Some Reagan aides say Obama is like Reagan. One says Reagan would have found Obama "appealing"

[jackson_dem]

-snip-

"Ronald Reagan was an inspirational leader who also was a uniter. There was never any vindictive stuff to the other side," said Lawrence Korb, a former Reagan aide and current Obama supporter who serves as a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. "In 1983, when you had the commission to fix Social Security, which basically gave us 20 more years with the program, after it was over Reagan would not campaign against any who supported that. And the harshest thing he said against Mondale was that he was too young. There was never any of this vindictiveness... I think Obama is trying to get us back to that pleasantness."

Added Peter Robinson, a research fellow at the Hoover Institute and a speechwriter for Reagan's White House: "I do believe Obama is right in looking back at the election of 1980 and saying that was a historical inflection point. Of course there is a certain amount of self-flattery involved in that statement, but he might be right." Robinson added: "I do think Ronald Reagan would have found Barack Obama appealing."

-snip-

"I think Senator Obama's statement is happy fodder for columnists and commentators," remarked Reagan's speechwriter Peggy Noonan. "They can draw a measured comparison, assert the obvious as an insight, make a few jokes, and play to their bases. ("Obama makes a mistake in comparing himself to the ancient reactionary in whose thrall the right remains"; "I knew Ronald Reagan, Ronald Reagan was a friend of mine, and Senator Obama...") So this is all good for commenters, and as a member of that guild I say: thank you. But to break into reality for a second: If Barack Obama is a great man it will become apparent with time, and if he is not, that will become apparent too."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/17/reagan-advisers-see-a-bit_n_82057.html

Some of them disagree, other don't care about the Reagan-Obama comparsion. There is too much love from Reaganites and Republicans in general for Obama. They don't love Hillary. They don't love Edwards.

[skipos]

1. And Newt Gingrich and Murdoch rave about triangulatin' Hil.

So what?

[jackson_dem]

2. Has Hillary written about how Gingrich was great and curbed the "excesses" of Democrats?

[skipos]

5. I wouldn't care if she did.

There are many, many reasons she would be an awful candidate and a mediocre president. Her opinions and deep friendships with Murdoch pale in comparison to her actions.

[jackson_dem]

6. You should care. The problem isn't Obama admiring Reagan. It is why he admires Reagan.

[FredScuttle]

3. What ringing endorsements

Some of the Reagan Youth emerge from the rock they've been under to spout homilies to the one Democratic candidate who thinks it's a good idea to even mention a disastrous and criminal president.

Will Obama be going after Wallace Dixiecrats next?

[Mojorabbit]

4. A brilliant political strategy

He has coopted reagan for himself and taken it away from the other side. The more the press plays it the more the two names are linked in people who don't follow politics minds. Edwards did good with the base with his comments today. I haven't read Hillary's reaction yet. All are fine candidates and I will be happy to vote for any one of them.

[sunonmars]

7. can i throw up now please

[Perry Logan]

8. I'll join you.

[midnight]

9. I can't believe we are having this discussion:

"Some of them disagree, other don't care about the Reagan-Obama comparsion. There is too much love from Reaganites and Republicans in general for Obama. They don't love Hillary. They don't love Edwards. " My opinion comes from Obama not respecting the history lessons of the 60's enough to know how much was truly lost via the Reagan,Bush era. I suppose his main goal is to be president. He wants to run as a Dem. because the country is tired of Rep. in name only. So if he says he is a dem who admires Reagan's abilities he will win.