Here's the one thing I'm missing, perhaps, about the Reagan/Obama thing--

Isn't Obama talking about mostly the 1980 election that swept Reagan and conservative into the White House, not Reagan policies? It seems to me the question he was asked, and the entire conversation he was having within this part of the interview, was about how to win elections. Obama spoke of why Reagan was able to take the White House back from Carter and get so many Democrats as well as Republicans behind him their voting--which is completely true, BTW. (A glance at the electoral map, circa 1980, speaks to this.) He then says that voting Kennedy into office after 8 years of Eisenhower had the same effect (which was caught off in the video clip most have seen.) And frankly, I don't see any place where Obama calls Reagan his favorite President, as some have been gleefully reporting. Honestly, what am I missing?

have dumped Obama) But you certainly have no reason to keep it going...

voters, and the TRUTH.

Obama can eat shit and die. I will never support a Republican, nor will I compliement them in any way.

Did you steal that phrase from Hil or Bill?

.

Got any evidence, like a link or something to back up your BULL??? We can't just let you, or anyone else get away with spouting this shit!

DOCUMENTATION is all I'll accept as proof he said this. Where was it said? Why were you there to hear it? How long ago was this "supposed" to have occured??? SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!

that he was an actor that could deliver punch lines well -- and give a good speech.

How old WERE you in 1979/80.... do you read much?

the inability of some (perhaps you?) to comprehend precisely what Obama said and did not say concerning Reagan. I realize he was not a good President for those of the left-leaning ilk, so does Obama.

Eew Ilk!
Like say members of DU? oh wait the center has moved to the right, so what year's political measuring stick are you using?

What he should have said about Reagan? Anything to pander to those independent voters! It's white house or bust!!!!!

Having been a taxpaying, mortgage-holding adult during the Reagan years, I know exactly what went on.

"left-leaning ilk"??????

Honey, you are on the wrong board.

I am further to the left than many on here. A solid Democrat.

Because if people start looking at it more (and actually watching the ENTIRE interview in which it took place), they'll start to realize they've been duped by people like you blowing it out of context and proportion?

Nothing doing.

.... you do know that at least 2 prominent Obama supporters on DU have dumped him tonight, right?..... and who knows how many outside of this cesspool......keep the story going.... keep it going!
Obama/Reagan Obama/Reagan

Why the hell should I listen to whatever you think? You obviously want this to be a substantial hit, and I don't think you're going to succeed.

not sure what you are implying with that post???

what was meant by Obama's statement. If anyone hasn't listened to it and made sure they comprehended it, then please STFU about it. It's a non-issue that has been blown out of proportion by the feeble minded and the blind devotees of certain other candidates, unfortunately.

making the most hay out of this are severe partisans of other candidates looking for something to latch on to. I think they know exactly what they're doing.

Whether they are stupid or just immoral liars, they are destroying this board.

He was clearly speaking about not only Reagan winning that one election, but the entire conservative movement Reagan created.

How many times has somebody popped up with some cockamamie economic theory around here, based on Reagonomics. Reagan babies.

Still, there were serious problems in 1980, very serious. It seemed like the entire country was on a downward spiral, in every way imaginable. Reagan did tap into that and did unify a majority of people around his conservative philosophy.

That is what Obama means. That is the challenge of the Democratic Party. We've got to look to the future, move foward with a completely new vision, lay the groundwork for our 30 years of progressive politics.

where three civil rights workers were abducted, tortured and murdered.....just like his idol, Saint Ronnie, did?

When can I expect his policy speech on states rights and restoring God to the public square?

if you dare.
http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080115/VIDEO/80115026&oaso=news.rgj.com/breakingnews

He's trying to get back all of the Dems that voted for Reagan, and a lot of the GOP moderates over to OUR side. He has the charisma, like Reagan did, to accomplish this !!!

Obama must never be questioned. If he makes a statement, it is automatically a brillant fact. He is perfect in every way, every day. He is bubbling with insight. We are unworthy to even try and parse his words.

Why don't you TELL me where I've gone wrong instead of floating this nonsense by me once again.

The GOP has described themselves as the "party of ideas." It's what they want you to believe about them. It's like Avis saying "We Try Harder," or Visa and "It's everywhere you want to be." Obama chose to use his influence and charisma to continue forwarding what the GOP (wrongly) says about themselves.

...when his record in the Senate proves that he's done more liberal work than Hillary. When Obama says something complimentary about Republicans, certain people on this board turn on him. But I've seen more NEGATIVE energy wasted on Democrats in the last year, and that was BEFORE we won back the House and Senate.

No one can win this election by slamming every Republican in office--it's simply impossible. If Obama can turn some lifelong GOP'ers into Democrats, more power to him. Because, despite the country's Presidential approval, no Democrat will be able to win without some amnesty towards the opposition. And when congressional ratings are almost as low as the Presidents, and our own leaders therein (Pelosi and Reid) getting slammed HERE on a daily basis, it's pretty clear that the "We have all the answers, they don't" line just isn't going to work.

That's my feeling.

I really do. But, in my opinion at least, it would have been much better had he not invoked Reagan's name to do it. Because in the process, if you haven't noticed, he pissed of a whole bunch of democrats and those folks who don't think Reagan was peachy keen.

Obama can't take this back - you can't unring a bell, in other words. He could clarify that Reagan's ideas were bad HIMSELF, which would help, but he's not doing that.

