E.J. Dionne, Jr.: Obama 2008 = Reagan 1980

Roundup: Media's Take







The liberals who were so dismissive of Reagan similarly insisted that he represented the same "right-wing extremism" that voters had rejected in 1964 when they sent Goldwater to his landslide defeat.

Yet Reagan didn't play to type. He reached out warmly to Democrats, notably in his 1980 convention speech that was his single most effective political sally....


But the same was true of Ronald Reagan....
Read entire article at New Republic

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Arnold Shcherban - 3/5/2008

Don't worry Mr. Keuter,
Obama will not be the next US President.
If Democrats nominate him, McCain will be President elect... the worst possible future scenario for this country and the world at large.
Read my lips on this one.

Jason Blake Keuter - 3/4/2008

Stylistically, sort of, but Reagan gave speeches that were actually about something; Reagan took on major powers within his own party (see Obama pandering in Ohio with anti-NAFTA rhetoric); Reagan really represented an ideological sea change. Obama is fluff. He is an articulate George Bush, promising things that please the base of his own party and vowing to mend fences and get things done and stand up to entrenched interests.

He will also most likely be elected President, and how well he does will depend mostly on whether he believes his own hype or whether he recognizes his own inadequacies.

There really is very little comparison between Reagan and Obama. Obama is cautious, vague and stylistic. Reagan was bold, specific (sometimes ridiculously so) and stylistic in a mannner that suited his ideology.

R.R. Hamilton - 3/2/2008

I've been predicting that, should Obama get the nomination, he will either win by a landslide or lose by one -- depending mostly on the media (see the SNL skit).

Tim R. Furnish - 3/1/2008

I apologize: I should have said "THREE" problems.....

Tim R. Furnish - 3/1/2008

There are two major problems with Dionne's "analysis:"
1) Reagan had been the governor of the most populous state in the Union when he ran for President, FAR more experience than BHO has amassed so far
2) Republicans only started trying to name schools, warships, etc. after Reagan AFTER his two terms as President--hardly comparable to what the Obamaniacs' swoons before their guy has done anything of note.
3) Reagan supporters (and I campaigned for him in college in 1980) did not act anything like BHO's minions do: I cannot recall anyone ever getting the vapors, passing out or ascribing messianic powers to RR.
Nice try, E.J., but stupid as usual.