For GOP, it's okay for Reagan to raise Wall Street's tax rate. But for Obama? POUTrage!

[Triana]

[Agnosticsherbet]

1. Reagan could not win the Republican nomination today.

He would be called a tax and spend Socialist Democrat.

[Art_from_Ark]

2. Don't fool yourself, Reagan cut income taxes for the 1%

He would still be a darling of the oligarchs.

"Included in the (1981 tax) act was an across-the-board decrease in the marginal income tax rates in the United States by 23% over three years, with the top rate falling from 70% to 50% and the bottom rate dropping from 14% to 11%. This act slashed estate taxes and trimmed taxes paid by business corporations by $150 billion over a five-year period.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_Recovery_Tax_Act_of_1981

In 1983, he also increased the FICA tax, which placed a heavier burden on lower-wage earners.

"The primary effect of the tax changes over the course of Reagan's term in office was a change in the composition of federal receipts, towards more payroll taxes and new investment taxes, and away from higher earners and capital gains on existing investments. Federal revenue share of GDP fell from 19.6% in fiscal 1981 to 17.3% in 1984, before rising back to 18.4% by fiscal year 1989. Personal income tax revenues fell during this period relative to GDP, while payroll tax revenues rose relative to GDP.[4] President Ronald Reagan's 1981 cut in the top regular tax rate on unearned income reduced the maximum capital gains rate to only 20%—its lowest level since the Hoover administration.[12] This tax benefits the wealthy; however, in 1986 President Reagan set tax rates on capital gains at the same level as the rates on ordinary income like salaries and wages, with both topping out at 28 percent.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaganomics

So, during Reagan's terms, the top income tax rate fell from 70% all the way down to 28%, while lower wage earners were subjected to an increase in Social Security/Medicare taxes.

[Agnosticsherbet]

3. I lived through the period, know that, but a candidat with his credentials

would not be nominated today.

[Art_from_Ark]

4. Credentials? What credentials?

As governor of California, he sent the National Guard after student protestors in Berkeley in 1969, an act that was imitated by fellow Republican governor James Rhodes in Ohio a year later, with lethal results.

He wanted to show the world how "tough" we were and virtually gave the Pentagon a blank check.

He disparaged lower income and working people every chance he got.

He had significant backing from the so-called religious right.

He cut income tax rates on the highest earners and corporations, while placing a heavier tax burden on those at the lower end of the economic ladder. That is, he embraced trickle-down "voodoo" economics.

He was highly malleable by his handlers, but also could appeal to voters.

In short, he would still be the perfect Republican candidate.