And I'm being snarky tonight. I admit that. But it seems like Obama and/or his campaign just love to put things out there they directly push my buttons - First it was ExGay McClurkin and now invoking Reagan. I started out this primary season as an Obama supporter, but the more I learn about his positions, the more disillusioned I become with him.

are cut taxes and make unnecessary war.

Reagan was the spokesperson for the biggest corporation of all (GE) for years.

GE wanted to undo everything FDR and Democratic congresses did for the middle class.

Reagan's main claim to change is the undoing of the middle class.

Maybe the fall would be a good time to come back.

It's getting tired.

candidate? I'll keep rebutting if you clowns want to keep throwing shit at the wall.

until the Reagan thing. Now I don't think I will vote for Obama in the primary.

I remember the Reagan years all too well.

I'm sure you can figure out for yourself what was said instead of taking Hillary fans' word for it.

That's exactly what Obama was doing. He and Reagan have nothing in common when it comes to policy.

strategy was since no one was talking about Iraq.

Then I woke up. He (David) was absolutely correct. It was a brilliant diversion, all this race and drugs and now Reagan.

Iraq. That's what she has to answer for in this race. Iraq past (under 8 years of her hubbie), Iraq present (her voting on full funding, her lack of an Anti-war position until 2006, and Iraq future (her determination to see that an embassy will stand there for a long time)

How utterly diabolical her campaign must be - using a mind control ray to get Obama to say such things. :eyes:

and they don't just make the point and then leave it -- they harp and harp and harp, based on the idea that constant repetition makes people believe that a notion has merit. (Similarly, when you have a LOT of people rallying around something, it seems to have merit, of course, until you see it is the same swarms who post here all the time).

Wake up and smell the horseshit!

I am an undecided voter for the primary. I will vote Democratic in the general because the worst Dem is better than the best Repub.

BUT I am very troubled by Obama's saying that the Repubs have ideas. As far as I can tell their ideas (cut taxes and wage unnecessary war) are based on greed and ignorance. We can see where that got us with Bush.

To me, change means getting away from those policies, not praising Reagan and the Repubs.

I think Obama's words show a lack of judgment and I'm afraid the corporations will mess with him just as GE brainwashed and bribed Reagan (a former Democrat and failing actor whose finances were rescued by GE who hired him as a spokesperson and motivational speaker).

Fabulous news.

I don't consider everyone who disagrees with what I think to be a troll, as some might infer. Rather, there is a kind of disingenuousness, and other qualities (too snarky by half, etc) that characterizes the non miniscule number of trolls at DU, including more than one on this overall thread.

as in I hope you stay after your candidate loses the nomination.

listen to it yourself and make up your own mind..



Obama Panders to Right, Throws Democrats Under the Bus
By SusanUnPC on January 17, 2008 at 7:24 PM in Ronald Reagan, Obama, Current Affairs

Obama said what? That the GOP has been the party of ideas for the last ten to fifteen years? Are you kidding me?



http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/01/17/obama-panders-to-right-throws-democrats-under-the-bus/#more-1332

Who passed all the legislation that got us where we are? What Democratic ideas have brought change? NAFTA?

...from someone who was there and bought into it.

from there:
http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080115/VIDEO/80115026&oaso=news.rgj.com/breakingnews

Needed to get the quotes straight. :)

:-) Maybe you should type as you listen?

pursued it relentlessly. This isn't rocket science. Surely a few people might have misunderstood what Obama was saying, but this piling on, like the swarm of protestations from people who act as if McClurkin spoke for the Obama campaign or reflected its policies, is something that one must, out of reasonableness towards both reality and towards oneself, submit to a litmus test of intellectual good faith.

I am surely not the only one who has found such good faith lacking in so much of the Obama-bashing on DU. Sure, it comes as no surprise that at least some of the Obama-bashers, and even others (not ALL trolls are Obama-bashers, just MANY) would indeed say the same about me and about posters for whom I have respect.

People are really taking it too seriously, I mean you'd think Obama suddenly said "I know I'm running for the democratic nomination, but to be honest I've been a hardcore conservative all my life". Obama is no conservative who loves Reagan.

The fact of the matter is Obama is ranked the 10th most liberal senator currently in congress, while Hillary is ranked the 32nd most liberal. And just how liberal are they in certain areas? http://nationaljournal.com/voteratings/sen/lib.htm?o1=lib_composite&o2=desc#vr">See for yourself at this site. The results are also right below, 100 = 100% liberal.

Obama, Barack, D-Ill.
Economic: 87
Social: 77
Foreign: 85
Overall: 86

Clinton, Hillary, D-N.Y.
Economic: 63
Social: 80
Foreign: 62
Overall: 70.2

Net Differences between Hillary and Obama in how liberal they are.
Economic: Obama +24
Social: Hillary +3
Foreign: Obama +23
Overall: Obama +15.8

But, they're both 95%+.

Knowing that, should I be surprised that nobody knows how to interpret a statement critically? I guess not.

But it's pretty fucking sad that all these people can do is recognize singular words and react to them. When words are all stringed together in those long lines with dots at the end, well, studying those is just too much to ask.

to "correctly" interpret Barak's pandering statement.

One must rely on "above average" analystical skills to parse encoded messages, unless you are the targetetted Reagan democrat.

it's the manufactured outrage du jour.