Ok, first off I think the Obama comments about Reagan were true but
politically stupid to make at this time. However, people getting mad about it is just plain childish and opportunistic.
Well, lo and behold, Clinton's own website has a supporter saying Reagan and George HW Bush were two of her favorite Presidents.
Now, that is an incredulous statement and hard to believe. However, it does serve for a huge laugh as it IS FROM HER OWN FUCKING WEBSITE!
Nonetheless, it's not an actual quote but rather heresay. Either it is accurate, fabrication, or just the guy who wrote the glowing paper about her got it wrong. The third option is what the HILLBOTS are praying to be real, and alas, they might be right.
I did a quick google search and found this "explanation".
http://www.taylormarsh.com/archives_view.php?id=26850Here is the text of the clarification:
"The problem is that the article is incorrect and they got the story wrong. The co-owner of the newspaper clarified and verified it:
David Cutler, the co-owner of Salmon Press Newspapers, released the following statement:
The question posed was originally what portraits would you hang in the White House if you were President and as the dialogue progressed, who are the presidents you admire most?
She listed several presidents that she admired and mentioned she liked Reagan’s communication skills. She did not say Reagan was her favorite President. She didn’t say anything close to that."I really like these parts, because they are telling:
who are the presidents you admire most? she liked Reagan’s communication skills. because in essence, this is exactly what Obama is referring/alluding to, which is a no brainer for anyone of adult age during the 1980's.
Was Reagan an aweful President? Sure, by almost any liberal standard.
Did Reagan have good communication skills? Sure, by almost any reasonable standard.
Did Reagan inspire the nation during the end of the cold war? Well, about 60% at least (interestingly his popularity ratings and Bill Clinton's popularity ratings were the same).
Did Reagan create more of a transformational shift than Bill Clinton? Maybe, I don't think we are far enough beyond the two to know.
What is really changing America is its demographics and the loins of Mexican American mothers will likely change it more than either of those guys.
But let's get back to what happened.
Obama said some things about Reagan that are probably true but his political timing was really, really bad.
Hillary Clinton and her henchmen jumped on him to make hay for his bad timing.
Hillary got "caught" on her website for "saying things" that went far beyond what Obama said (however this was an inacurrate quote) but in reality Hillary paid homage to Reagan in much the same way, just not as publicly. Somewhere in the mix she may have very well had kind words about GWHB too but we'll never really know.
Obama's error: Being too generous to the symbolic hero of the modern conservative movement during a Democratic primary season. Luckily, nobody died from his statement (though you wouldn't know it from the caterwauling around here (boo fucking hoo I say to all the criers - get some therapy please, this is a discussion board, not group counseling)).
Clinton's error: Being on record for saying some positive things about Reagan too that are eerily similar to what Obama has said. The source has corrected this from "favorite president" category to "he was a great communicator" compliment. They have the advantage of plausible deniability but certainly her praise is an echo of Obama's and said firstly as this was back in NH. Her real problem is another episode of hypocrisy, essentially lampooning Obama for sharing similar beliefs.
So, what's worse?
Bad political timing...
or
hypocrisy...
We report, you decide!!!