"Invoking Reagan as if he were God Almighty, using his name as code as Republicans do"

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Barack Hearts Ronnie: An Old, New Song

Posted January 18, 2008 | 09:41 AM (EST) | Erica Jong

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-jong/barack-hearts-ronnie-an-_b_82150.html

I've already said I'll work for the Democrat who gets the majority of delegates -- whether Hillary, Barack, Edwards or Kucinich. But if Barack is such a breath of fresh air, why is he raving about Ronald Reagan?

Reagan -- the Hollywood red-baiter who rose from president of the Screen Actors Guild to president of the United States even though he was already senile. Reagan who gave us tax cuts and "trickle down" economics that didn't work -- except for the rich and richer and richest. Reagan who let "mommy" (Nancy) run the white house with the aid of her astrologer. Reagan whose horse was smarter than he was.

I suppose Mr. Obama has forgotten too--scholar of history that he is. Perhaps he was not alive in the 50s so he knows nothing about it -- the Army-McCarthy hearings, the smearing of creative artists who donated to Spanish Civil War Relief even though they were not "card-carrying" communists. They happened, like my parents, and their friends, to have given money to help little Spanish children, orphaned by the Spanish Civil War -- and ever after they trembled lest Ronnie Reagan and his ilk witch-hunt them.

So Mr. Obama is not such a new style politician after all. He's just a politician -- invoking Ronnie Reagan as if he were God Almighty, using his name as code as the Repugnicans do, trying to pump himself up as a man of the people by mentioning this total fraud as a hero.

[sunonmars]

1. Honestly it makes me regurgitate to think of this

I'm just completely in stunned amazement. Its the new Howard Dean scream that will Democrats sit up and go "ooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" It could be a campaign killer if the other candidtes can frame it right.

[sufrommich]

4. I don't think it will be candidates framing his Reagan remarks,

I think it will be older,traditional democratic voters,and yes,I think he's damaged his campaign.

[pampango]

2. Here we go again.

A new and thought-provoking insight into Mr. Obama. He really mentioned Reagan as an agent of change.

[Avalux]

3. Hey Erica - why don't you try harder to make a mountain out of a molehill?

Stupid idiot. :silly:

[TwilightGardener]

5. She needs to stick with porn, she's not that good of a political writer.

[Azathoth]

6. This type of hyperbolic hysteria is self-discrediting

Anyone who actually watches Obama's interview and then reads this is gonna think Jong is nuts. Over-enthusiastic intellectual lightweights like her don't make very convincing pundits.

[ClericJohnPreston]

9. Spin , spin, spin

The issue is absolutely clear.

The Obamites, are in full throated denial and have their spin and rinse cycle in overtime.

Cognitive Dissonance can be a real bitch, huh Obamatons?

No REAL Democrat would EVER invoke the name of Reagan in any positive light. Your pandering Pro is at it again, with foot jammed solidly in mouth!

[Azathoth]

11. "No REAL Democrat would EVER invoke the name of Reagan in any positive light."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4104295&mesg_id=4104295

Uh-oh...I think there might be some cognitive dissonance in Edwardsville. Try not to make a mess when your head explodes. :hi:

[ClericJohnPreston]

13. Only an Obamite

would characterize a NEGATIVE slam on Reagan as mentioning his name in a positive light.

It is as obvious a manipulation of Truth, as your fawning candidate.

Then again, no one ever accused you Obamatons of seeing things clearly or honestly.

Cultist!

[Azathoth]

17. Calm down and take your lithium

Edwards is on record praising Reagan's accomplishments, and now you look like a fool. It ain't the end of the world. :)

[Politicub]

10. Yeah, that's it - Erica Jong must be nuts

Never mind that she's an astute, brilliant writer. As a matter of fact, we all must be insane for not fawning over Obama's mentioning of Reagan. It's widely known that Obama can never, ever be wrong or mis-speak. :eyes:

[Azathoth]

12. I didn't say anything about Obama, I said this article is so overboard and amateurish

that it is self-discrediting.

[Politicub]

14. Like I said, Erica Jong MUST be a loon

Or in your words, amateurish. There is no other possible explanation, other than, maybe, wait for it... Obama made a poor choice in choosing his words.

Nah... that could never happen.

[Azathoth]

19. The article is hyberbolic and amateurish...but by all means keep defending it

It only makes the Hillaryites look all the more unhinged.

[Politicub]

20. Us Hillary-ites are beyond unhinged, we're hysterical!

It's as if someone opened the doors of the asylum and we all streamed out. We must be absolutely insane to not be able to parse Obama and his stunning use of nuance.

[Azathoth]

21. Well, I wouldn't call what he said 'nuanced'

It was more like a quote from an average freshman poli sci textbook. To paraphrase: "Ronald Reagan was a transformational president who realigned American politics and was successful in uniting people behind his agenda. JFK, 20 years earlier, had the same kind of effect. I hope also to have that kind of effect."

Truly, Obama is a closet Freeper.

[Politicub]

23. You're being disingenuous

You and I both know there's more to this than that single quote. There's also Obama's admiration of the reduction of "liberal government" that he himself has written about in his books. Play fair, ok?

[Azathoth]

24. True, he also referred to the "excesses of the 60's and the 70's"

It would be interesting to hear precisely what he feels those excesses were, or whether he was simply talking about a popular perception at the time. I might not even agree with his response, but I doubt that it would change my opinion of him or his progressive track record.

In any case, I don't think anyone can read Jong's article and say she's 'playing fair.'

[sniffa]

25. yeah, pretty much.

I'd say it's funny to watch, but it's become most unbearable.

[ClericJohnPreston]

15. COGNITIVE DISSONANCE

ouch!

[Azathoth]

18. Is that the term you learned in English class yesterday?

[William769]

7. Heres a great quote for you.

"Many Democrats voted for Reagan TWICE!" :rofl: Want to guess who's supporter said that?

[Egnever]

8. Totaly dissagree

And the author clearly has an agenda. As aparently do many people on this board.

Obama never raved about obama and the author knows it as does every other hack on this board. He laid out Reagans efectifness in bringing his party to power and changing the political landscape for a generation.
Thats it. He has condemed his policies many times.

Unless you are mentaly bankrupt its perfectly clear for anyone to see.

This board has degenerated into lies and half truths and it saddens me to see it. I realize its primary season and I expect it to some extent but the lows it has sunk to this time arround are fairly frightening.

[ClericJohnPreston]

16. And you don't have an agenda Egnever?

What a crock. POT meet Kettle.

[Dhalgren]

22. But Obama had to have known the mine-field he would be

walking through among Democrats by invoking Reagan's name in any manner. His praise for Reagan was aimed at Republicans - and everyone who thinks about it will see it. If Obama thought he needed the old Dixiecrat vote, he would find a way to praise Strom Thurman. If he needed the former NAZI vote I'm sure he would mention what great highways were built in the 30's and isn't that Volkswagen a great car! This is a fault line in the Democratic Party. The Party lost a lot of members to Reagan, because of Reagan's appeal to bigotry and his veiled race-baiting. Reagan broke unions and hurt a great many citizens with his robber-baron economics. Reagan appealed to the worse demons of our nature and Obama's laudatory remarks regarding the rotten old bastard appeals to the same...

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

26. Hannity has a "What Would Reagan Do?" segment on his radio show

I kid you not. Then he plays some snippet of Reagan speaking. I think some Republicans are turning into Reagan cultists. They use his name like an invocation or blessing on their views. I don't think we need to be joining them.