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Title: Obama Channels Reagan as Democrats Approach Election
Source:
Bloomberg
URL Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=adS3wA1zJam8
Published: Feb 5, 2010
Author: By Heidi Przybyla
Post Date: 2010-02-05 11:51:41 by Brian S
Keywords: None
Views: 587
Comments: 30
Feb. 5 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama’s politics may be drawing inspiration from an unlikely source: Ronald Reagan. The late Republican president may become Democrat Obama’s most relevant role model as the U.S. economic and political climate mirrors Reagan’s first term, which began in 1981. While Republicans suffered losses in the congressional elections of 1982, the economy began to improve by 1983. That allowed Reagan to argue that things were moving in the right direction. By 1984, he won re-election on a “It’s Morning Again in America” theme. As January’s unemployment rate unexpectedly fell to 9.7 percent from 10 percent a month earlier, Obama and Democratic lawmakers are highlighting what they say are positive trends and warning against a return to the policies of President George W. Bush. “Ronald Reagan made these points,” said Representative Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, who’s running Democratic candidate-recruitment efforts. “What was good for the Gipper can be good for Obama.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi today told Democratic leaders meeting in Washington to make sure people know that “we have already seen signs of recovery” because of last year’s stimulus plan and that Republicans are “rehashing the same failed Bush policies.” “It’s important that the word get out,” she said. Echoing Reagan Psychology was paramount in Reagan’s success, said Charles Franklin, a voting-behavior expert at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. “It was the rise in optimism that allowed Reagan to run a campaign based on these wonderful commercials,” he said. Obama recently has echoed Reagan’s themes in his Jan. 27 State of the Union speech, during a visit to Florida, and in a trip to a House Republican conference. “This turnaround is the biggest in nearly three decades, and it didn’t happen by accident,” he told the Republicans on Jan. 29 in Baltimore. It happened “because of some of the steps that we took.” Earlier that day, the government reported the economy grew 5.7 percent in the last three months of 2009, giving Democrats an opening, like Reagan, to ask voters to focus on the trend. Republicans charge that Democratic policies have been ineffective, said Franklin. “With significant robust growth in the fourth quarter, that story starts to fall apart.” Political Parallels “It’s a wonderful parallel” to Reagan’s first term, said Franklin, cautioning that the Democrats will still need more positive news. To be sure, the economy took off well into Reagan’s first term, growing by 5.1 percent in the first quarter of 1983. Growth reached 9.3 percent in the second quarter of that year and averaged 7.9 percent in the following 12 months. By contrast, the median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News is for the U.S. economy to expand 2.7 percent this year and 2.9 percent next year. Still, the public may be responding. Obama’s approval ratings jumped more than the historical average in the days after his State of the Union speech, Gallup data shows. “He was more in tune with public opinion than not,” said Frank Newport, Gallup editor-in-chief. Franklin said Democrats may lose more than 20 House seats this year. In November 1982, with unemployment at 10.8 percent, Republicans lost 26 House seats. In November 1984, with the jobless rate down to 7.2 percent, Reagan’s party netted 14 House seats and retained control of the Senate. Job Creation Representative Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican leading his party’s 2010 recruitment, doubts Democrats can co- opt Reagan’s strategy. “Maybe their message will change, but will their actions change?” he said. “We have not seen the jobs created” through spending programs. In November, the Congressional Budget Office said last year’s stimulus package created 600,000 to 1.6 million jobs. At the same time, nonfarm payrolls have dropped every month since January 2008 except for an increase of 64,000 in November, according to revised figures released today. Like Obama, Reagan entered office with an approval rating of about 68 percent and on a message of change. While the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose about 20 percent in Obama’s first year in office, it fell 10 percent during Reagan’s inaugural year. In his address to the 1984 Republican National Convention, Reagan stressed his problems were inherited. ‘Memory Lane’ He offered to take his opponents “on a little stroll down memory lane,” citing the worst inflation since World War I, declining industrial output and high taxes under predecessor Jimmy Carter. On Jan. 28, Obama said at the University of Tampa that he took office “in the middle of this raging storm,” an argument he repeated the next day in Baltimore. There are important differences, said Stephen Hess, a presidential scholar at the Brookings Institution in Washington. Reagan had a simple message of small government and low taxes, while Obama’s agenda is soaring and “cloudy,” said Hess. “As a politician, you should be able to put it on a bumper sticker,” he said. Obama doesn’t exude the “happy optimism” that Reagan did, said Hess. He may also have deeper economic concerns: Obama’s 2011 budget proposal projects unemployment will average 8.2 percent in 2012, higher than when he took office. Still, vulnerable Democrats are using Obama’s arguments. Ohio Representative Steve Driehaus, who holds one of the Rothenberg Political Report’s “dangerous dozen” House seats, said voters need to understand how the country got here. “There was a critical juncture at the end of the Clinton administration when the budget was in the black,” before Republicans began running up deficits, he said. “We’re still picking up the pieces.”
