The Obama-Reagan outcry reminds me of the Clinton-MLK outcry.

[Occam Bandage]

Both seem to prey on the simplistic, and neither were worth a second's worth of outrage.

In the first case, Clinton pointed out that while MLK was a necessary and praiseworthy force for change driving the civil rights movement, the movement would have been fruitless had there not been a President with the political courage and ability to realize that change. She was not in any way diminishing the civil-rights movement, or the necessity of Dr. King. She was only saying that there was an additional necessary component.

But yet dishonest anti-Clinton partisans (and the kneejerkers who followed them) said, "OMG SHE'S DISSING MLK WHAT A BITCH."

In the second case, Obama pointed out that while he did not vote for Reagan (and would not today), and while Reagan was in many ways a detrimental president, Reagan did have the political foresight to see a national desire for hope and optimism. Reagan than used that desire to push his conservative agenda. Obama suggests recognizing that was an effective technique, and proposes using that desire for hope and optimism to push his liberal agenda.

But yet dishonest anti-Obama partisans (and the kneejerkers who followed them) said, "OMG HE'S PRAISING REAGAN WHAT A BASTARD."

In the first, it's obvious the critics did not think beyond, "Clinton says MLK and negative-sounding word. Therefore she's dismissive of MLK."

In the second, it's obvious the critics did not think beyond, "Obama says Reagan and positive-sounding word. Therefore he loves Reagan."

If DU were real, there wouldn't be a teacup within miles that didn't have a tempest in it.

[Occam Bandage]

1. Objectivity is unpopular. Kick.

[Clarkansas]

2. Absolutely. This Reagan thing is one of the biggest non-issues ever to earn 1000 threads on du.

The MLK thing is up there as well.

[oasis]

13. We'll just wait and see what a "non-issue" it becomes.

;-)

[Captain Hilts]

3. A car in my 'hood has "I Remember Reagan" AND "Obama 08" stickers. nt

[Occam Bandage]

5. Good. We need to get some of those people voting for us in the General.

If the Republicans keep every single Bush-voter, they win again.

[Occam Bandage]

4. Nobody disagrees, I see. Ah well.

[Occam Bandage]

6. I am shameless.

[BootinUp]

7. I respectfully disagree

The issue I have with the Obama example is that he attacks the Democratic party to gain a leg up with independents in SC and NV.

[Occam Bandage]

8. Claiming the Democratic party was outmaneuvered in '80 is not "attacking the Democratic party."

We were. Reagan won twice, and won big. Looking at why he won--and how we can harness that to push our own agenda--is about as constructive as self-criticism gets.

[BootinUp]

9. He is agreeing with the Reagan spin

when he talks about the excesses of the left. Look, it might be appropriate conversation in Democratic circles, but to braodcast it to the public in order to win a primary reeks.

[Occam Bandage]

10. He's claiming the Reagan spin was successful, and that the Democratic party

did not adequately sell its message. Both were true. Denial is not a progressive virtue.

[Occam Bandage]

11. Kick for a different crowd.

[jpgray]

12. But why choose -Reagan- as your example for hope and optimism?

Why him? Why not a positive, progressive example?

[Occam Bandage]

15. He's chosen many examples. He's been mocked for the frequency he's invoked JFK and MLK.

[jpgray]

17. I'd wager neither of those caused quite the firestorm that we've seen with the Reagan comment

It may well be a localized, unimportant firestorm in terms of voters at large, but why do you suppose the responses are different?

[Occam Bandage]

20. Of course not. See OP.

[Barack_America]

19. Um, because Ronald Reagan is the 2nd "greatest" president in history...

...And the more people trash him in connection with your name, the more crucial, swing votes they drive over to you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_rankings_of_United_States_Presidents
A Gallup poll about presidential greatness, taken February 9-11, 2007, asked 1006 adults nationwide, "Who do you regard as the greatest United States president?"<8>
Abraham Lincoln (18%)
Ronald Reagan (16%)
John F. Kennedy (14%)
Bill Clinton (13%)
Franklin Roosevelt (9%)
Other/None/No opinion (8%)
George Washington (7%)
Harry Truman (3%)
George W. Bush (2%)
Theodore Roosevelt (2%)
Dwight Eisenhower (2%)
Thomas Jefferson (2%)
Jimmy Carter (2%)
Gerald Ford (1%)
George H.W. Bush (1%)
Richard Nixon (0%)

Not to mention the fact that the core of Hillary's support (according to the exit polls thus far), strongly resemebles the so-called "Reagan Democrats"

[robbedvoter]

14. "Reagan offered Americans a sense of common purpose that liberals seemed no longer able to muster."

Audacity of Hope, page 32

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4087189&mesg_id=4087491

[Occam Bandage]

18. Do you deny it? Reagan kicked our asses, twice.

He laid the groundwork for decades of conservative dominance. He was politically very successful. I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to co-opt some aspects of his style to push our substance.

[Barack_America]

16. Oh c'mon man, don't make sense!

I'm enjoying the show! :popcorn:

I'm actually enjoying this tiff, now that I can be on the outside looking in.

[ZinZen]

21. In addition

most Americans who are voting are not paying attention to these issues. They are not political junkies like us.

[Occam Bandage]

22. evening kick.