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With the Centennial of the birth of Ronald Reagan upon us, it is amazing to watch how readily voices that once deplored him now see which can seem most sincere in invoking his name. None is more disingenuous than that of our current president. I have lost count as to how often Time Magazine has featured President Obama, but four of them serve as a commentary on how hard the media has worked to make him the face of, excuse the expression, “hope and change,” while all the time finding it irresistible to link him to images of the past. In various incarnations, Time has posed President Obama as Jimmy Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Martin Luther King with prophetic shades of communist red, and FDR offering confidence to a depressed nation.
Time’s upcoming cover, however, moves from a stretch to almost insulting. Now we are learning how The Gipper has always been a role model for our current president and we have to suffer through an image of Reagan and Obama standing arm-in-arm like frat buddies catching up on old times. The only consolation is that, since so few people bother to pay for Time any more, we may not have to endure many more such insults from the same people who also gave us Vladimir Putin, Barack Obama, Ben Bernanke, and Mark Zuckerberg as Man of the Year from 2007-2010.
It didn’t take long for people with any discernment at all to speak out on the so-called comparisons. David Bossie notes, “This manipulated image is as outrageous as it is factually dishonest. One would be hard pressed to find two people in the office that have held more opposing views on this great country in which we live.” Doug Powers called the fake photo, “Forced, phony and laughable.”
Don’t blame Time for all of this. The Obama handlers are pushing this image of honoring President Reagan from afar. We are told Obama admires the way Dutch built coalitions, navigated through difficult political waters, and forged a consensus to lead the country. But how alike are the man from Middle America and the man from Hawaii, Indonesia, or who knows where? Just start with a comparison of these quotes for starters.
Reagan: “A troubled and afflicted mankind looks to us, pleading for us to keep our rendezvous with destiny.”
Obama: “We are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States.”
*****
Reagan: “If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.”
Obama: “For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus—and non-believers.”
*****
Reagan: “The most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”
Obama: “It is only government that can break the vicious cycle where lost jobs lead to people spending less money which leads to even more layoffs.”
*****
Reagan: “Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. was too strong.”
Obama: “Just as we stood for freedom in the 20th century, we must stand together for the right of people everywhere to live free from fear in the 21st century. And as the only nuclear power to have used a nuclear weapon, the United States has a moral responsibility to act.”
*****
Anyone who ever heard the two speak knows that there is no comparison. Obama speaks from a teleprompter while Reagan spoke true humility and passion. But it isn’t just the essence of their words that separates the two – it’s so much more!
President Reagan didn’t waffle in the winds of political turmoil, landing wherever the winds took him. He believed what he said. He didn’t ride in from inauguration day proclaiming himself savior and king. Instead, he visited us like a grandfather who had earned the right to be heard and respected. No, everyone didn’t agree with him. No, he wasn’t perfect. But he was the leader of the greatest nation on earth and unapologetic for reminding us of that greatness. To our current president and others I implore you – let the man stand alone. He has earned it.
