Obama Compares Himself To Reagan, JFK...But Not Bill Clinton

In an interview Monday with the Reno Gazette-Journal editorial board, Sen. Barack Obama riffed on a range of political topics ranging from Katrina, the home mortgage crisis and, of course, fodder from the campaign trail.

But perhaps the most interesting offering was when he tried to place his candidacy into a historical context. Which elections does Obama see as analogous to 2008? And with which presidents does he share personal similarities? That would be John Kennedy in 1960 (hardly surprising) and Ronald Reagan in 1980 (more daring). But not, it should be noted, Bill Clinton in 1992.

In fact, Obama offered praise for the Gipper, lauding him for tapping into the country's concern with the growth and "excesses" of the federal government, and its desire to "return to that sense of dynamism and entrepreneurship" -- hardly a welcomed interpretation within progressive circles. Said the Illinois Democrat:

"I don't want to present myself as some sort of singular figure. I think part of what is different is the times. I do think that, for example, the 1980 election was different. I think Ronald Reagan changed the trajectory of America in a way that Richard Nixon did not and in a way that Bill Clinton did not. He put us on a fundamentally different path because the country was ready for it. They felt like with all the excesses of the 60s and the 70s and government had grown and grown but there wasn't much sense of accountability in terms of how it was operating. I think he tapped into what people were already feeling. Which is we want clarity, we want optimism, we want a return to that sense of dynamism and entrepreneurship that had been missing."

Obama went on:

"I think Kennedy, 20 years earlier, moved the country in a fundamentally different direction. So I think a lot of it has to do with the times. I think we are in one of those fundamentally different times right now were people think that things, the way they are going, just aren't working."

(You can watch the full video: here -- the Reagan quote comes in around the 18:50 mark)

Obama's comment was part of a nearly hour long interview with the paper's editorial board. Seated in a high-back leather chair while the Gazette-Journal staff pressed him on different policy and political matters, the senator spoke in his customary slow, measured tone. He discussed 'Google for government,' a site he helped create that allows users can search a database of how federal dollars are spent.

"The only way you can control [the out-of-control spending]," Obama said, "is if there is some sense of shame and accountability. The more we increase accountability the more we reduce the special interests in Washington."

He claimed, as he has on the stump, that his health care plan was not "all that different" from his Democratic primary opponents. "All three of us differ fairly significantly with Republicans," said Obama, "who think that you can just provide people with a few more tax credits and somehow that is going to solve the problem."

And he offered stern criticism for the Bush administration, which, he argued, "did not necessarily believe in government as an agent of change." Unlike the president, he stated, "I want to make government cool again."

Comments

[sonofman]

First of all. There aren't very many other examples that Obama could have given. But if you look at the times, the peoples longing for CHANGE, and how they have responded to Obama, its not hard to make the leap. He wasn't speaking about ideology. He mixed in many other factors that showed similarities. But I'm sure many of you know that.

[sonofman]

Who of you really think that Obama was aligning himself with Reagan on policy and ideology? If you really think that, your comprehension is so bad, it reminds me of my 2 year old. Or, you are just so much of an Obama hater, you are made blind by the hate. Its sad really. You are the very person you claim him to be. Or worst.

[chamberslee]

People have their own recollection of Reagan dependent on their situation. If you were white and wealthy, you probably have good memories. If you wanted social programs cut, you have found memories. If you were (or still are) a racist, he was a good man. Conversely, if you were poor, you felt neglected. If you were a person of color, you were angry or in jail (or probably still in jail). If you, or a love one, had AIDS, you are probably dead.

I was a teenager at the time, and I remember how things were. Reagan would not invest in AIDS research; he believed it was a disease that affected gays and the poor only. When told about the millions of children in America that went to bed hungry, he joked that they were on a diet. When told that school lunches needed to be more nutritional, he said ketchup was a vegetable: he wanted to serve them ketchup, because he did not want to spend good money on poor children. He viewed public school as a social program adding to big government. He made up the story about the "Welfare Queen." nearly 30 years later, not one reporter has been able to validate this story. But white America did not need facts: Ronnie told them, so it must be true. He also gave us trickle down economics. How is that working out? Give more to the wealthy, and you will benefit by getting the crumbs. The result, the middle class pays more in taxes than the wealthy or corporations do.

I am not shocked that Obama would look up to Reagan; his mentor is Joe Lieberman. But Obama supporters have to stop drinking the Kool-Aid. What Obama calls progressive is actually a return to Reaganism.

[OhPlease2007]

You mean Obama did NOT tell the truth to the American public regarding John Edwards' question on special interest lobbyists ???

From Politico.com :

"...Edward­s called out Obama about contributions he received from drug and insurance companies, asking: “Do you think these people expect something for this money? Why do they give it?”

...Barack Obama boasted at Tuesday's Democratic presidential debate that, thanks to his work in the Senate, the public can find out which special interest lobbyists are raising money for candidates.

In fact, the public cannot — also as a result of Obama's [OWN] work in the Senate.

