Ripped from the wires ... Darrell M. West of the Brookings Institution argues that the best historical parallel for Barack Obama is not John F. Kennedy; it's Ronald Reagan:
By Darrell M. West
The youthful and charismatic Barack Obama may often be compared to John F. Kennedy, but Ronald Reagan poses the more interesting parallel. Like the Republican who swept into the White House in 1980, Obama is an outstanding orator whose national political rise coincides with a grass-roots movement demanding fundamental change in America.
Many Democrats underestimated Reagan because of his inexperience, ardent ideology, and lofty but sometimes vague rhetoric. Yet the former Hollywood actor and California governor surprised opponents by leading a revolution in domestic and foreign policy. Aided by shrewd advisers and outside activists, Reagan cut taxes, slashed social service spending and ushered in a tough international stance. In so doing, Reagan became one of America's most influential presidents in the post-World War II era.
Obama has the same capacity as Reagan to produce surprising changes, albeit with different policy objectives than Reagan. The Illinois senator, with a liberal voting record, has divergent views on virtually every issue from taxes and use of American force to health, education and welfare.
But like Reagan, Obama can motivate grass-roots activists on behalf of policy change. Record numbers of voters have helped Obama upset the favored Sen. Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination. In state after state, grass-roots activists knocked on doors, wrote blogs, raised an unprecedented amount of money, and provided intellectual energy for the Obama campaign. Their fervor echoed the conservative activists who propelled Reagan to victory in the last century.
Also like Reagan, Obama holds the potential to use activists to reformulate this country's prevailing public philosophy. His campaign message of change has activated supporters across the country and this grass-roots support gives him political capital with which to seek alteration in the status quo.
For three decades now, progressive forces have sat on their political heels. They have been afraid to utter the word taxes in public for fear of being labeled tax-and-spend liberals. Democrats have downplayed talk of government activism and using the public sector to help those in need. Many have been quiet on matters related to family and cultural values because they didn't want to be seen as outside the prevailing mainstream.
Reagan captured the public trust as Jimmy Carter fell from grace and gas prices were a factor. Now, popular dissatisfaction with Bush's handling of the Katrina debacle, the domestic economy and the Iraq war have given a fresh party another opportunity to reshape America's governing philosophy. Armed with majorities in the House and Senate, a President Obama could reposition government as a solution rather than a problem. He could promote fairer tax policies, improve access to health care, and return America to a more consultative foreign policy.
Major redefinition does not come easily. Institutional barriers remain that will slow action, news reporting will focus on daily blips rather than the new president's substantive priorities and citizen cynicism will make many Americans doubt his sincerity. Large-scale change may prove elusive even if Democrats control Congress and the White House.
Yet just as Reagan harnessed the financial, organizational and intellectual energy of activists, so could Obama. He can push the activists' values, as Reagan did, but cannot pursue every idea that his supporters propose.
Most important, Obama should study Reagan's style. Reagan was a strong leader who left an enduring legacy because he thought big, hired smart people, delegated details to staff and did not let the highest office in the land overwhelm him. Obama must keep his focus on broad vision and large-scale change, not minute policy details.
Obama may already have the political insulation that gave Reagan the moniker of the Teflon president. He has survived questions about his relationship with a fiery minister and his own controversial comments about small-town American life. In overcoming these landmines, Obama may have demonstrated that he is more like Reagan than many would like to admit.
West is a Brookings Institution vice president and director of its Governance Studies Program. www.brookings.edu.
Comments?
Economically and socially, America is rapidly headed straight down hill, and it will continue this way until this nation makes some significant and sweeping social and economic changes in its very fabric!
This whole planet is running out of "gas," quite literally; and the counties of India and China are now demanding very significantly more and more petroleum!
Regrettably, there can be no economic rebound in America without this energy.
This country is now going to have to compete with India and China for this "imported" petroleum, however.
The country of Brazil, and an assortment of countries in Europe, they have already begun to make these energy changes: to ethenal for cars; to the magetic trains, instead of the auto and airplane; to solar panals for homes, businesses, and factories for elecricity; to wind energy for electricity; to ....
America, however, is caught in a political trap it seems.
The present American oil companies hold a vise like grip - monitary, of course - on most of our significant federal politicians.
This includes the President - one news magazine has his worth at over 12 million dollars in oil stock - and the Vice President, at over 300 million dollors in oil stock.
On the other hand, in this country, our significant federal politicians focus of offshore drilling for more oil, and little else!
