GOP Candidates Remember Reagan, Forget Working Families

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/05/04/gop-candidates-remember-reagan-forget-working-families/

GOP Candidates Remember Reagan, Forget Working Families

by Payson Schwin, May 4, 2007

Last night, 10 Republican presidential candidates gathered for their first debate at the Ronald W. Reagan Presidential Library in California.

Beneath a full-size replica of Air Force One, the candidates tried their best to claim they were the rightful heirs of the Reagan legacy. (A legacy, let’s not forget, that was strongly anti-union, and included the firing of striking air traffic controllers during his first year in office.)

As Politico.com reported:

From the moment the debate began, the candidates competed to see who could most laud the former president.

Meanwhile, Crooks and Liars notes the candidates “specifically referenced the 40th president 20 times.”

Yet the candidates rarely mentioned issues important to working families—health care, good jobs, trade policy, education and retirement security. Also not talked about much was President Bush, “who was seldom mentioned by name and whose policies were, in general, treated as an albatross to the 2008 field,” according to Politico.com.

The majority of the debate focused on foreign policy issues—such as Iraq, Iran and terrorism—but there were moments when other topics arose.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani blasted what he called “socialized medicine,” and said while our health care system “needs to be fixed,” it is still the “greatest health care system in the world.” (Note to Giuliani: America’s health care system is broken.)

FULL story at link.

[Bluzmann57]

1. Comparing oneself to Reagan is not honorable

As you so eloquently stated, he was anti-Union and started us down the twisted and seemingly endless road we're on now. So if anyone compares his or herself to Reagan, maybe they should think again.

[papau]

4. Reagan gave us "Treason is OK if I do it" (paraphased) with disregard of cutoff of war funding via

Boland amendment in the 80's - inventing the idea that the "commander in chief" can void any law/any right in the Defense of the Nation - a concept our media tried to sell at the time as they explained to us all that ignoring the contra war funding cut off wasn't treason until the USSC ruled Reagan was wrong to ignore the law.

Indeed today we have a right wing Supreme Court that might well rule we live in a serial Dictatorship by the President.

Thanks Ronnie. Thanks media.

[ninkasi]

2. Any candidate

who promises to be like Reagan is a candidate I wouldn't vote for. Of course, I'm a Democrat, but I thought that St. Ronnie was a horrible president. I've never understood why Republics worship him.

[Gloria]

3. This is why I keep seeing Edwards vs. Romney....

No corporatist DLCers, please!!

[Cha]

5. rudy mcromney identify with

reagan and reagan reminds me of catsup, rayguns, and pissing on the labor force that keeps America humming until recently when the corporateheads are taking their factories to other countries so the CEO's can keep up with their multi-million $$$$$ paychecks.