Obama Picks Reagan Over Bill Clinton

[William769]

Obama is touting a new and unconventional brand of grass-roots politics, but his strategy borrows from precedents set by a previous generation of Democrats such as Jimmy Carter and Gary Hart. His advisers also invoke as inspiration a surprising Republican: Ronald Reagan.

"Now, it is blasphemy for Democrats," Obama pollster Cornell Belcher said of Reagan, "but that hope and optimism that was Ronald Reagan" allowed him to "transcend" ideological divisions within his own party and the general electorate.

http://www.taylormarsh.com/

[skipos]

1. Nice spin, Karl. nt

[William769]

7. Obams speaking what does Karl have to do with it?

[Cha]

65. I knew it would be a freakin' spin...

I've never seen anything else from the op. They're delirously desperate.

[geek tragedy]

2. Reagan was more successful than Clinton.

Truth sucks, but he achieved Republican goals a LOT more successfully than Clinton achieved Democratic goals.

Republican goals suck rocks, but Reagan achieved them.

[russian33]

5. i think Bush achieved lots of republican goals too

gonna bring him up next?

[Occam Bandage]

15. Bush, through his hyperpartisanship, nearly destroyed his party. No thanks.

[geek tragedy]

19. Bush, like Clinton, cost his party control of Congress. n/t

[indepat]

113. And the Gipper's "voodoo" economics, trickle down, et al have produced a nine-fold

increase in the national debt in just over twenty-five years and a much further concentration in wealth among the top 5% or so. Moreover, the jobs market, general economy and dollar have al gone to pot. Republican goals surely do suck for almost all of the remaining 95%. Obama will not get my vote for this one insight alone.

[Radical Activist]

132. Reagan also won a clear majority of the vote, while Clinton never did.

Not even in '96. If Obama can mirror Reagan's ability to get elected and pass an agenda then everyone should be thrilled.

[Politicub]

145. WHAT?!?!

Did Free Republic change its interface or something?

[beachmom]

3. Well, my parents were Reagan Democrats. It would be nice to

have Obama Republicans, now wouldn't it? Of course, that is not Clinton's plan. She just wants to eke out a razer thin win, and govern over division and partisan bickering. How dare we dream for something better.

[terisan]

37. Tell them they caused homelessness, housing loan disaster, burgeoning deficit income

gap widening, selling of arms to our enemies, torture throughout South America.

It is easy to pretend that injustice is ok. Tougher to fight it

[jasmine621]

4. Sorry, but it was not hope ushered Reagan into office, it was the same

racism that will work against Obama that put Reagan into office. And those of us who are old enough to remember and honest enough to admit it will say so. Rossaline Carter said it perfectly: "Reagan allowed people to feel comfortable with their prejudices" a close paraphrase.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

104. Yes - it was fear, not hope, that elected Reagan

Reagan's 1st term was propelled by fear and resentment against affirmative action, attempts to pass the Equal Rights Amendment and other perceived infringements upon the white power structure with which working and middle class whites identified. They didn't see that, to the real power, they were as insignificant as those they feared.

Reagan's 2nd term was propelled by fear that the rising unemployment, homelessness and crime that Reagan's policies produced would drive blacks to revolt. They denied that trickle-down economics created a tide of misery that, having engulfed the most vulnerable, was now rising around their ankles.

[Renew Deal]

6. Tayor Marsh

:rofl:

The Democratic Michelle Malkin without the money or the influence.

[William769]

8. I know you just love her!

:rofl:

[Renew Deal]

29. And, I watched the video. You're dissembling.

Obama doesn't pick anyone. He makes an analytical statement.

[Yael]

14. !!!

:spray:

[Cameron27]

33. Watch the damned video

and listen to Obama himself.

[Renew Deal]

40. I did.

Now what?

[Proud2BAmurkin]

9. BAAAAHA.

:puke:

[MrsT]

10. I know what you are trying to accomplish by posting this,

but I agree with Obama.

[CyberPieHole]

11. Obama and Bush W are cut from the same cloth...pandering to the lowest common denominator...

Obama praising Ray~gun is making me sick.:puke:

:kick: and recommend

[Occam Bandage]

12. If you want to adopt someone's tactics, I'd go Reagan over Clinton every time.

Reagan expanded his party, brought in millions of new voters, and made a previously-defunct ideology mainstream again. Clinton achieved victories by compromising principle, and left his party weaker ideologically than when he found it. I'd much rather we have our Reagan than have a second Clinton.

