Donald Trump likes to compare himself to Ronald Reagan. And why not? Reagan is still the patron saint of the GOP, the model of successful conservative policies and above all, winning elections.
The problem with this analysis is that it is wrong on so many levels. Trump likes to point out that he, like Reagan "evolved" from a Democrat to a Republican. That Reagan was an outsider in the GOP establishment much the same way he is. That there are millions of disaffected voters out there who worship both Reagan and Trump. All this may be true, but that's where the similarity ends.
As with everything Trump, these similarities are superficial and basically meaningless. Cocktail party talk as is most of Trump's campaign so far.
The differences are most telling, however.
First, unlike Trump, Reagan had real governing experience. After all, he was governor of California, no mean feat in one of the bluest of blue states.
Second, he had been knocking about the GOP leadership for quite a while. He delivered a barn-burning speech on behalf of Barry Goldwater in 1964 just before the election that introduced him to the nation much like the speech given by Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention introduced the young Senator. He also challenged Gerald Ford for the Presidency in 1976, and was very narrowly defeated. Reagan, therefore, was no newcomer to politics at the highest level.
Third, and most importantly, was Reagan's personality. That was his weapon for winning elections. He had a sunny disposition and hardly ever uttered a word in anger. Even his famous line, "Mr, Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" was more advice than admonition. And then there was the long forgotten Reagan 11th commandment which was: "Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican." Modern day Reagan supporters who berate Jeb Bush for trying to bring civility to political discourse conveniently forget that it was Ronald Reagan himself who ushered civility into our politics. Reagan was just a likable guy. The irony being that whereas most Americans did not agree with his policies (contrary to what the far right in this country would have you believe) they loved the man. He stood tall, oozed of self-confidence and made many Americans proud to be American whether they supported his politics or not.
In sharp contrast, Trump has a losing personality. He expresses contempt for anyone who contradicts him or even questions him. He is devoid of warmth or compassion, choosing to mock Jeb's "act of love" comments about illegal immigrants. And there are some Americans who are so worked up about illegals that they fall for his obvious mean streak. Even his efforts to redeem himself by repeating, "I love Mexicans," "I love China," ring hollow. This is a man who his fans are convinced is sincere. He indeed has been able to delude lots of people, but there are many more he has not been able to delude. Sooner or later, his personality, his contempt for humanity, will come through.
Americans are basically tolerant people. They have proven it again and again. The election of a black man and his subsequent re-election is ample proof of that. Obama has a winning personality as did Reagan. It is fair to compare Reagan and Obama even though their politics were as far apart as can be. Trump is indeed a small man, trying to convince himself and the rest of us that he is big. No, huge. Americans, even pissed off Americans, will see through his act eventually.
Trump can rightly point out his business success, but he is no Ronald Reagan.
The problem with this analysis is that it is wrong on so many levels. Trump likes to point out that he, like Reagan "evolved" from a Democrat to a Republican. That Reagan was an outsider in the GOP establishment much the same way he is. That there are millions of disaffected voters out there who worship both Reagan and Trump. All this may be true, but that's where the similarity ends.
As with everything Trump, these similarities are superficial and basically meaningless. Cocktail party talk as is most of Trump's campaign so far.
The differences are most telling, however.
First, unlike Trump, Reagan had real governing experience. After all, he was governor of California, no mean feat in one of the bluest of blue states.
Third, and most importantly, was Reagan's personality. That was his weapon for winning elections. He had a sunny disposition and hardly ever uttered a word in anger. Even his famous line, "Mr, Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" was more advice than admonition. And then there was the long forgotten Reagan 11th commandment which was: "Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican." Modern day Reagan supporters who berate Jeb Bush for trying to bring civility to political discourse conveniently forget that it was Ronald Reagan himself who ushered civility into our politics. Reagan was just a likable guy. The irony being that whereas most Americans did not agree with his policies (contrary to what the far right in this country would have you believe) they loved the man. He stood tall, oozed of self-confidence and made many Americans proud to be American whether they supported his politics or not.
In sharp contrast, Trump has a losing personality. He expresses contempt for anyone who contradicts him or even questions him. He is devoid of warmth or compassion, choosing to mock Jeb's "act of love" comments about illegal immigrants. And there are some Americans who are so worked up about illegals that they fall for his obvious mean streak. Even his efforts to redeem himself by repeating, "I love Mexicans," "I love China," ring hollow. This is a man who his fans are convinced is sincere. He indeed has been able to delude lots of people, but there are many more he has not been able to delude. Sooner or later, his personality, his contempt for humanity, will come through.
Americans are basically tolerant people. They have proven it again and again. The election of a black man and his subsequent re-election is ample proof of that. Obama has a winning personality as did Reagan. It is fair to compare Reagan and Obama even though their politics were as far apart as can be. Trump is indeed a small man, trying to convince himself and the rest of us that he is big. No, huge. Americans, even pissed off Americans, will see through his act eventually.
Trump can rightly point out his business success, but he is no Ronald Reagan.
But he is no Ronald Reagan and neither was Ronald Reagan
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