A conversation with Ralph Reed

with Ralph Reed
in Lifestyle, Current Affairs, Religion
on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 * * * * *

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A conversation with political strategist Ralph Reed.

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Keywords:
Ralph Reed
Jack Abramoff
President
George Bush
2008 elections
Conservative

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  • Comments 26
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    1. winter  04/06/2009 12:29 AM Report

      Lets tax these guys. Not the little church or even the catholic parishs but the multi millionaire televangelists.

      The ones that who prey on little old ladies estates and convince the feeble minded to tithe their cookie money to these hillbilly drama queens and the charimatic leaders with the multi thousand dollar suits and the gold bracelets. Now THAT is what China doesn't allow. Dalai Lama the reincarnation of God my hindquarters.

    2. james  11/02/2008 08:30 AM Report

      I just saw Reed talking about his book, Dark House, and noted that he was making up lies about poles which stated that republicans voted on issues like the economy.

      Wrong!!! A Lie!! Everyone I talked to who voted for Bush in the last election said they did so because of abortion ( the consistant bait for votes) and for the made up concern of gay marriage and, 'that' was their only reasons because they couldn't even reasonably comment on other issues.

    3. Adam Zappa  08/17/2008 01:04 PM Report

      That's the problem with words; anyone can CALL themselves a Christian. This punk makes me puke!

    4. Lisa A Tenasco  08/14/2008 05:20 PM Report

      …………………………………R.R.FUN QUOTES………………………………………………...

      …….…………….Moyers on Reed, “once said of his political tactics.”………………………….

      “I do guerrilla war fare, I paint my face and travel at night. You don't know it's over until you're in a body bag." ………………………………………………………………………………..

      ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

      “Just let me know who to call, when to call and what to say.” ………………………………….

      ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

      “We are opening the bomb bays and holding nothing back.” …………………………………..

      ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

      “one of the greatest cancers growing on the American body politic” …………………………..

      ….……... true, true - but a little narcissistic don’t you think ……………………………………..

      ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

      ………………………………….. MOYERS QUOTES……………………………………………..

      “Olasky is editor-in-chief of ‘World’, the leading national journal of the evangelical right. The magazine spent seven months investigating Reed's involvement with Abramoff.” …………...

      ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

      “Americans for Tax Reform, the organization that funneled money to Ralph Reed.” …..…….

      ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

      “Reed was being paid millions to dupe his fellow Christians”………………...………………….

      ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

      “his weapons included bogus Christian front groups.”………………………...………………….

      ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

      …………………………………. and the best is yet to come ……....…………………………….

      “He now runs a PR firm in Atlanta and is on the host committee for a John McCain event later this month.” ……………………………………………….…………………………………….

      ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

      …………………………………. JUST FOR FUN – REALLY!...................................................

      ……………….Excerpted Comment by truth teller on Thursday, Jun 19 at 04:33 PM………...

      ………………..………..and behind the scenes at truth tellers dinner table…………………….

      ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

      TRUTH TELLER: Charlie, Thanks for having Ralph Reed on your show. I have not seen him in a long time…….……………………………………………………………………………….

      >> is that because he only comes out at night with a guerilla suit on and paint all over his face? ……...…………………..……………………………………………………………………….

      >>> shush! TT’s writing to Charlie Rose! ...…………..………………………………………….

      ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

      TRUTH TELLER: I believe it is inconvenient for the major networks to air his insights. ……..

      >> and his quotes, don’t forget his quotes! Oh ya, quotes come from his insight that’s right, forget it - okay, sorry to interrupt. …………...……………………………………………….

      ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

      TRUTH TELLER: He is an interesting analyst…………………………………………………….

      >> TT really thinks that? Not his ‘bosses’? You know the ones tells him who to call, when to call, and what to say?..........................………………………………………………………….

      ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

      TRUTH TELLER: not just another cookie-cutter version of what passes as analysis by the networks. …………..………………………………………………………………………………….

      >> Go TT!! They’re always trying to outFox us aren’t they!.....……………………………….

      ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

      TRUTH TELLER: Also Charlie, I would like to mention that your interviewing style seems to be more moderate and above the fray than many of your counterparts. ..…………………….

      >> ya, you should tell him to do the German guy next because everyone KNOWS he’s a jerk! …………………………………………………………………………………………………….

      >>> and everyone knows he’s dead too! ……………………...………………………………….

      ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

      TRUTH TELLER: You can tell by some of the comments, that those on the left make, that you are supposed to walk lock-step with those who would immediately bash Ralph Reed based on a presumption that all interviewers are supposed to share the leftâ??s ideology. ..

      >> sorry to interrupt – but by “leftâ??s” does he mean afraid-of-the-dark crybabies want Charlie to leave his light on because the guerrilla wants to put him in a body bag too? …….

