Legal Commentary

Can Obama Learn From Reagan (And FDR)?

By Big Tent Democrat

Riffing off of Ed Kilgore, Digby writes:

[I]f Obama still wants to emulate the great "game changer" himself, Ronnie Reagan, that is exactly what he would do. Reagan used his personal popularity to get rank and file Democrats to support his policies. And he rhetorically always framed his policies as the common sense policies of the everyman out in the country, and then they backed it up with polling that showed that the people trusted him.

Obama can pass health care with Democrats and then legitimately call it bipartisan by citing public support. But he has to not care that David Broder and David Brooks have a hissy fit over it. They do not speak for Americans; they don't even speak for Republicans on this one. This is what the bully pulpit is all about. He can take his case directly to the people and if he backs a real plan, with real teeth, he can get it passed, I don't have any doubts. . . .

(Emphasis supplied.) Let me note that Reagan learned the trick from FDR. I repeat my refrain, if real health care reform does not happen, it will be because President Barack Obama failed, not Ben Nelson or Max Baucus. That is how history will remember it and how the voters will think about it in 2012. Maybe that will incentivize Rahmbo.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on June 23, 2009 (boomark / email).