[William769]

16. Just like your candidate.

Go for it!

[Occam Bandage]

18. I've never before seen anyone argue *against* expanding your party's membership and strengthening

its ideology. I suppose if you'd prefer the party shrink and prefer it compromise its ideology for short-term gain, then you can go for that.

[William769]

21. In todays atmosphere , like I said gor for it!

[Occam Bandage]

28. I'm sorry, what does "in today's atmosphere" mean?

I can only read that as "in today's atmosphere, it's better to hurt your party than to grow it, and better to weaken its ideology than to strengthen its liberalism."

[terisan]

42. It is easy to grow support if you give up your core ideals, The challenge is in getting others to

share your ideals.

[Occam Bandage]

45. Actually, he's talking about refusing to give up core ideals, like Reagan did, and as

the Clintons did not. Clinton surrendered his ideals and hurt the party. Reagan stood firm and helped his.

Hope, optimism, postpartisanship--Reagan used those to push the right wing. Obama wants to use them to push the left wing. Hard to understand?

[jackson_dem]

109. Reagan gave up many core ideals

His biggest ideal was smaller government. He gave that up and increased the government. He gave up trying to rollback the Great Society. He gave up on taxes and raised taxes several times. The only think he stayed firm on was his military build up.

[jackson_dem]

106. Obama called Bill Clinton's policies "recognizably progressive"

He clearly does not think Clinton weakened the party's ideology. He praised it.

[redqueen]

67. "made a previously-defunct ideology mainstream again"

No, not quite.

He mangled it beyond all recognition after fooling a bunch of idiots is what happened.

[Occam Bandage]

69. He may have fooled idiots, but conservatism in 1988 was a hell of a lot

more viable than conservatism in 1976.

[redqueen]

72. Borrow and spend? Viable?

Oh, it is to laugh.

[Occam Bandage]

73. Again, we're talking in terms of campaigning, not in terms of governance or policy.

Conservatism the political movement was more viable. Conservatism the form of governance remained unviable.

[Maven]

13. I wonder what Obama thinks about Reagan's "hope and optimism" in ignoring the AIDS crisis

and allowing thousands to die in silence.

If that's your idea of "hope"--ignoring inconvenient problems that affect "unimportant" people--then you can shove it, Barack.

:puke:

[William769]

17. He will have to get back to you on that.

Has to speak to Donnie first.

[Maven]

26. I can't believe how many people on this thread are singing the praises of RONALD REAGAN

Trickle-down economics RONALD REAGAN.

It shows me definitively that support for Obama is worship of the MAN, not support for his ideas. Because nothing he does or says can be wrong, and everything he says is right.

I will stay home before I vote for a Democrat who holds up Reagan as a model president.

[Occam Bandage]

30. We're not. Reagan is a bastard. We're talking about using Reagan's tactics against the GOP.

[Maven]

38. Reagan WAS the fucking GOP

and still is, practically. He is their ICON, for God's sake.

What are you talking about?

[Occam Bandage]

43. Yep. That's how successful Reagan was at those tactics.

Hope, optimism, postpartisanship--Reagan used those to push the right wing. Obama wants to use them to push the left wing. Hard to understand?

[William769]

46. And Bill Clinton did what?

Keep trying to sell no one is buying.

[Occam Bandage]

50. Compromised his ideology repeatedly in the name of "triangulation," weakening the Dems.

[William769]

59. Gave us the best years of my adult life.

Left with a approval rating that Only two other Presidents can rival when he left office (reagan was not one of them).

I hope He keeps Invoking Reagans name. I really do.

[Occam Bandage]

61. And that was a result of his policies, which are not part of this discussion.

[Maven]

79. If you think the two are separate, YOU'RE the one fooling yourself

Doing the right thing inevitably means pissing off people who want you to do the wrong thing. So putting "hope and optimism" as the most important priority means either compromising to such an extent that the right thing never happens or simply ignoring the more unfortunate, less popular people who are hurt by your policies so you can keep on a happy face.

This is the LIE inherent to maintaining "unity" at all costs. If Obama can't recognize this, he's either too naive to be president or he takes people for fools. Either way, he can take a hike after that statement.