      >>> yes, but more importantly TT’s wants Charlie feel ‘special’ so he’ll keep helping the guerilla. …….………………………………………………………………………………………….

      ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

      TRUTH TELLER: One of the great things about Tim Russert, for instance, is that he came out of the Democratic Party, but was always very impartial in his interviews. ………………...

      >> Yeah! See TT knows Dems are much nicer than Reps (they don’t even bother trying to do fair interviews anymore!) …………………………………………………………………….

      >>> Shhhh! TT’s a Rep dummy! Don’t make them angry – remember the body bags!.........

      ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

      TRUTH-TELLER: That is a quality that few in journalism can profess too. ….……………….

      >> Tell’em TT! Hear that O’Riley! Oops that’s right, he’s not a journalist – he just cuts cookies! …………………........……………………………………………………………………….

      >>> Oh TT, I tried! They’re just not getting it! It’s just too hard to keep the crybabies ignorant anymore (thanks a lot Reed - you big showoff). Well, the cats out of the bag and I’m out of here, good luck. TT, sure you don’t want to join us? Better to be wrong now than sorry later. Come on, I know your backs been killing you – just think YOU CAN STAND STRAIGHT-UP AGAIN!

    5. Lisa A Tenasco  08/14/2008 05:19 PM Report

      OOPS, NO FORMATTING ALLOWED I GUESS. I'll try to work around it, and re-submit (sorry for the mess below.) If this one doesn't work... I'll give up.

    6. Lisa Tenasco  08/14/2008 04:33 PM Report

      R.R. FUN QUOTES

      …………….Moyers on Reed, “once said of his political tactics.”………………….

      “I do guerrilla war fare, I paint my face and travel at night. You don't know it's over until you're in a body bag."

      “Just let me know who to call, when to call and what to say.”

      “We are opening the bomb bays and holding nothing back.”

      “one of the greatest cancers growing on the American body politic”

      ….……... true, true - but a little narcissistic don’t you think …………

      MOYERS QUOTES

      “Olasky is editor-in-chief of ‘World’, the leading national journal of the evangelical right. The magazine spent seven months investigating Reed's involvement with Abramoff.”

      “Americans for Tax Reform, the organization that funneled money to Ralph Reed.”

      “Reed was being paid millions to dupe his fellow Christians”

      “his weapons included bogus Christian front groups.”

      …………………………………. and the best is yet to come ……....…………………….

      “He now runs a PR firm in Atlanta and is on the host committee for a John McCain event later this month.”

      JUST FOR FUN – REALLY!

      Excerpted Comment by truth teller on Thursday, Jun 19 at 04:33 PM

      ……..………..and behind the scenes at truth tellers dinner table…………………….

      TRUTH TELLER: Charlie, Thanks for having Ralph Reed on your show. I have not seen him in a long time.

      >> is that because he only comes out at night with a guerilla suit on and paint all over his face?

      >>> shush! TT’s writing to Charlie Rose!

      TRUTH TELLER: I believe it is inconvenient for the major networks to air his insights.

      >> and his quotes, don’t forget his quotes! Oh ya, quotes come from his insight that’s right, forget it - okay, sorry to interrupt.

      TRUTH TELLER: He is an interesting analyst

      >> TT really thinks that? Not his ‘bosses’? You know the ones tells him who to call, when to call, and what to say?

      TRUTH TELLER: not just another cookie-cutter version of what passes as analysis by the networks.

      >> Go TT!! They’re always trying to outFox us aren’t they!

      TRUTH TELLER: Also Charlie, I would like to mention that your interviewing style seems to be more moderate and above the fray than many of your counterparts.

      >> ya, you should tell him to do German guys next ‘because everyone KNOWS he’s a jerk!

      >>> and everyone knows he’s dead too!

      TRUTH TELLER: You can tell by some of the comments, that those on the left make, that you are supposed to walk lock-step with those who would immediately bash Ralph Reed based on a presumption that all interviewers are supposed to share the leftâ??s ideology.

      >> sorry to interrupt – but by “leftâ??s” does he mean afraid-of-the-dark crybabies want Charlie to leave his light on because the guerrilla wants to put him in a body bag too?

      >>> yes, but more importantly TT’s wants Charlie feel ‘special’ so he’ll keep helping the guerilla.

      TRUTH TELLER: One of the great things about Tim Russert, for instance, is that he came out of the Democratic Party, but was always very impartial in his interviews.

      >> Yeah! See TT knows Dems are much nicer than Reps (they don’t even bother trying to do fair interviews anymore!)

      >>> Shhhh! TT’s a Rep dummy! Don’t make them angry – remember the body bags!

      TRUTH-TELLER: That is a quality that few in journalism can profess too.

