Happy Birthday Mr. President

One hundred years ago today, Ronald Reagan, a historic figure, was born. Today across multiple media sources you will likely see columns written describing the former President and his role and impact in the course of the United States.

Recently, even Time magazine included President Reagan on its cover, including him with his arm around current President Obama with the headline, “Why Obama loves Reagan.” This cover along with multiple political pundits who in the aftermath of the recent State of the Union address, proclaimed how Obama is today’s generation Reagan. Reagan was proclaimed the “Great Communicator” and President Obama has also drawn comparisons to the former President’s ability to connect with the American public. His oratory skills likely helped him become President.

I am one who completely disagrees with the assessment that Obama is today’s Reagan.
While the two politicians represent different political parties and therefore have a different set of beliefs on the role of government. That isn’t the only big difference between the two. President Reagan was the eternal optimist, proudly proclaiming that America is that “shining city on a hill.” His campaigns brought a new group of voters into the American public, “Reagan Democrats.” These voters, personified by the voters in suburban Detroit, were working class individuals who cared deeply about America but were worried about the direction of the country, both economically and globally, under the leadership of President Carter. These voters are still the most sought after voters today, the classic independent voters that win national elections.

While President Obama’s 2008 campaign for President brought him a large number of independents into the Democratic side, most of those independents now have a negative impression of him. President Obama also seems to have a negative impression of America and its role in the world and global economy. All to often it seems as if he is embarrassed about the role of America and seems to always apologize for America being the world leader. He doesn’t see America as the shining city on the hill but rather as the shining example of how a country has fallen due to the advancements of some of its citizens and businesses at the expense of the overall collective. He doesn’t exude the sense of optimism that Reagan always seemed to do.

The belief that Obama is today’s Reagan is completely off the mark. While it is true that Obama has the ability to really connect with the American public through his communication, he has not embraced the positive, hopeful, optimistic message that Reagan stood for. America will celebrate President Reagan today and for a long time as those of us who grew up under his leadership and long for a return to the policy agenda that he promoted. Today it is way too early to even think about comparing President Obama to the legend of the Gipper. He can only pray that in two years, the American public provide him the opportunity to continue to serve the American public as its President.