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Comparing Trump to Reagan Should Be a Slappable Offense
Pajamas Media ^ | 09/01/2015 | by David Forsmark

Posted on 09/01/2015 7:30:11 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

It’s presidential campaign season again, which means the name Reagan is going to be bandied about, embraced—and taken in vain.

From Rick Santorum (who was a back-bench congressman during the Reagan years) practically claiming credit for the Reagan Revolution, to Mike Huckabee repeating “As Ronald Reagan said, ‘Trust but verify’” at the drop of every hat, to 437,986,989 misuses of “Reagan’s 11th Commandment” (it wasn’t Reagan’s but he brought it up when it benefitted him), the legacy of the man biographer H.W. Brands calls “one of the two most consequential presidents of the 20th century” pervades the Republican nomination process.

But Reagan’s name has never been sullied the way it is now.

The Supreme Court has recognized there is such a thing as “fighting words,” but has necessarily left the definition vague.

I’d like to propose that “Well, Ronald Reagan used to be a Democrat, too” be up on the slappable offense list with “Your momma____ ”—if that retort is being used to defend Donald Trump.

I’m sure this is something that would have irritated the hell out of me, even before I read Brands’ extremely readable and engaging new biography, Reagan: The Life. I’ve never understood the appeal of Donald Trump’s preening peacock act—but up until now, it was easy to ignore. And now that Trump is ubiquitous, emergency measures must be taken.

However, since I can’t reach out and slap everyone, here are just a few reminders of things you probably already know, but have buried in your brain under the sludge of the Trump-publicity avalanche—and the muddiness of enablers like Greta and Sean Hannity.

Reagan’s encounters with the Left made him a conservative. Trump’s encounters with the Left made him get out his checkbook.

As Brands reminds us, Ronald Reagan was a Democrat in his early years as an actor. He was also a freedom-loving, all-American, patriotic liberal (yes, those once existed).

Reagan’s first real encounter with the hard Left was during his term as the president of the Screen Actors Guild. His revulsion at not only the ideology, but the bully tactics of the communists who tried to take over Hollywood, led him to examine all of his political premises.

Over the next decades, Reagan read up and formed the intellectual basis for his conservatism. He became a popular radio commentator similar to Paul Harvey, writing his own scripts and becoming a missionary for conservative thought—at a time when smiley-faced liberalism was still the ascendant philosophy in American politics.

Trump, in contrast, spent the last decade funding the anti-American, defeatist hard Left. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have a lot in common with the thugs who turned Reagan to the Right, but Trump was happy to hand them money.

Trump’s newfound “conservatism” is also awfully easy. He harps on a few issues he knows can rile up the Right, and plays to people tired of political correctness (even when what he says is factually incorrect).

Comparing this “conversion” to that of Reagan is Political Transformations for Dummies.

Reagan talked about the greatness of America; Trump talks about the greatness of Trump—and how great America could be, if only he were in charge.

Even in the midst of the Carter malaise, Reagan talked about America in the glowing terms of the Founders’ ambitions—and he quoted them. Trump quotes… Trump.

But there is an even bigger difference. Reagan considered government a roadblock to the inherent greatness of America, Trump thinks government will be how we get to greatness—as long as he’s running it.

While Reagan said the world’s biggest lie was “I’m from the government and I’m here to help,” Trump promises that when he is running things the government will be here to help.

He will “take care of the women,” because he “cherishes them.” We are going to exploit foreign governments with trade deals because he will hire mean negotiators.

Reagan channeled de Tocqueville and what in the American character makes America great. Trump channels Huey Long. America just needs a good boss.

Reagan handled Sam Donaldson, Dan Rather and the reporters who defined TV news with grace and aplomb; Donald Trump has been whining about Megyn Kelly for a month.

Trump supporters point to Trump’s willingness to “say it like it is” and be “politically incorrect” as his main virtue. Many of them head-scratchingingly compare this to Reagan.

Go ahead. Google all you want. I’m pretty sure Reagan ran against Ford without mocking him as stupid, low-energy, or in somebody’s pocket. He did point out some policy differences and differences in approach.

