Clinton criticizes Obama’s comment on Reagan
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- January
- 18
At Tuesday night’s Democratic president debate Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, by mutual agreement, put to rest their dispute over the legacy of Martin Luther King.
The idea was to focus on the future instead of the past.
It didn’t last very long.
The new controversy is over the legacy of President Ronald Reagan.
Earlier today Clinton joined former Sen. John Edwards in criticizing Obama’s recollection that President Reagan provided America with a sense of optimism with his campaign theme of “morning in America.’’
“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,” Obama said Monday during an interview with the editorial board of the Reno Gazette-Journal newspaper. The Gannett-owned daily endorsed Obama Thursday.
Clinton, at a campaign stop at a small commercial printing company in Las Vegas, offered her perspective.
But rather than talking about the Reagan years—he left office 28 years ago in January 1989—Clinton mischaracterized Obama’s time reference by pointing to the Repubublican agenda during her husband’s administration that began 15 years ago in January 1993.
“I have to say, you know, my leading opponent the other day said that he thought the Republicans had better ideas than Democrats the last 10 to 15 years,’’ she said. “That’s not the way I remember the last 10 to 15 years. I don’t think it’s a better idea to privatize Social Security. I don’t think it’s a better idea to try to eliminate the minimum wage. I don’t think it’s a better idea to undercut health benefits and to give drug companies the right to make billions of dollars by providing prescription drugs to Medicare recipients. I don’t think it’s a better idea to shut down the government, to drive us into debt.’’
Edwards, at a campaign stop Thursday in Henderson, Nev. offered a more pointed evaluation.
“My view is I would never use Ronald Reagan as an example of change,’’ Edwards said. “When you think about what Ronald Reagan did to the American people, to the middle class to the working people. He was openly â€â€Å“ openly â€â€Å“ intolerant of unions and the right to organize.’’
Edwards also said Reagan for “destruction of the environment, you know, eliminating regulation of companies that were polluting and doing extraordinary damage to the environment.’’
The Nevada caucuses are tomorrow.
This entry was posted
on Friday, January 18th, 2008 at 3:20 pm by Brian Tumulty.
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that is not what obama said..he said that reagan not
republicans changed the trajectory of the country
ie it was a change election…and that is true whether
or not you agree with republican policies since then
Reagan embraced supply side economics, cutting marginal
tax rates to increase productivity..it worked..
Reagan chose to confront the Soviet Union..MR Gorbachov
Tear that wall down..and down it came….He was a President
with a vision for AMerica…which is what Obama is trying
to convey…that he has a vision albeit not based on the
same concepts either economically or in terms of foreign policy that Reagan’s Presidency was based..However Hillary’s
criticism is an attempt to tie Obama to Republican ideas
not exactly possible given his statements on the issue
and it is a clear indication that his change message
is resonating with democrats
Barack Obama is 100% Correct.
Who are the defenders of the status quo ? Is that you ?
Reagan did spawn a ‘sea change’ in American politics.
Obama hopes to spawn a new ‘sea change’. Change based on the ideals of unity – not division (and certainly not modeled after Reagan’s ideas)
How can anyone look at the state of modern politics and the outlook for our country guided by our current stautus quo – how can this ‘sea change’ of unified working government not make sense.
Anyone who has paid any attention knows what Obama is speaking of about the Republican Party being guided by ‘ideas’ for the past 15 years… you don’t have to subscribe to those ideas but they are, none the less, ideas. The same could be said of the Democratic party of the late 50’s and into the 60’s – Kennedy Idealism. Both of these movements ran their course and were watered down by time. That explains the state of the Democratic Party in the 70’s and 80’s. It also explains the ‘washed out’ state of the Republican Party today.—- Why do ‘we’ resent being talked to as if we had the capacity for knowledge. That is how Barack Obama is speaking to America… as if ‘we can’ understand. Why would we sell ourselves short and believe that we are past our zenith… that we are a declining people. Come on people… Now is the time to show some strength of character.
Hillary Clinton should do her part in making the Democratic Party a party of ideas again. She can start by voting for Barack Obama in November.
Barack Obama for President of the UNITED States of America.
A US PRESIDENT NAME HUSSEIN BARACK OBAMA. THAT’S FOOLISH AND NONSENSE!!!!!!
Mrs Clinton is obviously the most qualified candidate in both parties.I’m an American I stay up late to watch the debates.So far she is the only candidate that demonstrated the qualites and experience that US needs during these turbulent times.
Obama may be brilliant , could make good C and C for the Future but ceratinly not ready for the 2008 White House.U S politics isn’t about looking nice and talking sweet; it’s about tough choices and decisions.Americans have to separate enthusiasm founded on wishes and dreams from pedigree, know-how, and a demonstrated capacity to deliver.
so that would leave John McCain!!!
You guys don’t get it. :)
It isn’t going to be Huckabee, or McCain
or Rudy on the Republican side.
It will be Romney, and he will beat whichever
clone of George McGovern the Dems put up there.
Meanwhile, the really important news this weekend
will be in Wisconsin….specifically in Green Bay.
Giants….23-20 as they pull off another big upset.
FROM ‘HILLARY FOR PRESIDENT WEBSITE’ – PRESS RELEASE 12/12/07
”...She must break recent tradition, cast cronyism aside and fill her cabinet with the best people, not only the best Democrats, but the best Republicans as well.. We’re confident she will do that. Her list of favorite presidents – Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln, both Roosevelts, Truman, George H.W. Bush and Reagan – demonstrates how she thinks…”
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=4674
GO OBAMA!
YES WE CAN
Anne
Hillary: I don’t think it’s a better idea to shut down the government, to drive us into debt.’’
That’s funny – the only one I remember doing that was her hubby ” Bubba” (who I actually like) – when was that? about 96-7??