[Occam Bandage]

84. In case you don't remember, Reagan pissed off a lot of people. Obama will too.

Obama, however, plans on keeping the center in him camp by keeping people focused on what he can accomplish if they support him--the optimism bit--and using that weight to bludgeon the GOP while smiling. His plan is to be nice to conservative voters, and then turn around and beat the living hell out of Republicans in Congress--which is pretty much the mirror of what Reagan did.

Man, you've got some simplistic views.

[Maven]

86. No, what I have is principles and loyalty.

Unlike your flimsy sunshine salesman candidate.

[Occam Bandage]

87. As does Obama. That is not incompatible with smart campaigning.

All of our greatest Presidents managed to get themselves elected.

[jackson_dem]

112. Obama disagrees. Read his book

[Maven]

55. Thousands and thousands of people DIED because of that motherfucker

It is an INSULT to even INVOKE HIS NAME to people in this party. Is that hard for you to understand?

You're trying to defend the indefensible to protect your messiah. Just stop.

There's already a party that idolizes Ronald Reagan. We don't need two of them.

[Occam Bandage]

58. Ah, so you admit this is only a knee-jerk at the name, and that you don't care

that this has absolutely nothing to do with emulating any aspect of Ronald Reagan other than the fact that he strengthened his party.

[Maven]

70. Obama praised him for the "hope and optimism that was Reagan"

ANYONE who thinks that Reagan actually represented hope and optimism is NO ONE I would ever vote for and no one I want representing my party.

Stop splitting hairs.

[Occam Bandage]

74. Actually is the key word there.

He's talking about campaign perceptions and tactics, not about governance, policy, or anything actual. Those are worlds apart.

[LostinVA]

91. I know

[leftynyc]

124. Don't forget putting Scalia on the court

While I give him credit for putting the first woman on the court, I also know he was expecting her to a lot more conservative than she turned out to be. And Scalia is a freaking nightmare for progressives.

[Occam Bandage]

20. Yes, whenever someone talks about hope, they really mean they want people to die of AIDS.

Brilliant logic.

[Maven]

34. The point was that Reagan projected "hope and optimism" while people who suffered were IGNORED

But since I can tell you deliberately missed the point to back up your savior, I'll stop there.

[Occam Bandage]

48. And that point is moving into policy, not campaign methodology. You left the parameters of the OP.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

27. As in "I hope they all die because I'm optimistic it's divine retribution"?

:puke:

[Occam Bandage]

32. Ridiculous nonsense.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

35. Agree but it was Obama's hero Reagan's position.

eom

[Occam Bandage]

49. And is not Obama's, as Obama is counter to Reagan on every matter of policy.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

41. yup. nt

[Cameron27]

53. Yes!

[HereSince1628]

22. No percieved difference between picking a person's political ideology and sharing an approach

to selling the notion of change?

When suasion is directed at change, it almost must be associated with affects of hope and optimism that the change will bring something better.

Hitler and Lenin could use the same notion and still be light-years apart on the values of fascio-corporate capitalism vs communism.

[Hydra]

23. Our country is too polarized for this to ever work

And it just keeps getting worse...although maybe it was inevitable. Too many people think it's a good thing that we are an imperial nation, rather than a gov't by the people, for the people.

That sort of split can't go on forever.

[Cameron27]

24. Ronald Reagan?

Unbelievable. Somebody want to clue Obama in about Ronald f'n Reagan's legacy?

[Occam Bandage]

39. Well, since he's purely talking campaign methodology and not policy, sure.

Reagan's legacy (contained to methodology and not policy) was two terms of President, an expansion of his party, a revitalization of his party's ideology, and the groundwork for the capture of Congress. I'd take it.

[robbedvoter]

96. Methodology? Like going in the south and talking "States rights"? Speaking in code

to the former dixiecrats was Raygun's most successful strategy.

[Occam Bandage]

101. Yes, Obama is planning on exploiting Southern white racism to win.

:crazy:

[jackson_dem]

116. I hope you don't read the "Audacity of Hope"

You will blow a gasket at some of what he says about Reagan. Anyone who wants to know what Obama thinks about Reagan can just go to their bookstore, find the book, find Reagan in the index and read the pages Obama talks about Reagan.

[Cameron27]

150. I'm going to buy it today.

[jefferson_dem]

25. Taylor and Hillary sittin' in a tree...

n/t

[wyldwolf]

57. Barrack and Ronnie Sittin' in a tree... do it for the gipper!

[jefferson_dem]

78. But what will Bill be doing?

It's "her turn."

[wyldwolf]

89. helping Hillary win while Obama makes goo goo eyes at Ronnie

[madrchsod]

93. taylor marsh is a twit

randy was rocking the house today...

[Buzz Clik]

31. Your title is just a tad misleading.

Nicely done! If you wrote historical newspaper headlines:

"Hilter's Army Getting a Chilly Reception in Moscow"

"Jews Preferred Living in Spandau"

"Reagan Loses Washington DC to Mondale"

"Weapons of Mass Destruction Found in Iraq"

[La Lioness Priyanka]

36. reagan who is responsible for letting thousands of gay men die? that reagan?

real fucking nice.

:puke:

[William769]

52. Thats the one.

[bullimiami]

44. reagan talked a lot of hope and optimism but there was no beef on that burger.

pretty sad if obama thinks talking pretty amounts to anything. reagan was an actor.

[Imagevision]

47. If it wasn't for the Internet expolsion occuring, Bill Clinton wouldn't be beans!!!

[NoBorders]

51. Something to be said for that argument.

Title is misleading though.

[Occam Bandage]

54. Of course the title is misleading. If it were, "Obama wants to use optimism to push liberalism,"

he wouldn't get nearly as much faux outrage.

[Cameron27]

63. He chose to invoke the SOB's

name to "push" optimism. What the hell kind of Democrat does that? It's not enough that the RW's are running on Reagan's phony message, now Barack tosses him into our side too?

[Occam Bandage]

66. No he didn't. His campaign is adopting some of Reagans successful tactics to

build grassroots support for liberalism. That's it.

[NoBorders]

68. He's invoking his ability to move the electorate

Not his ideology or policies. Sheesh. There's a difference.

[Cameron27]

75. No sorry,

he's invoking Reagan's ability to move the electorate, unfortunately he moved in the wrong direction.

[Occam Bandage]

76. Reagan did indeed move in the wrong direction. Obama's talking about harnessing

some of those tactics to move the electorate in the right direction. Do you have a problem with advancing liberalism all of a sudden?

[Cameron27]

81. You don't invoke the devil's name

to inspire anyone to do good.

[Occam Bandage]

85. So, again, the problem boils down to "OMG HE SAID REAGAN," and not any substantive issues with

the statement.

[Cameron27]

94. Exactly right

Reagan was a POS, and drawing his name into the Democratic race is disgusting. I hated the man. I saw what happened to mental health patients, with people suffering from AIDs, and that's just two of horrible things that Reagan's vision created.

[NoBorders]

105. And fortunately, he's not doinig that. n/t

[suston96]

56. Yeah, Reagan and BClinton? Reagan added trillions of dollars to the national debt....

....and Clinton balanced several budgets, made payments on that debt, and projected surpluses for more than 10 years.

Yeah, we need another Reaganesque presidency....yeah, we do.

[Occam Bandage]

60. The OP is clearly not talking about policy, but rather campaign methodology.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

83. as an old saying goes:

None so blind as those who refuse to see.

I think that goes to most you are currently trying to argue with, sad but true

[William769]

62. The talking heads here on DU as you can plainly see from this thread

Don't want to hear that.

[Auntie Bush]

64. I thought Obama was about change.

How I see he's going all the waaaaay back to Ray-gun.

[Occam Bandage]

71. He's adopting some of Reagans tactics to push liberal ideology. How horrifying.

[Yael]

77. Y'all are killin' me today. Loving the truce!

:popcorn:

[killbotfactory]

80. Thanks for spreading this bullshit

I was afraid I wouldn't reach my quota for today.

[William769]

88. I reached mine last night

And then again this morning.

Glad I could help with your quota.

[killbotfactory]

117. You gotta love the primary season

:argh:

[no name no slogan]

82. ...and Reagan used to quote FDR and Truman

so we've come full circle.

Politicians always evoke other leaders to inspire people. I'm sure Tony Blair tried to invoke Churchill, too, even though they were in different parties.

[robbedvoter]

100. I don't care who Raygun quoted. Is this something coming from Obama or spin?

I don't want to write him off based on some strategists BS (I remember hearing Trippi on Air America after the 2004 theft saying that Kerry lacked Raygun's "optimism"

[jackson_dem]

120. Read his book. He talks about Reagan in it

Just go to the closest bookstore, find the book, find Reagan in the index and read the pages Obama talks about Reagan.

[robbedvoter]

151. Dont want to. But your selection in the other thread did it for me. Linking your post

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4087189&mesg_id=4087491

snippet:

Nevertheless, by promising to side with those who worked hard, obeyed the law, cared for their families, loved their country, Reagan offered Americans a sense of common purpose that liberals seemed no longer able to muster."

[madrchsod]

90. in battle would a commander

reject a tactic of the enemy for his advantage?

[Occam Bandage]

95. "Use aircraft carriers? After the Japanese used aircraft to attack Pearl Harbor?"

"We would be surrendering our principles! No, we'll stick with battleships and battleships only."

(DU headline: NIMITZ PICKS JAPS OVER BRITS)

[robbedvoter]

92. Are these Obama's words? Someone please tell me.

[Cameron27]

98. Watch the video at the link,

and listen for yourself.

[robbedvoter]

114. Puke! raygun's clarity? Like Iran Contra maybe? Those who don't learn history

are doomed to repeat it. It was that "clarity" that made 'liberal" a dirty word - and racism - fashionable again.(those think tanks pumping memes into the media)

[Occam Bandage]

115. We're talking purely electorally. Nothing about policies or governance.

[robbedvoter]

119. Electorally" states' rights speech - racist code used in south gave him the election

learn some history people! Everything Bush did was founded by Raygun. Sheesh!

[Occam Bandage]

131. Yes, Obama plans on appealing to Southern white racists.

Do you think before posting?

[Maven]

135. No, but he has done his best to appeal to SC homophobes

So adaptable, that Obama.

[Occam Bandage]

136. By supporting civil unions, opposing DOMA, and distancing himself from McClurkin's views?

[Maven]

138. Ahh, distancing himself.

He strongly disagrees, right?

Great concert and 30 minute antigay tirade, though. They "got what they needed out of it," right? :eyes:

[robbedvoter]

149. It's Raygun electoral achievement according to his fans. Does HE think before he praises?

My point was precisely that it's absurd for Obama to admire/borrow anything from Raygun. But history needs to be studied.

[Cameron27]

123. I know,

it's f'n unbelievable to hear those words, but it fits in with what his spokesperson said about the "Democrats' disease." You know those pesky issues that keep us from winning elections? He said it on CNN, and my jaw dropped then.

[ecstatic]

97. Wow. "reagan" is a dirty word in my circles

If true, he should lose this talking point ASAP!

[Occam Bandage]

99. It isn't a "talking point." He brought up Reagan's successes as an example when talking strategy.

[robbedvoter]

121. Strategy based by exacerbating RACISM in the South.

[Occam Bandage]

146. That's a different strategy than the one Obama was talking about. Do you seriously believe

that Obama is planning on exacerbating RACISM in the South?

[avaistheone1]

102. The hope that was Reagan? Oh yuck.

Reagan started the trend which has taken this country back 50 years.


No thanks,

[NoBorders]

103. Yeah, he said he wants to be just like Reagan.

:sarcasm:

[polichick]

107. As I just posted in the video section, that made me sick...

Just when I was feeling good about Obama, my old doubts are resurfacing. This is way more than "conciliatory" toward Republicans ~ it's worshipping at the same altar.

[cadmium]

108. Smart on Obama's part. Typically small on Taylor Marsh's part n/t

[Perky]

110. Electorally he is right.

Reagan forged a coalition in a perfect storm.

National Malaise, A weakened president dealing with Iran and internal divisions within the party. and a nation reeling for economic challenges and an angry electorate ready for change


Obama has a similar opportunity" An angry electorate. a broken and increasingly dysfunctional opposition party. Economic stagnation an immensely unpopular war.
The real difference is the sitting president is not running.


In this type of election.. f you capture the hears and minds of the middle with a message and means of driving millions of new voters to the polls in one blinding moment of national catharsis and clarity over ancient history and recent events it could happen.

Remember Bill Clinton never won the hearts and minds of the majority of american voters just a plurality.

[Perky]

111. Electorally he is right.

Reagan forged a coalition in a perfect storm.

National Malaise, A weakened president dealing with Iran and internal divisions within the party. and a nation reeling for economic challenges and an angry electorate ready for change


Obama has a similar opportunity" An angry electorate. a broken and increasingly dysfunctional opposition party. Economic stagnation an immensely unpopular war.
The real difference is the sitting president is not running.