But whatever insults were directed his way, he handled with a smile and a non-personal retort. Like this classic:

CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE VIDEO

 

 

Contrast that with how Donald Trump has handled the question from Megyn Kelly—which, in a campaign basically based on the candidate bragging about his personal qualities, is a fair one.

Reagan was not only a gentleman, he was a MAN. In the aftermath of the Megyn Kelly question, I would characterize Donald Trump as, well, a “wherever…”

 

CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE VIDEO

 

In fact, re-reading Brands’ account of the assassination attempt, I would say Reagan was less bothered by John Hinckley Jr. than Trump was by Megyn.

Reagan understood free enterprise; Trump thinks as president he should be in charge of business.

Here’s one thing you never hear in a Trump speech about the economy—”Unleashing the genius and creativity of the American people.” Here are the words you hear a lot—”in charge,” “management,” “I’m smart,” “tough negotiations,” etc.

All of them have one thing in common: Trump thinks the American economy is something to be managed, not something to be unleashed. That’s what uber-manager Herbert Hoover thought, too—not to mention that whole disastrous tariff idea…

How’d that work out?

Missing from the Trump discussion of the economy is anything about regulation, probably the number one problem keeping back the American economy. He is for “replacing Obamacare,” though, with “something terrific.” Well, okay then. You’re gonna love it.

Donald Trump thinks he could stop Ford from building a plant in Mexico with an authoritative phone call if he were president. He also thinks he could tell Nabisco not to build a factory overseas. In the Reagan era, only the UAW thought that was the president’s job.

Reagan talked of making America an attractive place to do business, while Trump talks old-style union protectionism. I’ve yet to hear him utter the letters E-P-A.

Worst of all, while talking of all the expensive things he is going to do, Trump doesn’t seem to know the difference between the deficit and the trade deficit, as he revealed in a question about raising the debt ceiling recently. Reagan may not have been a businessman, but he had a far better understanding of the economy and how free enterprise works.

I’m not sure which is scarier: if Trump actually believes the whole economy is a zero sum game and works like his business does– or if he doesn’t.

Which brings us to Trump’s trump card, and his only real appeal.

Reagan believed the key to America’s greatness lay within; Trump believes America is victim to foreigners.

Well, to be more precise, Trump preaches America is victim to foreigners—I can’t swear to the fact that the man with the born genius for telling an audience what they want to hear really believes it.

We have met the enemy, and it ain’t us.

Speaking of foreign enemies, let’s switch quickly from theoretical presidents who use Reagan to an actual one who has repeatedly expressed his envy of Reagan’s legacy of transforming American politics.

Reading Brands’ gripping account of Reagan going toe to toe with Gorbachev with minimal assistance from his staff of very, very capable people, and comparing it to the disaster of John Kerry negotiating (AKA surrendering) to the Iranians is enough to make you weep for your country.

So, I guess there has been an even more egregious comparison to Ronald Reagan than Trump.

Support Trump if you want to. That’s fine. Comparing him to Reagan is not. Ever hear of Ross Perot?

Reagan: The Life

By H.W. Brands

Doubleday, 816 pages (though you will read it like it’s 300) $35.00 (and worth every penny)


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: reagan; trump
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To: SamAdams76
Why is it so important to establish the exact number of billions that Trump has? Whether it's $4b or $10b, it's a lot of money and indicative of a very successful career in business.

I could not care less about the exact number of Trump's net worth. I was simply responding to the idol worship of others who were calling him the greatest real estate developer in the world.

61 posted on 09/01/2015 9:00:54 AM PDT by Conscience of a Conservative
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To: SeekAndFind

Nothing but an opinionated hit piece against Trump.


62 posted on 09/01/2015 9:01:45 AM PDT by CodeToad (If it weren't for physics and law enforcement I'd be unstoppable!)
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To: Pearls Before Swine; SeekAndFind
Hey, comparing Trump to Reagan is not nearly as distasteful as Obama’s comparing himself to Reagan.... and Lincoln.