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#1. To: Brian S (#0)
They definitely need to hammer home "Stay the course" and "Failed policies of the past..." They won't tho...they're democrats...
...McCain's chances of gaining the [2008] GOP nomination died in South Carolina in 2000, and simply won't ever recover. Badeye posted on 2007-04-04 12:55:23 ET Reply Trace
Heidi began the day smoking crack, obviously. How bout that stockmarket, BS? (laughing)
Its getting uglier out there...
Not bad considering all the 'doom and gloom' predictions of the last 24 hours. DJIA +10.05, S&P +3.08, NASDAQ +15.69 /chuckle
The ozomba constituency is pre - post penitenteriary ! The stealing class !
To: 4Speed Not so-difficult explanation. They’re not used being on the defensive, as per the previous 8-years of Bush. Libtard loonbats are only good when attacking because they dont use any braincells. It gets very tiresome being on defense..defending an idiot who reads a teleprompter to 6th grade children and bows before a mayor in America. 9 posted on Friday, February 05, 2010 14:15:00 by max americana
To: 4Speed From what I gather the libs are getting stoned and going and watching Avatar over and over again. You see it has been rather depressing for them lately... 23 posted on Friday, February 05, 2010 14:23:37 by Beowulf9 few stupid diehard AO's around !
Tell that to anyone with a 401K about to retire.
Its getting uglier out there...
Anyone "about to retire" and who is in equity funds is a fool...regardless if it's a bull market or not...
Lets not confuse the stockmarket with the economy, okay? Badeye posted on 2003-08-28 14:37:45 ET Reply Trace
LOL. You would think he would know that, wouldn't you?
Being a Republican means you get to choose your own reality.
The great thing about Badeye is that he is so amazingly self contradictory and so clueless about being so...
Lets not confuse the stockmarket with the economy, okay? Badeye posted on 2003-08-28 14:37:45 ET Reply Trace
Whenever your confronted with a fact you don't care for, you make the thread about me. Intellectually vapid, GO65. Then again, listening to my anti groupie, who can't get through a day without me (as the past four years demonstrate, and his searching thru a tiny unknown website prove conclusively recently) is even more pathetic.
Its getting uglier out there...
Is that supposed to mean something? As in the realm of "making sense"? LF DOES have an edit function for special people like you...
Lets not confuse the stockmarket with the economy, okay? Badeye posted on 2003-08-28 14:37:45 ET Reply Trace
War's point was spot-on. If you are near retirement your portfolio should be in bonds, not stocks. I would think you would know that.
Being a Republican means you get to choose your own reality.
Lets not confuse the stockmarket with the economy, okay? Badeye posted on 2003-08-28 14:37:45 ET Reply Trace
my anti groupies point was to distract from an uncomfortable truth. but you knew that.
Its getting uglier out there...
The comment was to point out that what you said was dumb from any angle. Lets not confuse the stockmarket with the economy, okay? Badeye posted on 2003-08-28 14:37:45 ET Reply Trace
Given stock market performance since Obama took office, I have no idea what point you are trying to make.
Being a Republican means you get to choose your own reality.
Reread the thread slower is my advice, or have somebody read it too you... (chuckle)
Its getting uglier out there...
Fine...we'll get Mortimer Snerd as the voice to your posts... Stock Market 01/22/01 10578.74 Lets not confuse the stockmarket with the economy, okay? Badeye posted on 2003-08-28 14:37:45 ET Reply Trace
Tried that, even tried google translate, your argument that those nearing retirement would be hurt by stock market declines still doesn't make any sense.
