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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCrist, 2 others told to stay away from Rep. Bill Young's funeral
ST. PETERSBURG --
The widow of Rep. C.W. Bill Young has issued strict instructions to a handful of politicians regarding her husband's funeral: Do not show up.
According to partner newspaper the Tampa Bay Times, Young's widow, Beverly, sent an email telling three politicians their presence at the longtime congressman's funeral would be unwelcome.
Young, who served 42 years in Congress, died Friday night at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center of complications from an old injury.
According to the Times, before he died, Young, 82, gave his wife a list of names he did not want at his funeral. Former Gov. Charlie Crist, Pinellas County Commissioner Charlie Justice and St. Petersburg lawyer Jessica Ehrlich have been asked to stay away.
In an email, Beverly Young wrote: "This e-mail is to officially advise you that your presence at my husband's memorial services will be unacceptable."
"I have watched over the years, as Bill had, your transparent attempts to manipulate the political arena. I don't want my husband's memorial service to be another opportunity for that, and I will not tolerate anyone turning this into a platform for political gain," she wrote.
There apparently was bad blood between Young and Crist, according to the Times. Justice and Ehrlich are Democrats who both ran against Young.
While those three are not invited, the public is invited to Young's public visitation Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The visitation will be held at the Bill Young Armed Forces Reserve Center, 2801 Grand Avenue in Pinellas Park. The public funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Indian Rocks, 12685 Ulmerton Road, Largo. A private burial will follow.
http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2013/10/22/politicians_told_to_.html
TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)warrior1
(12,325 posts)Lurks Often
(5,455 posts)the widow is entitled to exclude people from her husband's funeral that either he or she did not like.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)Only Republicans could pull that off while wearing black.
kiva
(4,373 posts)If it wasn't the widow, then she wasn't 'yammering'. The family has every right to decide who attends the funeral.
Sheldon Cooper
(3,724 posts)absence at the ceremony.
Lex
(34,108 posts)kiva
(4,373 posts)then I agree she is open to criticism for her statements.
Lurks Often
(5,455 posts)Was it the widow? If so, then yes criticism of her is valid.
If it was one of the three known recipients, then they are the ones who should be criticized.
Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200210/30_scheckt_backlash1/
By Tom Scheck
Minnesota Public Radio
October 30, 2002
Gov. Ventura says he was so upset by the partisan tone of the public eulogies for Paul Wellstone that he may appoint an independent to fill Wellstone's seat. Twenty-thousand people showed up at Williams Arena for a memorial service for Wellstone, his wife and daughter and three other campaign staffers, who died in a plane crash last Friday. Republican Party officials and many others also said they were upset that the service turned political.
I detest repubs. but to say they're the only ones who do it is plain incorrect.
Neither sides hands are clean.
EOTE
(13,409 posts)He was a strong progressive and I think he woul have appreciated his funeral being used to tout his liberal accomplishments. I found nothing of distaste in his funeral, but I did find the way the pukes reacted to it to be quite disgusting. It was certainly a fuck load less nauseating than Reagan's funeral and the 2 week long GOP orgy that accompanied it.
Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)I was just pointing out to the poster that repubs aren't they only ones who politicized a funeral.
Even his campaign staff apologized for the rhetoric.
EOTE
(13,409 posts)this crap. Of course they apologized, GOPigs squeal whenever they don't get their way. They shouldn't have, but there it is. I hope when I die that people don't hold their tongues at my funeral for fear of offending some backwards assholes. The only ones who politicized Wellstone's funeral were the same pigs squealing today. They couln't handle a funeral for a proud progressive with a proud progressive record.
Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)But, whatever.
EOTE
(13,409 posts)But, whatever.
Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)I just pointed out that both sides are guilty of politicizing such things as funerals.
But, whatever.
EOTE
(13,409 posts)GOPigs wanted and screamed for. Not that it had even a tangential relation to the truth. GOPigs really don't need a reason to lie out their asses. I do expect more from folks here, though.
Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)believe what you want, no skin off my behind.
kcr
(15,320 posts)would help your case.
Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)The Wellstone funeral, even his campaign staff apologized for the tone of the comments.
kcr
(15,320 posts)The campaign staff had nothing to apologize for. Whining about how partisan his funeral was is Republican whining talking point BS.
Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)believe what you will, his campaign staff disagreed.
kcr
(15,320 posts)Because I'm not a right winger. ETA Nice cutting to make it look like he was merely apologizing, but if you read what he said in context it's much different. I also notice you left out the Republican who didn't believe it was politicized and felt it was just what Wellstone wanted. Funny you don't agree with him.
Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)kcr
(15,320 posts)Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)kcr
(15,320 posts)Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)Certainly not me.
What you believe or don't believe is irrelevant to the article I posted.
I could care less who politicizes what, it goes on in both parties, it's part of politics in this nation.
kcr
(15,320 posts)Why would anyone? I didn't do anything to make anyone accuse me as such.
Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)Am I missing something here?
Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)I know exactly what you're implying, I'm just trying to get you to say it, but you seem to not have the courage of your conviction to come out and say what you mean.
kcr
(15,320 posts)Then what's the problem? I've made it clear enough, no?
Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)which, as far as I can see, nobody accused or even hinted that you were, yet, for some reason, you saw fit to make sure we knew you weren't.
EOTE
(13,409 posts)You'll forgive me if I don't put much stock into an argument that most middle schoolers would find to be utterly insubstantial.
Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)Have a good day.
