Obama on Reagan
Democrats are in a tizzy about comments made by Barack Obama about Ronald Reagan. Give me a break, Obama didn't say that he thought Reagan was the shining star and that he would emulate this paragon of the Right. He didn't say he was the true son of Reagan -- as opposed to the GOP pretenders. What he does in this clip is simply say that Reagan set America on a new path in a way neither his predecessors nor successors did. He notes that America was looking for someone who would set them on a new path and would lead them with optimism.
I think there's truth to this statement. It has nothing to do with Reagan's policies and everything to do with the times. In 1980 we had lived through a long period of political turmoil, scandal, and as Jimmy Carter put it -- "malaise." I remember that period well. I had just graduated from college and couldn't find a job as a janitor. Finally in October of 1980, not long before the election I finally got on as a youth minister. And every night we watched as Nightline told us that the hostages were still in Iran. Reagan gave people a sense that they could get things going again.
That is what I think that Obama is saying. He's saying that we're at a crossroads in time. People are looking for leadership that will help transform America. We have been through nearly 8 years of incompetent leadership. Obama is really the only voice suggesting that we look forward rather than backward.
So I say to my net-roots friends, and to John Edwards and Hillary Clinton -- get a life. And, by the way -- Hillary seems to think similarly, according to the Daily Kos! So, Listen to what he's saying.
I think there's truth to this statement. It has nothing to do with Reagan's policies and everything to do with the times. In 1980 we had lived through a long period of political turmoil, scandal, and as Jimmy Carter put it -- "malaise." I remember that period well. I had just graduated from college and couldn't find a job as a janitor. Finally in October of 1980, not long before the election I finally got on as a youth minister. And every night we watched as Nightline told us that the hostages were still in Iran. Reagan gave people a sense that they could get things going again.
That is what I think that Obama is saying. He's saying that we're at a crossroads in time. People are looking for leadership that will help transform America. We have been through nearly 8 years of incompetent leadership. Obama is really the only voice suggesting that we look forward rather than backward.
So I say to my net-roots friends, and to John Edwards and Hillary Clinton -- get a life. And, by the way -- Hillary seems to think similarly, according to the Daily Kos! So, Listen to what he's saying.
Comments
http://acropolisreview.com/2008/01/john-edwards-vs-obama-and-reagan.html
After all, many of the state primaries on Tsunami Tuesday are closed--no indeps or GOP allowed, just true-blue Dems. With all these races so early, less time for damage control, remarks like this--however innocent in themselves--are simply risky.
Now, after you are the nominee, when you are reaching out to independents and reasonable Republicans in a general election, then this kind of statement could be heard more calmly--and could help you win. Timing is everything.