Bernie Sanders on Reagan

[somone]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h3nkYmhjGyn6MnXltqK0MHEoG8Fw?docId=CNG.f7e7d21b588872cfa9a0189c30680503.b1

Amid Reagan tributes, Obama seeks his magic
By Emmanuel Parisse (AFP)

.. Shortly after what Obama has described as his November elections "shellacking," the White House trumpeted that he was reading a biography of Reagan. Rather than re-fight battles over Reagan's record, Obama has claimed kinship to his famously sunny view of the United States... There were echoes of Reagan in Obama's recent State of the Union speech, when he called for a five-year spending freeze as well as a tax-code overhaul. "I'm asking Democrats and Republicans to simplify the system. Get rid of the loopholes. Level the playing field. And use the savings to lower the corporate tax rate for the first time in 25 years -- without adding to our deficit," he said...

Independent Senator Bernie Sanders, a standard-bearer for the American Left, acknowledged to AFP this week that Reagan "was a very warm individual" who "connected with the American people."

"But I think many of the policies that he developed did a great deal of disservice to the middle class and working families of this country. And I think we can learn from those serious policy errors and hopefully not continue," said Sanders.

Asked what Obama could take from the Reagan model, Sanders replied: "I haven't the slightest idea."

[WI_DEM]

1. The only thing that Obama could possibly learn by studying Reagan

is a bunch of old Hollywood stories--like the ones he used to tell Tip O'Neal when they were debating a point--as if those Hollywood stories reflected real life. I read that Reagan once told Tip that he played Grover Cleveland in a movie--meaning the president--Tip had to correct Reagan and tell him that he saw the movie the night before and he didn't play the president but the ball player.

[rfranklin]

2. Being able to con a majority of the voters is a useful skill...

Reagan was very accomplished at that.

[Enthusiast]

3. He was a fair actor and

that translated well into pulling the wool over the eyes of the voting public.