One of the most famous Ronald Reagan quotes is: "I didn't leave the Democratic party. It left me."
And, now, just months after he'd have celebrated his 100th birthday, President Reagan been deserted again, this time by the party that publicly reveres him as the patriarch of modern American conservatism while running away from who he was and what he did while President.
FEAR Factor
Increasingly, it seems that the extremists who have seized command of the party that Lincoln built are governed less by genuine principle and more by raw FEAR (False Evidence Appearing Real).
1. Taxes
Like the Queen in Alice and Wonderland, any Republican venturing to contemplate---even consider---raising taxes on the wealthy to help meet the demands of America is met with the chorus: "Off with his head!"
One wonders if Mr. Reagan would certainly have shaken his head in disbelief.
In fact, he increased taxes eleven times while in the White House, including four times in two years.
Yet, Reagan the great tax cutter has taken on mythological proportions.
FEAR.
2. America's Deficit
President Obama is widely denounced by his opponents for America's growing deficit.
No matter it's mostly not true. During President George W. Bush'es 8 years as President, the nation's deficit ballooned $5,700,000,000,000 even as Vice President Cheney so eloquently put it: "Deficits don't matter."
Obama's policies are projected to increase the deficit by $1,400,000,000,000---a quarter of his predecessor.
Yet the "myth" is loudly proclaimed as fact that Democrats are big spenders and the country should hearken back to the days of that great deficit hawk, Ronald Reagan.
But, fact is, in Reagan's eight years in office, the deficit increased more than $3,000,000,000,000 (are you beginning to see a Republican pattern here?) which was more than the combined deficits for all his 20th century predecessors put together (and twice as much as they are projected to increase if Obama is president for eight years).
While it is fair to observe that Obama is a big spender, he's a relative piker compared to either Mr. Bush or President Reagan.
FEAR.
3. Immigration
Like taxes, the mantra of anti-immigration riles the blood of almost all red-blooded Republicans.
But how did Ronald Reagan feel? Here is where he stood: "I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and lived here, even though sometime back they may have entered illegally."
He felt so strongly about it that he granted amnesty to over three million illegals.
FEAR.
4. America's Debt Ceiling
We all vividly recall the GOP brinksmanship that nearly put America into default---and which led one of the credit agencies to downgrade America's credit standing for the first time in American history.
Some extremist Congressmen even went as far as to call for default.
What would Reagan have thought of this? In a 1987 national address, he said to the country:
"Unfortunately, Congress consistently brings the government to the edge of default before facing its responsibility. This brinkmanship threatens the holders of government bonds and those who rely on Social Security and veterans benefits. Interest markets would skyrocket. Instability would occur in financial markets and the federal deficit would soar.
"The United States has a special responsibility to itself and the world to meet its obligations. It means we have a well-earned reputation for reliability and credibility -- two things that set us apart in much of the world."
Indeed, during President Reagan's 2 terms, the debt ceiling was raised 17 times.
FEAR.
Which leads me to this. Of all the Republican presidents in the last half century (Nixon, Ford, Reagan, G.H.W. Bush, and his son, George Bush) why is it that the Grand Old Party has deserted its most respected icon?
Whatever happened to "Win One for the Gipper? ".
About the Author:
No matter what your vision for America, are our leaders up to the political test the country faces? And, whether you loved him or, well, were glad when he left office, the one great thing about Ronald Reagan was his genuine warmth and confidence about America's future.