      >> Tell’em TT! Hear that O’Riley! Oops that’s right, he’s not a journalist – he just cuts cookies!

      >>> Oh TT, I tried! They’re just not getting it! It’s just too hard to keep the crybabies ignorant anymore (thanks a lot Reed - you big showoff). Well, the cats out of the bag and I’m out of here, good luck. TT, sure you don’t want to join us? Better to be wrong now than sorry later. Come on, I know your backs been killing you – just think YOU CAN STAND STRAIGHT-UP AGAIN!

    7. Iqbal Faizer  08/03/2008 11:45 AM Report

      Dear Charlie,

      The least you could do is treat scum like Ralph Reed with the proportionate respect with which you speak to defenders of the misunderstood and discriminated like Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Reed is the worst kind of man, fueled by greed and ego. Here's a brilliant piece of journalism by Bill Moyers on Jack Abramoff, showing Reed's connections to his manipulation of religious followers in the name of exploiting native tribes and indentured servants in the Marianas:

      http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/08012008/watch.html

      I expect and need more of you, Charlie, not more nationalism and friendliness toward the right wing that is destroying the world for the most selfish ends.

    8. shane dresen  08/02/2008 05:54 PM Report

      Ralph Reed participated in the 'selling' of America (see Bill Moyers Journal Capital Crimes 8/01/08)...Charlie unwittingly got taken in by the choir boy con-artist, a true wolf in sheep's clothing.

      Power, position, truth, all are for sale today. The Abramoff/Reed Connection would be a great thriller...sadly Charlie Rose missed the chance of a true journalist. I wonder what he got paid for that.

    9. Donna Bailey-Thompson  06/25/2008 09:18 PM Report

      I purposefully avoided tuning in to Ralph Reed's presence sullying Charlie's table. My aversion to Ralph Reed began 20 years ago when I looked into his face in a tv closeup and/or magazine cover and the word "charlatan" sprang from my gut.

    10. Mark  06/25/2008 02:15 PM Report

      A book endorsed by Karl Rove and Sean Hannity.

      Charlie, you forgot to read the introduction by Rush Limbaugh and the postscript by Roger Ailes.

      What a putz you sometimes are, Rose. What a buffoon!

    11. jaden  06/21/2008 01:08 PM Report

      I have no love for Ralph Reed, but some of the comments here come from emotion and not thoughtful analysis of the actual interview. The topic was current events and Reed's book. Reed's past is a different issue and different interview, which is not likely to take place. In this interview Reed showed his political insight and gave viewers, at least those who were truly listening and not merely judging, information they might not have considered or known about. Like him or not, Reed provided useful insight.

    12. Joanna  06/20/2008 11:39 PM Report

      Ralph, Walter, and Max. What a great show! Variety is good. First time I've seen Ralph Reed interviewed and liked and heard what I saw. Charlie did well bringing out personalities, thoughts of all three.

    13. George  06/20/2008 07:03 PM Report

      Reed was associated with Jack Abramhoff? The J.A. in this Post story?? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/18/AR2008061803137.html

      Why didn't Charlie ask him questions about it? Reed could have used the opportunity to refute them if they are not true.

    14. Nk  06/20/2008 04:44 PM Report

      He sure in hell has the face of a Republican

    15. Cameron L. Stewart  06/20/2008 12:11 PM Report

      I was so discouraged listening to Ralph Reed.

      You would think that someone as astute and thoughtful as Reed could work to make this a better world rather than help contribute to its problems. We live in an unsustainable civilization threatened by greenhouse gas emissions, water, oil and industrial metal shortages, environmental destruction, overpopulation, corporate third world exploitation, crumbling infrastructure, a deteriorating economy, Washington political corruption, corporate media censorship, resource privatization, and so forth. And yet after 25 years, the Christian Coalition still lives in a fantasy bubble world as if promoting Religious Fundamentalism, outlawing abortion, and packing the courts with neocon judges are the sole crucial issues of the day. How does the United States get off the dime and begin to assume leadership again in tackling major world problems - problems that it is largely responsible for creating by pursuing world empire for the last 60 years - when our political system is held hostage by extreme right wing Evangelical Christians? Charlie had sense enough not to ask Ralph Reed the tough questions a high school senior could have asked. What would be the point?

    16. L S Bailey  06/19/2008 10:22 PM Report

      My husband and I are appalled that the likes of Ralph Reed could appear on the Charlie Rose program. Will Jack Abramoff be next?

    17. sock puppet - again  06/19/2008 09:06 PM Report

      Charlie has Abramoff as a key-word. Making his omission a very aware and studied intent. Makes one wonder what kind of pre-conditions are entered into before interviews. Like - "Don't embarrass me or I wont come on." Would Tim Russert sold out ala this (glaring) possibility?