Being a Republican means you get to choose your own reality.
As best I can tell, Badeye's argument is that a lower DJIA under Bush was better than a higher DJIA under Obama.
Being a Republican means you get to choose your own reality.
Making things up again, huh? Tsk tsk.
Its getting uglier out there...
I gave up trying to understand his arguments when he claimed that the Bungles going 4-0 in pre-season meant that they were going to go 14-2 and win the Super Bowl...
Lets not confuse the stockmarket with the economy, okay? Badeye posted on 2003-08-28 14:37:45 ET Reply Trace
The DJIA is up about 175 today, it's strange not to see a post from Badeye about it.
Being a Republican means you get to choose your own reality.
Hey pal...there's only room for ONE anti-groupie on this site and I'm it...(laughing)
Lets not confuse the stockmarket with the economy, okay? Badeye posted on 2003-08-28 14:37:45 ET Reply Trace
My anti groupie's fixation is boring. Your inability to stay on topic is also boring. Yep, stockmarket went up, and I had a very good day there. Bout time. Doesn't change the fact the economy is still failing, as is this Presidency. How bout them Steelers? (laughing)
my anti groupie can't get through life without me.
Steeler Offices: Bungles Offices: Badeye's Office: [snicker] PS: If you're in the stock market you're up year over year after losing 20% by the end of the Boy Blunder years...[snicker]
Whatever... Badeye posted on anyday anytime Reply Trace
the economy is in far better shape than it was a year ago. That you won't accept that speaks to the below.
Being a Republican means you get to choose your own reality.
Wow. Thats some really strong kool aid your drinking today.
my anti groupie can't get through life without me.
Notice he's not bring alone his sad sack son. Badeye [well in the throes of in an obvious Crown Royal moment] posted on 2007-03-29 15:58:16 ET Reply Trace
#2. To: Brian S (#0)
#3. To: Badeye (#2)
How bout that stockmarket, BS?
#4. To: Badeye (#2)
Heidi began the day smoking crack, obviously.
#5. To: All (#4)
#6. To: Badeye (#2)
#7. To: Brian S (#3)
#8. To: Badeye (#7)
Tell that to anyone with a 401K about to retire.
#9. To: war, badeye (#8)
Anyone "about to retire" and who is in equity funds is a fool...regardless if it's a bull market or not...
#10. To: go65 (#9)
#11. To: go65 (#9)
#12. To: Badeye (#11)
(Edited)
...and his searching thru a tiny unknown website prove conclusively recently
#13. To: Badeye (#11)
Whenever your confronted with a fact you don't care for, you make the thread about me. Intellectually vapid, GO65.
#14. To: go65 (#13)
#15. To: go65 (#13)
#16. To: Badeye (#15)
#17. To: Badeye (#15)
my anti groupies point was to distract from an uncomfortable truth. but you knew that.
#18. To: go65 (#17)
#19. To: Badeye (#18)
Reread the thread slower is my advice, or have somebody read it too you... (chuckle)
Stock Market 01/21/09 8243.55
Diff MINUS 2335.19
#20. To: Badeye (#18)
Reread the thread slower is my advice, or have somebody read it too you... (chuckle)
#21. To: war (#19)
Stock Market 01/22/01 10578.74 Stock Market 01/21/09 8243.55 Diff MINUS 2335.19
#22. To: go65 (#21)
#23. To: go65 (#21)
(Edited)
As best I can tell, Badeye's argument is that a lower DJIA under Bush was better than a higher DJIA under Obama.
#24. To: war, badeye (#23)
I gave up trying to understand his arguments when he claimed that the Bungles going 4-0 in pre-season meant that they were going to go 14-2 and win the Super Bowl...
#25. To: go65 (#24)
#26. To: go65 (#24)
#27. To: Badeye (#26)
(Edited)
How bout them Steelers? (laughing)
#28. To: Badeye (#26)
Doesn't change the fact the economy is still failing, as is this Presidency.
#29. To: go65 (#28)
the economy is in far better shape than it was a year ago.
#30. To: Badeye (#29)
If you're in the stock market you're up year over year after losing 20% by the end of the Boy Blunder years...[snicker]
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