Reagan ran for POTUS before and LOST. Until he pandered to the dixiecrats.

[robbedvoter]

When saying "Obama" only praises Reagan's campaigning - let's see what was that? What was the difference between his losing campaigns and the "brilliant" one?

Reagan was from Hollywood and the South despised that...until...read the story: that was his "election strategy"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4093463&mesg_id=4094269
edited to add a link to Krugman article 9thanks jackson-dem)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/19/opinion/19krugman.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
with the added fact that Reagan expressely said that the Voting Rights Act was "humiliating to the South"

[jackson_dem]

1. Obama doesn't just praise Reagan's campaigning. He practices it.

Reagan had http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/19/opinion/19krugman.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
Obama has http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dUp16hFzY8

[robbedvoter]

2. I am afraid so. It's very distressing. First time I've watched MCKlurkin.

It is very, very upsetting, indeed. For someone who is so "inclusive" to Republicans, Reagan - he seems to have set aside a group everyone is supposed to feel "optimistic" beating up on. And the atheist in me feels uncomfortable too (although out of all candidates only Gravel would represent ME - I know that)

[Maribelle]

4. My thought is that Obama is fighting the percentage of registered democrats that support Hillary.

For instance, in NH 60% of registered democrats supported Hillary. But since NH was an open primary, Obama went after the vote of undeclared republicans, and would have been quite happy if these republicans were those that decided the Democratic presidential candidate for NH. I firmly believe Obama was wrong to do this during the primary. On the other hand, I would firmly support the Democratic candidate to do this in the General Election.

So, Obama needs to be questioned on why he wants thugs of other parties to pick the Democratic presidential candidate. And he should be asked this soon.

[Maribelle]

3. Yes, Reagan won because of the Dixiecrats, the racist segregationists that....

by voting for Governor Wallace of Alabama, ensured Nixon eked out a victory over Humphrey.

These racists then changed to republicans in droves, emerging in the party as the Christian Coalition.

These racists also made up the bulk of what was called the Reagan Democrats.

Dixiecrats, old southern democrats, segregationists and the old Christian Coalition are synonyms.

A lot of commentary has been made regarding why blacks, who were predominately republicans through the early 60s, switched in mass numbers to the democratic party. My opinion is that is seems to parallel the switch of the segregationist to the republican party when the old southern democrats lost all power in the democratic party.

[wishlist]

6. Repubs have been successfully wooing back blacks in recent years too

I have been surprised how many blacks I have talked to in NC who would not vote for Kerry in 2000. Some have belonged to churches that objected to Kerry on the gay marriage issue and some upwardly mobile professionals I have talked to have become Republican during the Bush years due to his perceived equal opportunity attitude (Rice and Powell for example) and being attracted to Republican economic ideology. So it is smart politics for Obama to position himself to appeal to these voters.

[Maribelle]

7. Smart? Shouldn't Democrats pick their own candiate?

In states where it is a closed primary and you cannot switch your registration say after Dec. 31st - - the numbers will reflect what Democrats feel.

[wishlist]

8. Obama appealing to blacks registered Dem, but who voted Repub in 2000

Many blacks I have talked to since 2000 are still registered Dems but voted Repub in 2000 and later.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. The South Went From Almost All Blue In 76 To All Red In 80

Hmmmm