Jenoch
(7,720 posts)John Kerry for one.
http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,388903,00.html
EOTE
(13,409 posts)There are plenty of democrats that disagree with me now as well, what does that have to do with the legitimacy of the argument? Republicans are awful good at screaming when they don't get their way. Because of that, a lot of people end up apologizing for stupid, petty shit. I typically don't judge something's merits by whether or not republicans squeal about it.
Jenoch
(7,720 posts)it's in poor taste for this widow in Florida to issue a press release like she did. The Wellstone memorial was politicized. His best friend asked the Republicans in the audience to vote for Vice-president Mondale, 'for Paul'. Trent Lott was booed. The organizers of the memorial service did not intend for the service to become a political event rather than a memorial event, but it did. I live 25 minutes from Williams Arena, there was a lot of local coverage that likely did not make national news. Of course the Republicans made a big deal out of it. There seem to be Democrats reacting in a similar fashion on this thread, although it is a much less important situation, it won't affect any election.
EOTE
(13,409 posts)Not the ones who organized the event. It's rather dull to blame the organizers for something the attendees do. It was also stupid for Trent Lott to have even showed up, magnanimity my ass. He was a strong liberal and he was remembered as such. My only disgust of that event was how republicans turned the remembrance of a great man into something sordid.
kcr
(15,320 posts)Had the Republicans not thrown a hissy fit about it. It was just typical bending over backwards to avoid being bullied by the big bad Republicans. It happens all the time.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)The funeral has not even happened yet. Only a Republican.
Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)and that wasn't my point.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)to this one, yet this one has not yet happened so the comparison is specious. I and others are discussing this widow taking time to make political points while whining about political points being made at a funeral. She says 'I fear you will to what I am doing right here and right now' which is as Republican as hypocrisy gets.
Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)not want Cheney to come it was done privately. It was the administration at the time that made it public that he was not welcome.
frazzled
(18,402 posts)If her husband truly requested that certain people not be there (I just read an article citing his consistent "civility" over the years), an email stating simply "I'm writing to let you know that Bill made a last request that you not be present at his funeral. I'd appreciate your compliance with his wishes."
Instead we get the "unacceptable" language and a tirade of accusations.
Not civil.
Lurks Often
(5,455 posts)If my spouse disliked someone so much to specifically exclude them from the funeral, I probably wouldn't be very polite either, especially while still upset about the death.
frazzled
(18,402 posts)That's just me, though.
Pretzel_Warrior
(8,361 posts)And say this is bringing political hate all the way to the grave. If these guys were known for holding press conferences outside of funerals they attend, then yeah I get it. But I doubt that is the case. Just bitter old Republicans doing what they do best. Hating early and often even when contemplating mortality.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)Pretzel_Warrior
(8,361 posts)the fact that I even publicly profess that we share agreement should be seen as baby steps. I finally decided you have no sense of humor. ;D
rurallib
(62,465 posts)Will they also be banned from the grave site?
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)This was totally unnecessary.
atreides1
(16,094 posts)Lex
(34,108 posts)Now who's actually trying to grandstand?
FSogol
(45,555 posts)Fla Dem
(23,785 posts)RockaFowler
(7,429 posts)They ran against him in the last election
Now Crist is the sworn enemy of all Repukes in this state for some reason. They had him as their "Golden Boy" 5 years ago. They are so callous and they wonder why people are leaving them in droves . . .
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)HappyMe
(20,277 posts)However, her request could have been worded better.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)HappyMe
(20,277 posts)involves anger, and if she isn't very nice I guess she worded it as best she could.
She can exclude whomever she wants. She sure created drama by doing this.
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)She's a hypocrite. Grieving widow or not. She bitches about manipulating the political arena and pulls this stunt - which is exactly that?
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)Even then, it could have got out somehow. This doesn't move my outrage meter that much. Worse things have happened.
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)I'd have sympathy for her breaking heart, but it's clear she doesn't have one.
Gormy Cuss
(30,884 posts)If the family was hosting a private event that would be different. When you declare something public you're inviting anyone who would like to attend.
I do understand not wanting political enemies to be there but the polite way to handle it is to ask them to respect the family's wishes, not issue a press release to announce the less-then-polite request made in email. The press release was making a public, political statement.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)Gormy Cuss
(30,884 posts)Calling it a right makes it sound like the law or government backs up the stance. Keep in mind I'm not saying that it would be appropriate for Crist or the others to ignore her request. It would be arrogant and unseemly at the very least and for a politician really stupid.
lpbk2713
(42,769 posts)If it was me in Crist's shoes, even if totally misunderstood I would honor
her request and then perhaps try to smooth the waters later on.
Myrina
(12,296 posts)"... transparent attempts to manipulate the political arena ..."
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)They can do that.
Rex
(65,616 posts)forgot all about her until the issue was brought to my attention. Then, I would forget about here post haste maybe email a condolences note and then go about my business.
The begging for attention is beyond pathetic...even from beyond the grave Repukes behave like 2 year olds.
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)And didn't even give his death a passing thought.
Of course, no politician would or should do that. It'd be a PR nightmare. Still...
HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)...it'll be low-key and classy. They aren't bomb-throwers.
savalez
(3,517 posts)HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)She definitely could have handled it better....makes her look bitter and petty. I have no idea what Crist feud is about. Justice and Ehrlich are two recent opponents, but AFAIK they ran clean and civil campaigns. What I can say is that over the past dozen years or so Bill Young was 100% the partisanship he claimed he disliked about DC.
kiranon
(1,727 posts)stand that says "Rest in Peace". Just sign it "Your friends".