Obama on the Grass Roots

[H2O Man]

"In 1983, I decided to become a community organizer. ….I’d pronounce on the need for change. Change in the White House, where Reagan and his minions were carrying on their dirty deeds. Change in the Congress, compliant and corrupt. Change in the mood of the country, manic and self-absorbed. Change won’t come from the top, I would say. Change will come from a mobilized grass roots."
--Barack Obama; Dreams from My Father; 1995; page 133.

I’ve noticed a few posts where it has been said that President-elect Barack Obama admires Ronald Reagan. I thought that I’d take a moment to correct this error in perception. It took me 15 seconds to locate this quote, and about a minute to copy it here.

It’s good to take time to research things like this. Such errors can potentially get in the way of the proper organization needed to mobilize the grass roots.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Your friend,
H2O Man

[BlooInBloo]

1. "I’d pronounce on the need for change." ?

I would be surprised in the extreme if *Obama* actually said that.

I would not be surprised if somebody *said* he said that.

[H2O Man]

2. He wrote it.

[BlooInBloo]

3. So be it.

[H2O Man]

4. What is important

is the part that follows.

[Diamonique]

5. He said it.

I have the book, and I just looked it up. The entire quote:

"When classmates in college asked me just what it was that a community organizer did, I couldn't answer the directly. Instead, I'd pronounce on the need for change. Change in the White House, where Reagan and his minions were carrying on their dirty deeds. Change in the Congress, compliant and corrupt."

And there's more.

While Obama has said he admires Reagan's ability to change the direction of the country, he also stated that he didn't like the direction Reagan took us in. It was Reagan's political skills and ability to to get the people on his side that Obama admired... not Reagan's politics.

[Starry Messenger]

6. Thank you H20man.

I was sure it was something like that. k&r

[vixengrl]

7. Thank you for pointing it out.

Obama's quote in reference to Reagan had to do with a transformational presidency--in effect, capitalizing on the errors of the previous administration. (which Obama was of necessity going to do--this Bush administration being error-ridden). It was by no means a statement in favor of Reagan's policy, so much as an explanation of why Reagan succeeded. Other than also being a "great communicator", it is difficult to see what these two have in common, as Obama is more in touch with grassroots concerns in the positive sense of trying to put needs into actions, and Reagan's gift was massaging resentments and nostalgia into the hagiographical Cult of Personality that persists with the Reagan icon to this day amongst the alumni Young Republicans circa the '80's--without much in the way of positive policy to speak of. Take a look at his approach to taxes, deregulation, and the Middle East, and you'll pretty much see Epic Fail. He was kind of win in engaging with Gorbachev, but it's a good bet any American President might've done the same, seeing an oppotunity.

Obama is definitely coming from a different place, and it's one nearer to home for me. :)

[Clio the Leo]

8. He admires some of the way Reagan did things....

..... the way he was able to create a stage presence that could move people to action is chief among them.

http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3263

One of the things that Our President has hipped us to is that people aren't 100% evil or 100% perfect and that there are admirable qualities in everyone ..... even if they are very, very hard to find.

I am bracing myself for the gracious words he will no doubt be throwing Gov. Palin's way on Tuesday .... just as I'm sure he's searching now to find some. :)

[bridgit]

9. You're welcome...

:)

[FrenchieCat]

10. Obama never admired Reagan policies.....

but did admire the undebatable fact that Reagan was able to get the country to rally behind him....

I have been arguing that since Obama's Nevada interview with that paper there....when everyone jumped on him. I knew that Clinton and Edwards and their supporters used Obama's words and stretched beyond recognition due to politics, and not based on the actual truth of what Obama was actually saying.

Thanks for clearing it up.....as I was unable to, although I really, really tried.

[HughMoran]

11. Thanks for helping to clarify this issue

I wonder if you will inspire people to take a few minutes to think before promoting the latest meme against their future President.

[H2O Man]

12. People should read .....

both the books by Obama, and the books about him.

[HughMoran]

14. That would make a huge difference

I probably should as well, though you wont see me promoting negative meme's against Obama either way, it would help to refute some arguments - assuming folks would listen to arguments.

[H2O Man]

15. The good thing

about these books is they allow us to move beyond arguments. When people say that Obama "liked" or "looked up to" Reagan, they are attempting to argue something. But the truth is clear, and their argument evaporates. Once that is accomplished, everyone interested in discussing the truth can move forward. Only those who prefer to argue lies are left behind.

[me b zola]

13. K&R!

:loveya:

[Cha]

16. Rec~d! If anyone knows

anything about Obama they know he wouldn't have anything to admire about raygun..no matter what was said in the primaries.

[uponit7771]

17. Obama sounds as if he despises RayGun actually

[ecstatic]

24. Yeah, which led him to seek answers and understanding

of how someone like Reagan could actually get so many followers as he f*cked up the country.

[Me.]

18. Hey

Is that a poster that is pictured in your OP? I saw it in one of your other OP's and admired it then but haven't seen it anywhere else.

[H2O Man]

19. It's a ticket

to Senator Barack Obama's July 24th speech in Berlin that a friend from DU gave me. I have it framed and hanging on my office wall.

[Me.]

23. Very, Very Cool

I haven't seen it anywhere else

[rosesaylavee]

20. Thank you.

[JeffR]

21. Well now, let's not allow what the man actually wrote to get in the way.

Conventional wisdom here from some indicates that Obama idolizes Reagan.

Adducing facts will only create confusion, and confusion is inimical to the sort of reasoned political discourse that is the norm in GDP.:crazy:

[Ichingcarpenter]

22. If Obama can give us 20 years of Democratic Presidents like Reagan

gave the Republicans then Obama's use of Reagan as a metaphor for change
doesn't bother me now and didn't bother me then. I understood what he
was talking about back then.

[me b zola]

25. kick

:kick: