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What caused New Deal Liberal Ronald Reagan to become a rethug?

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WI_DEM Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-29-05 03:54 AM
Original message
What caused New Deal Liberal Ronald Reagan to become a rethug?
Edited on Sat Jan-29-05 03:55 AM by WI_DEM
Reagan at a campaign rally for FDR, Oct. 22, 1944:
"My first vote for president was for Franklin D. Roosevelt--It will be an honor and a privilege to cast a fourth vote for the man who came into office when this nation was at its lowest point and restored our faith in ourselves. It will be an honor to vote once again for this gallant commander in chief who picked us up after the tragedy of Pearl Harbor and has led the world toward defeating fascism..."

Reagan at a campaign rally for Harry Truman, Sept. 27, 1948:
"Every four years the other party suddenly changes its colors and proclaims itself a friend of labor. Well as the president has pointed out many times--that elephant won't fly..."
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Sandpiper Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-29-05 03:55 AM
Response to Original message
1. Racism
Edited on Sat Jan-29-05 03:59 AM by Sandpiper
Reagan defected because of the Dems embrace of the Civil Rights movement.

He opposed:

Brown v. Board of Education

The Civil Rights Act

The Voting Rights Act

His distatste for people of color ran deeper than his principles.

He was Strom Thurmond with more charisma.
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papau Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-29-05 09:08 AM
Response to Reply #1
15. Also the GE monies and promises for a TV career - promises that
were kept for the 2nd tier has-been in the 50's.

And Somebody suppressed the reporting of his rape of Serena Walters, and the reporting of his cheating on his wife Jane.
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devilgrrl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-29-05 03:56 AM
Response to Original message
2. probably the...
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Old and In the Way Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-29-05 11:56 AM
Response to Reply #2
18. He got the religion when he started making big bucks.
That's when taxes became a problem for him. It's the usual path to conservative politics...greed.
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norml Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-29-05 04:01 AM
Response to Original message
3. Nancy
She came from a family that was active in republican politics.
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miss_kitty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-29-05 04:02 AM
Response to Reply #3
4. Nancy-That's my understanding
and he seemed like 'a go along to get along' kinda guy.
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WI_DEM Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-29-05 04:03 AM
Response to Reply #4
6. hey, my cat's name is "Miss Kitty"
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miss_kitty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-29-05 04:26 AM
Response to Reply #6
11. It's a good name ;-)
that was my avatar kitty's nick name.
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LostInAnomie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-29-05 04:03 AM
Response to Original message
5. Hate for blacks, hippies, etc...
While he was governor of California he used very violent and oppressive tactics to crush student rebellions.

He also found that the other side was far more responsive to cultural demagoguery.
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Piperay Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-29-05 04:10 AM
Response to Original message
7. Political expediency
the guy was an opportunist. When it suited his aims he was a Democrat and when he could advance himself better by being rethug he joined them. x(
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bliss_eternal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-29-05 04:12 AM
Response to Original message
8. So what happened to their kids?
Didn't seem that his daughter or son share their political beliefs--to the extent that I heard the daughter was estranged from him for years.

Anyone know?
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mark414 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-29-05 04:21 AM
Response to Reply #8
9. well ron jr. is a liberal atheist
and patti davis posed for playboy...and is quite the liberal herself

don't know about the estrangement
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KT2000 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-29-05 04:22 AM
Response to Original message
10. heard it was when he worked for GE
as a spokesman. Maybe he was indoctrinated into their way of thinking as he went out and addressed groups on their behalf.
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Journeyman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-29-05 04:38 AM
Response to Original message
12. I believe some of your answer may be found in the HUAC hearings. . .
on Hollywood in the late 1940s. Look especially at HUAC* Chairman J. Parnell Thomas' (R-NY) attack on the Hollywood labor movement in 1947, when Ronald Reagan appeared as a "friendly witness" before the Commission as part of its assault on the Hollywood Ten. There are many explanations hidden in those dark days, amid the depths to which individuals can sink in pursuit of self-interest.

*House Un-American Activities Commission
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BuyingThyme Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-29-05 06:26 AM
Response to Original message
13. Joe McCarthy
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Enraged_Ape Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-29-05 07:09 AM
Response to Original message
14. Negros
Edited on Sat Jan-29-05 07:09 AM by Enraged_Ape
They were tolerable and knew their place back in the "New Deal" days. But once they indicated that they, too, might like to sit at the table...well, poor Ronnie just couldn't handle it.
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AngryAmish Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-29-05 09:21 AM
Response to Original message
16. Stroke
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Orsino Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-29-05 09:44 AM
Response to Original message
17. Money, money, and money. n/t
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