Is Obama the Democrat's Reagan?
By heathcliff
@heathcliff (1415)
United States
June 30, 2009 11:04am CST
Alot of the complaining I hear from anti-Obamanitors seems to focus on the "problem" that the nation is so obsessed with his charm and personality that too many of us are overlooking his programs.
As a voter who was smitten by Reagan up to his second year, I remember very well how the country overlooked the questionable aspects of his presidency. He was even refered to as "the Teflon President", because when it came to negative accusations, "nothing would stick".
Is this what the Republicans are afraid of: a President that will usurp the Conservative hold on much of politics over the past thirty years or so; A "Cult of Personality" that will supplant Reagan as the dominate picture of American politics for years to come?
And even by doing so, could they dilute America's memory of Reagan by reminding them of how much Reagan was able to do just because he was popular and telegenic? Might complaints about Obama end up just creating a revision of modern politics that could weaken the historical view of Reagan and uplift the image of an "unpopular thinker", like Carter?
3 responses
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
30 Jun 09
There is always a level of danger to any cult of personality. All too often we look the other way when someone we support does something wrong, mostly because the human ego can't stand admitting to being wrong.
All the presidents who are remembered had a high level of cult of personality. As you said, because of their popularity they were able to get away with more than presidents who didn't reach that status.
The thing is though, I remember the Reagan administration very well. I remember both the hero worship and the opposition. I remember that both came from both sides of the aisle. Of course his strongest support came from Republicans, but a lot of opposition came from Republicans also. He also enjoyed a lot of support from Democrats, as well as a lot of opposition. Those who supported him were willing to call him to task when they didn't agree with him. For that matter, most of his detractors were willing to admit that he had successes.
What gets me about Obama's cult of personality is, his supporters can't seem to get themselves to acknowledge that Obama has done some things that are howlingly wrong. It seems blasphemous to say anything negative about him at all.
In terms of popularity, I think you're right... Obama could go down as the Democrat's Reagan.
@piasabird (1737)
• United States
30 Jun 09
"Obama could go down as the Democrat's Reagan"
I sort of think it's too early to tell. He's only 6 months into the presidency.
@piasabird (1737)
• United States
30 Jun 09
Yeah, he might have inherited some problems but he's making it worse. Everything he's doing is working toward killing our economy not improving it. And at some point he's got to stop blaming the former administration for everything and take some responsibility himself.
@N4life (851)
• United States
30 Jun 09
There may be some truth to what you are saying. I don't think the historical view of Reagan's presidency could really be weakened much but I do think that Obama could outshine Reagan so to speak and Republicans know this. Having said this I also think that many conservatives (particularly more extreme right wingers) are just very far off from Obama politically.
Within the Senate, the way the Repubicans seem to not want to compromise on anything at all with Obama, it seems to support your theory that they are scared of Dems having a President viewed similarly or better than Reagan. Parties can ride coat tails of such personalities for some time.
@heathcliff (1415)
• United States
30 Jun 09
That last line is very true. Lyndon Johnson could not have accomplished much without the memory of Kennedy and I doubt we would have had the Bush dynasty without Reagan. Clinton had some popularity, but let's face it, he wasn't smart enough to use it correctly (He was his own worst enemy).
The Republicans best hope is to stop running scared and steal Obama's thunder. Propose new ideas instead of basically slamming Obama's agenda. In gneral, it is the same trap the Democrats fell into during Reagan: thinking they could point out Reagan's flaws and use the memory of Nixon's mistake against the Republicans instead of proposing solutions.
@heathcliff (1415)
• United States
30 Jun 09
You may not like them, but they are there. Just read any Obama-bashing ariticle and you'll see 4 or 5 that are "destined to destroy America", but they are there.
