Never Make a Hero. Even if it's Reagan.

Elliot Abrams is decrying Newt Gingrich because Gingrich spent a good deal of time bashing Reagan in the '80s.  Everyone has their heroes.


Dear Mr. Abrams: I am not a fan
Of Gingrich, and if you’d bear that in mind,
I think I can explain why I’m unkind
To most of your analysis. The man
Conservatives revere, the one who won
The war against the Communists (with aid
From Texan Charlie Wilson), unafraid
Of any confrontation, or a gun
Within the hands of any who would fight
Against the Soviets, is very dear
To you, and to Republicans. I fear
That he, though he was very often right
Is, as a hero, not a good idea.
I’ll here explain, beginning with the Shia:

The Reagan Era funded one Hussein
When he attacked Iran, and, using gas
He later used upon the Kurds, alas,
Did decimate the Shia. When the reign
Of rape and murder of the ruling men
Within El Salvador had come to light,
The White House had insisted all was right,
And kept the money coming to ‘em. When
The Colonel sold his missiles, you received
Two misdemeanors. Housing; EPA;
Dear god, it still continues. Fannie Mae
Has nothing on the man who you believed
Has led the world to freedom. We’d do well
To know his good, and send the rest to hell.