And even if we find significant quantities of this new petroleum, it will take 6-8 years to develop it, and then it will only last 8-10 more years after that at the very most: and it will continue to contribute to the very worrysome Global Warming.
Then what?
The "common" people of the United States had better rise up very soon, and demand a significant changes in our focus - like the Europeans and Brazil already have - or this nation will soon become a second rate power in the world!
Dr. James E. Dunn
Posted by: Dr. James E. Dunn | July 08, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Obama is no Reagan nor should he be. It is unfair and unwise to compare different presidents in different times. First of all it is a little premature to give Obama the job before he is actually elected. Second, Obama is in a party that thinks government can solve all problems. Unless he can divorce himself from the left's big government agenda he has no chance of being a successful president. Third with the deficent being what it is he will have to raise taxes or borrow money to do anything new. This will place him at odds with half the country and make his job even more difficult.
We need a fundamental overhaul of the entire system that has led us to such dire straits. The IRS and the tax code needs to be replaced with one that is fair and balanced. We need to close K Street and return to citizens addressing the government over grievances not corporations buying the government. We need to stop trying to run the world when we cannot even run our on country successfully. We need to cut out government waste. The list goes on and on. What are the chances that this will happen under an Obama or McCain administration? Lets just say I have a better chance of winning the lottery. Vote libertarian in 2012.
Posted by: Richard L. Wolfe | July 08, 2008 at 11:53 AM
JED: You can carry you own house in your hand basket; and Wolfe, you definitley are the independent. Hope the hurricane doesn't hit in early Novemeber, 'cus you'd surely be blown.
What is a Community Organizer? Ever heard of Governor Obama? Ever heard someone say, "You are treating me that way because I am bl---?" Now, you have heard it again.
Posted by: Patrick Hill | July 08, 2008 at 10:38 PM
A song that matches this theme... *smile*
Jonathan Edwards - Sunshine (Go Away Today) Lyrics
Sunshine go away today
I don't feel much like dancing
Some man's gone, he's tried to run my life
Don't know what he's asking
He tells me I'd better get in line
Can't hear what he's saying
When I grow up I'm going to make it mine
But these aren't dues I been paying
(Chorus)
How much does it cost, I'll buy it
The time is all we've lost, I'll try it
But he can't even run his own life
I'll be damned if he'll run mine, Sunshine
Sunshine go away today
I don't feel much like dancing
Some man's gone he's tried to run my life
Don't know what he's asking
Working starts to make me wonder where
The fruits of what I do are going
He says in love and war all is fair
But he's got cards he ain't showing
(Chorus)
Sunshine come on back another day
I promise you I'll be singing
This old world, she's gonna turn around
Brand new bells'll be ringing
Posted by: DanielC | July 10, 2008 at 08:56 AM
Sounds like that Anne Murray song about a little good news today at the end of Jimmy Carter's term.
Obsama, Jimmy Carter's second term. Iran is still the devil.
Posted by: Patrick Hill | July 11, 2008 at 11:41 PM
cowboylyrics.com
Anne Murray, A Little Good News Lyrics
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Artist: Murray Anne
Song: A Little Good News
Album: All of Me Anne Murray Sheet Music
Anne Murray CDs
Complimentary “A Little Good News” Ringtone
I rolled out this morning
Kids had the mornin' news show on
Bryant Gumbel was talkin' 'bout the fighting in Lebanon
Some senator was squawkin' 'bout the bad economy
It's gonna get worse you see, we need a change in policy
There's a local paper rolled up in a rubber band
One more sad story's one more than I can stand
Just once how I'd like to see the headline say
"Not much to print today, can't find nothin' bad to say", because
Nobody robbed a liquor store on the lower part of town
Nobody OD'ed, nobody burned a single buildin' down
Nobody fired a shot in anger, nobody had to die in vain
We sure could use a little good news today
I'll come home this evenin'
I'll bet that the news will be the same
Somebody takes a hostage, somebody steals a plane
How I wanna hear the anchor man talk about a county fair
And how we cleaned up the air, how everybody learned to care
Whoa, tell me
Nobody was assassinated in the whole Third World today
And in the streets of Ireland, all the children had to do was play
And everybody loves everybody in the good old USA
We sure could use a little good news today
Nobody robbed a liquor store on the lower part of town
Nobody OD'ed, nobody burned a single buildin' down
Nobody fired a shot in anger, nobody had to die in vain
We sure could use a little good news today
Posted by: Patrick Hill | July 12, 2008 at 10:21 PM