He led a partisan confirmation battle that crippled the agency charged with implementing the new law requiring candidates to disclose lobbyists who collect big checks for candidates — a process known as “bundling.­”"

*** Anybody know what a seven letter word for 'empty suit' is? ***

Source: Politico (Obama blocked own 'top Senate achievement', Kenneth P. Vogel, Jan 16, 2008)

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0108/7929.html

[Bfont]

This is for all of you who are bashing Obama. Maybe you should spend less time reading the Huffington Post and more time reading political history. He obviously is not saying he emmulates or aspires to be like Reagan. He is saying that this election is similar to '60 and '80. Every few decades there is a
techtonic shift in the electorate. Kennedy began to awaken the need for social equality and the beginning of a new era in America. Reagan tapped into the frustrations of Americans who thought the country was going in the wrong direction and was elected during a realignment of the electrate. They were both change elections. Obama says the political climate is the same in '08. To say Obama means otherwise is both historically and politically ignorant.

[HollyBrinee]

Love the photo! I wondered how long it would take for The Huffington Post to put a halo around St. Obama's head.

[klondiker]

Yes, yes, I understand that he's not comparing himself to Reagan ideologically; he's merely suggesting that Reagan was able to build a working majority and take the country in a different direction.

BUT, Reagan's working majority was forged based on the demonization of Others - blacks, welfare recipients, to name a few. And that is why I resent that Obama used Reagan in this example.

Also, if you read the last part of his statement, it almost sounds like something any Republican candidate would say. In fact, Mitt Romney could probably say these remarks and one wouldn't bat an eye.

To me, this reveals another dangerous Obama trend: his tendency to attack Dems from the right.

And, finally, it may just be that's he already started to look towards the general election.

[Tellmethetruth]

Sound like this post is implying Obama has multiple personalities not to mention delusions of grandeur.

Which one of his personalities is running for President? The Ronald Reagon personality or the JFK personality?

Seems if Obama runs on someone else's records and persona he doesn't have to run on his own record and his own personality - both of which are undeveloped.

[nightslider]

are you kidding me< he aligns himself with a closet racist? one that deliberately marginalized blacks whenever could, he compares his abilities with the single worst prevaricator OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, THE TEFLON DON?.

The Iran Contra puppet of George Bush SR?

and just who is gonna be Obamas Marylin Monroe? Britney Spears,

Thanks MOFO been there and did this act when I was a youngster.

I recall people being put out in the streets from Reygun Ronnies excesses, Mental Health Became a whipping post for these bastards, thats why there are so many of them destitute and on the street with no help, yeah Oblapa you emulate the fu----- morons policies however you want, just not in the Oval office.

Anyone defending this quacker of a democrat remove your names from the list of eligible democrats. BECAUSE YOU SURE IN THE F--- AIN'T ONE.

[Alessan]

Glad to hear this jerk wants to be more like
Reagan, he was a terrible President and all he did was unite whites against blacks. Helped the corporations become more anti-union by firing the Air controllers when they went on strike. Just think some Unions actually gave Obama an endorsement, he is anti-union, wanting to be like Reagan is proof. Reagan was
a conservative and against affirmative action or anything that had to do with helping poor people. That is why the dumb republican candidates are always praising him. Reagan once said he wanted to take the country back the fifties. No civil rights laws and things were great for European Americans. Obama better think again, I've said he wasn't bright, Harvard degree or not, he has no common sense.

As for JFK, just forget it, he'll never be a JFK, he wishes. Why doesn't Obama compare himself to himself, he got in enough hot water
comparing himself MLK. Obama and staff are trouble makers.

[scjmcy2k]

Did anyone actually watch this video????He didnt compare himself to anyone, he stated what he wanted to do which was similar to Reagan and Kennedy terms of moving the country foward...A working majority sounds good to me...Title is misleading

[rblackbird]

So, Obama thinks his campaign is transitional, like Ronald Reagan's, bringing Americans together.

With all the recent hullbaloo about race, why does Obama admire Reagan who opposed creating a national holiday to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.?

Well, Obama does have great communication skills as did Reagan, and is likewise growing adept at seducing voters with empty promises. Perhaps the bond he feels with the Great Prevaricator is understandable.

[bluestatedude]

Obama compares himself to Reagan and thinks Reagan was a better president than Clinton? God help us.

[lovethesinner]

Sam,
I think you meant to type "where" not "were" in the last sentence of the second Obama quote:

".... I think we are in one of those fundamentally different times right now w[h]ere people think that things, the way they are going, just aren't working."

And as long as I'm here... boy is Obama right about the comparison to Reagan. I remember the way the country felt when Carter just kept bungling one thing after another. It was embarrassing. I didn't vote for Reagan, but I knew plenty of Democrats who did.

America is starved for air after nearly a quarter century of the same faces and the same stagnant policies. It feels like we've all been held under the water and finally we've gotten free just long enough to the see the surface. Can we finally break with the paralysis of partisan politics and breath again? Yes, we can. (Si, se puede,) Yes WE can.

Bill and Hillary Clinton aren't offering us anything new. Just the same old partisan politics and centrist policy. The only thing different this time around is the smell of mothballs.

Obama in '08

[FearlessFreep]

"Obama compares himself to Reagan."

He really is an Oreo, isn't he?