OPINION:
One of the least credible tales to come out of President Obama’s recent ideological makeover is the story that he is modeling his presidency on Ronald Reagan’s. Time Magazine asserted this week that “there is no mistaking Obama’s increasing reliance on [Mr. Reagan’s] career as a helpful template for his own.” Just to keep this preposterous public relations ploy in perspective, we have compiled a handy list to remind people how little these two men have in common:
Reagan: Fostered national pride in the military.
Obama: Fostered gay pride in the military.
Reagan: We begin bombing in five minutes.
Obama: We begin golfing in five minutes.
Reagan: Made big government a bad word.
Obama: Made big government a bad dream.
Reagan: A shining city on a hill.
Obama: A home mortgage under water.
Reagan: Just say no.
Obama: Yes we can!
Reagan: Stood up to the Soviets.
Obama: Bowed to the Saudis.
Reagan: “Tear down this wall.”
Obama: Tearing down this country.
Reagan: “Concentrated power has always been the enemy of liberty.”
Obama: Concentrated power has always been the objective.
Reagan: Put labor unions in their place.
Obama: Put labor unions in charge.
Reagan: National health care is socialism.
Obama: National health care is socialism.
Reagan: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.”
Obama: We are that generation.
Reagan: Morning in America.
Obama: Mourning for America.
Reagan: “Man is not free unless government is limited.”
Obama: Man is not limited unless government is free.
Reagan: “Government programs, once launched, never disappear.”
Obama: That’s the plan.
Reagan: “The best minds are not in government.”
Obama: The best mind is in the Oval Office.
Reagan: “I did not take the oath I have just taken with the intention of presiding over the dissolution of the world’s strongest economy.”
Obama: It’s all Bush’s fault.
Reagan: Our adversaries “counted on America to be passive. They counted wrong.”
Obama: Who else can I apologize to?
Reagan: “Trust, but verify.”
Obama: Let’s do whatever Putin wants.
Reagan: “We have a rendezvous with destiny.”
Obama: I have a rendezvous with destiny.
Reagan: Abortion is murder.
Obama: Abortion is paid for.
Reagan: Thou shalt not speak ill of any Republican.
Obama: Thou shalt not speak to any Republican.
Reagan: Appointed the wise Justice Scalia
Obama: Appointed a wise Latina
Reagan: A citizen-politician
Obama: A citizen (?) politician
Reagan: Proposed a missile defense
Obama: Disposed of missile defense
Reagan: “Go ahead, make my day.”
Obama: Go ahead, tax and spend.
Reagan: The nine most terrifying words in the English language are:
Obama: I’m from the government and I’m here to help.
Reagan: “Let’s not go overboard in setting and enforcing tough emission standards from man-made sources.”
Obama: Why not?
Reagan: Middle class values
Obama: Middle class tax hikes
Reagan: “Information is the oxygen of the modern age.”
Obama: Invented the internet kill switch.
Reagan: Supported the death penalty
Obama: Supports the death panels
Reagan: “I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead.”
Obama: Let me get back to you on that one.
Ronald Reagan was one of this newspaper’s earliest and most ardent supporters since its inception in 1982. He read this paper every day during his two terms in office. In 1997 Mr. Reagan said, “the American people know the truth. You, my friends at The Washington Times, have told it to them.” We knew Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan was a friend of ours. Mr. Obama, you’re no Ronald Reagan.
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