM


FACE IT MORONS, REPUGS WILL LIE, CHEAT, STEAL, WHINE, BOTCH, LIE CHEAT, PANDER, LIE, PANDER TO JUST KEEP UP IN THE POLLS..


YOU CAN'T WIN AGAINST THE OBAMA MACHINE..

YOU REPUGS ARE SO OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY IS LOOKS FOOLISH OF YOU TO EVEN TRY..


LMAO!!

SILLY REPUGS!!

REPUBLICANS MIRROR COMMUNIST!!

Posted by: Sue | Sep 3, 2008 10:24:34 PM


McCain is going to be swift Boated as a Corrupt Pervert for picking a 44 year old Beauty Queen..


I remember him doing that before to his Wife and Mistress!!!


Britney, Paris, Palin, Cindy and his ex wife..


McSHAME...

What a Perv!!

Next we will here McCain saying Palin, PULL MY FINGER C.NT!!

Posted by: Titus | Sep 3, 2008 10:25:33 PM

She knows that Obama is a real leader and that McSame is just the same old rhetoric.

Posted by: con me not | Sep 3, 2008 10:34:52 PM

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