In this type of election.. f you capture the hears and minds of the middle with a message and means of driving millions of new voters to the polls in one blinding moment of national catharsis and clarity over ancient history and recent events it could happen.

Remember Bill Clinton never won the hearts and minds of the majority of american voters just a plurality.

[robbedvoter]

125. Coalition of racists, fundies and corporations - he started Bush's evil empire

They bought all media and made it their propaganda arm - hence the "teflon" - which was man made.

[William769]

127. And it sounds like Obama is fine with that.

[Perky]

129. No doubt...but that is nt the new coalition that can be formed

in this instance.

[jackson_dem]

118. Why not Jefferson, Jackson, FDR, JFK, or LBJ?

Anyone who wants to know what Obama thinks about Reagan can just go to their bookstore, find the book, find Reagan in the index and read the pages Obama talks about Reagan. It doesn't jibe with the "hope" of Obama being a progressive ideologue. :scared:

[William769]

122. Got that right!

[robbedvoter]

126. Seems to be his GE strategy. rather than attack Bush, like Hillary, praise Raygun

Hoping that it will attract the anti-Clinton vote. Someone should remind him that for all the noise the haters made, Clinton left office with 70% approval rate.

[AGirl]

128. Well this comment is not going to win him some new gay voters

[William769]

133. Thas a given!

[robbedvoter]

147. It's taylored for GE, but it will lose him the primaries...(unless retracted - he's been

clever enough to correct his mistakes so far)

[Tejanocrat]

130. No one who's read the Audacity of Hope would be suprised by this.

[jackson_dem]

134. You're right but how many of his supporters have read it?

[Maven]

137. At this point, I doubt they would read it.

They'd just draw little hearts in the margins.

[zulchzulu]

139. Oooo lookeee! It's another bullshit post from Taylor "Hillshill" Marsh!

:boring: :crazy: :boring: :crazy: :boring: :crazy: :boring: :crazy: :boring: :crazy:

[elehhhhna]

140. OH FOR EFF'S SAKE I suppose he also LOVES Gingrich.

Obama is a TOOL.

There. I said it.

[Bonobo]

141. *Boo hiss Boo hiss*

[JDPriestly]

142. Reagan ran on greed, hate (ironically racial hatred) and dirty tricks.

Obama does not know his history. Reagan's message of hope was code for racism and greed. That's all Reagan was about. Obama had better go home and start studying. His statements about the past are embarrassingly ignorant.

Obama was born in 1961. That means he was 18 in 1979. He graduated from high school in 1979, so he still would have been living at his grandmother's home in Honolulu or just starting at Occidental College? I am seriously wondering if the reason Obama has not talked much about his mid-western/Hawaiian grandmother is that she was a Reagan supporter. I have no evidence for this other than Obama's statements on Reagan.

Reagan was a fad. He did nothing for America. Does Obama know what he is talking about at all on when he talks about the past? Have we heard from any of his friends in high school and college with regard to his political views? I am asking real questions on this.

We know that Hillary was a Goldwater Girl. At least she is forthright and honest about it. What were Obama's views about Reagan back in 1979? I won't hold it against him if he supported him, but I think this should be talked about now.

I just have this strange feeling that a lot of people are supporting Obama without knowing much about him.

[Cameron27]

143. I think you're right

"I just have this strange feeling that a lot of people are supporting Obama without knowing much about him."

[William769]

144. You hit the nail right on the head.

And thanks for getting me in trouble! ;-)

[BenDavid]

148. HELL, REAGAN WAS A DAMN RACIST...and obama trying

to emulate reagan because he thought reagan invoked inspiration.....come on obama, DAMN MAN!

Reagan, a racist is as racist does. I cared, how Reagan treated African Americans in his personal life. I do care that prominent people i e Obama seem to think that he wasn’t really a racist. What I care about is that Ronald Reagan, the patron saint of the Conservative Movement, made a career out of deliberately appealing to the racist vote. it brought him to power and it was a constant tool throughout his career. Ronald Reagan acted in public as a racist acts. He deliberately set out to appeal to racists and continue the odious Southern Strategy. In doing so, he helped to mainstream racism in the GOP and thus the country.

SHAME SHAME SHAME......if it talks like a republican, walks like a republican then most likely you got a republican....and I am fearful obama is just that.....and to me this is not a far stretch for obama to play the race card, in which he has during this campaign.......