    18. sycophantish sock puppet  06/19/2008 08:56 PM Report

      Enthralled with 1st post, by Barbara Allen Kenney at 01:32 PM. Repasted here: "Charlie Rose's puffball interview with Ralph Reed was just what the publicist ordered. A glaring omission: No questions asked about Mr. Reed's associations with Jack Abramoff and the insider lobbyist scandal. The ultra-conservative,choirboy image was not to be besmirched by such unseemly inquiries. Mr. Rose's lack of journalistic zeal, in this instance, was cloyingly obvious and reprehensible for someone with his platform and reach. This was a bad showing for the host, who most days manages to ask the right questions in a meandering, longwinded fashion (posed before the guest has finished answering the last query)." Spot on. I wish I'd a said that.

    19. M J Stevulak  06/19/2008 08:29 PM Report

      -You do yourself and your program a disservice by having a guest with the questionable ethics and record of Ralph Reed!

    20. TABS  06/19/2008 05:06 PM Report

      Looking into the soul of the "last innocent" generation...When we was growin up we was all told by our teachers in school that America was the GREATEST, that we represented everything good in the world and that everybody loved America and Americans for it. That America was honest as the day was long.....Then something happened that started to change our opinions. That was the death of JFK, we didn't quiet believe what our HONEST, NEVER TELL A LIE government told us about it.

      We started to examine and question what we was told in school and found out a different truth about America, that it had blemishes and warts and all. That we were not always on the side of right, and always wore white hats . Some of us got so angry that we was lied to by our teachers and government, that we never forgave those lies we was told. Some of us keep pointing out the flaws and get angry when our government can not live up to the IDEALIZATION that we was told about, by our teachers in school when we was young. Today them people are called America Hating Liberals.................

      PS....This observation of American political life is not warranted under the Ralph Reed interview. However this is the best place to post it on the Charlie Rose web site.

    21. TABS  06/19/2008 04:49 PM Report

      Mr Reed is one sharp cookie who looks at problems and solutions from multiple angles. Since Mr Reed represents the Republican or conservative point of view he seemed quiet hesitant to give Mr Obama any free analytical advice as to who his running mate should be.

    22. Chico  06/19/2008 04:44 PM Report

      Is overturning Roe vs Wade the only concern of evangelical voters? As Christians they must be concerned about poverty, human rights, war, and health care. Mr Reed is attempting to use the wedge issue of abortion to mobilize evangelicals to vote republican.

    23. truth teller  06/19/2008 04:33 PM Report

      Charlie,

      Thanks for having Ralph Reed on your show. I have not seen him in a long time. I believe it is inconvenient for the major networks to air his insights. He is an interesting analyst and not just another cookie-cutter version of what passes as analysis by the networks.

      Also Charlie, I would like to mention that your interviewing style seems to be more moderate and above the fray than many of your counterparts. You can tell by some of the comments, that those on the left make, that you are supposed to walk lock-step with those who would immediately bash Ralph Reed based on a presumption that all interviewers are supposed to share the leftâ??s ideology.

      One of the great things about Tim Russert, for instance, is that he came out of the Democratic Party, but was always very impartial in his interviews. That is a quality that few in journalism can profess too.

    24. MotherLodeBeth  06/19/2008 03:26 PM Report

      Yeah, where were the hard ball questions about Reeds connection with Jack Abramoff and the fact it cost Ralph Reed the election in his home state? And I was so bemused by the lack of brain cells when it comes to the fact that as a woman I am pro choice even if I dislike abortion. And a President sends men and women to war to die, whereas abortion is a private issue between the woman and her God. Thus war is a bigger concern of mine and the reason I will not, support Senator McCain. And where were the hard ball questions about McCains total lack of religious faith? At least Senator Obama has a walk the talk Christian faith and is actually interested in what others have to say. America is much more a purple state place than red or blue. Bland empty interview.

    25. I just became important  06/19/2008 02:37 PM Report

      Now that's timing! I just became an independent and found out that I am part of the powerful swing vote. Schwing! I think this may be the first time Ralph and I ever agreed. The second was that lovely tie/shirt combo. Nice! I expect we will continue to diverge on just about every other thing under the sun.

    26. Barbara Allen Kenney  06/19/2008 01:32 PM Report

      Charlie Rose's puffball interview with Ralph Reed was just what the publicist ordered. A glaring omission: No questions asked about Mr. Reed's associations with Jack Abramoff and the insider lobbyist scandal. The ultra-conservative,choirboy image was not to be besmirched by such unseemly inquiries. Mr. Rose's lack of journalistic zeal, in this instance, was cloyingly obvious and reprehensible for someone with his platform and reach. This was a bad showing for the host, who most days manages to ask the right questions in a meandering, longwinded fashion (posed before the guest has finished answering the last query).