But nobody here buys the lie that Obama is comparable to Reagan.

It's a sad reflection on American conservatism, and on certain posters here, that this article is now necessary to post.

63 posted on 09/01/2015 9:02:58 AM PDT by Colonel_Flagg ("Donald Trump: Quality Conservatism Since 2015.")
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To: Conscience of a Conservative
Leaving aside the location where a given car company is headquartered (that's pretty much irrelevant

Not so. He's not proposing it for VW, is he?

Trump's policies would artificially raise the price of cars produced outside of the U.S., in order to stifle competition with cars produced in the U.S., with the purpose of encouraging companies to open plants in the U.S. instead of overseas. That's protectionism 101.

No, that's not the policy he outlined.

64 posted on 09/01/2015 9:06:45 AM PDT by papertyger (Trump: Throwing off such Government!)
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To: papertyger
Not so. He's not proposing it for VW, is he?

I believe he has proposed it for any cars imported from Mexico, not just those made by U.S. companies.

And if he IS proposing that, then that's even worse. What do you think would happen if we imposed tariffs on U.S. companies that imported goods from overseas, but not on overseas companies that did the same thing? I suspect there would be many fewer U.S. companies around....

65 posted on 09/01/2015 9:10:13 AM PDT by Conscience of a Conservative
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To: Conscience of a Conservative
I'm not sure that can even be determined (who is greatest real estate developer in world). What metrics would be used? No matter what metrics you use, it will be open to interpretation and people will immediately argue about it.

What can be established is that Donald Trump is pretty darn good at it. And he probably has the others beat in terms of getting publicity for himself.

66 posted on 09/01/2015 9:11:57 AM PDT by SamAdams76 (We gave GOP the majority to take care of business and they let us down. Time for Trump/Cruz)
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To: Conscience of a Conservative
I believe he has proposed it for any cars imported from Mexico, not just those made by U.S. companies.

I have heard no such proposal.

And if he IS proposing that, then that's even worse. What do you think would happen if we imposed tariffs on U.S. companies that imported goods from overseas...

Neither have I heard that proposal.

67 posted on 09/01/2015 9:31:05 AM PDT by papertyger (Trump: Throwing off such Government!)
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To: SeekAndFind

Reagan and FDR are clearly the two most consequential presidents of the 20th Century. If America survives, the president who repeals Obama’s entire destructive legacy will make the list of most consequential presidents of the 21st Century.

Note: I would not put the former junior US Senator from Illinois, Barack Hussein Obama, on any list of presidents at all. Even if the alleged Hawaiian was actually born in the USA, I will continue to consider him a usurper and all his actions in our White House illegitimate. He has not acted in accordance with the Constitution, and most of what the communist druggie has done specifically violates the Tenth Amendment and Article II of the Constitution. The sooner we can revoke all his executive orders and actions, repeal all bills he signed, and impeach all his nominees for office, the better.


68 posted on 09/01/2015 11:00:25 AM PDT by Pollster1 ("Shall not be infringed" is unambiguous.)
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To: griswold3

I think they will. But the first thing is you have to get them to stop being afraid. Trump is doing that (we used to call that “empowerment”).


69 posted on 09/01/2015 11:56:15 AM PDT by LS ("Castles Made of Sand, Fall in the Sea . . . Eventually" (Hendrix))
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To: SkyDancer

They compared him to God, too.


70 posted on 09/01/2015 2:02:48 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Resist We Much)
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To: Democrat_media
Trump is worth 10 billion dollars and he filed this papers that say that.

Do you know how those valuations are done? The large majority of that net worth is the dude estimating how much he thinks he's worth. That's not hard value ($$ in the bank), or even soft value (how much a building is worth, land), that's fantasy value: how much is the trump brand worth? If he sold his name trademark, how much would someone pay for it? Obviously he thinks it'll be quite a lot more than anyone actually would pay.
71 posted on 09/01/2015 2:37:34 PM PDT by Svartalfiar
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