Posted on 04/22/2016 9:16:48 AM PDT by raptor22
When Donald Trump’s political credentials as a Republican and/or conservative are challenged, he likes to remind people that Ronald Reagan was a Democrat once and managed to evolve over time. Except that Reagan’s conversion was real and he had two terms as governor of California to prove his bona fides before he ran for president as a conservative Republican. As Reagan campaign manager Stu Spencer and speechwriter Ken Khachiagin note in a Real Clear Politics piece:
Yes, Ronald Reagan migrated from being a liberal Democrat to the gold standard for conservative Republicans. But Reagan’s views evolved over four decades’ worth of life experience, a philosophical journey that took place gradually. His conservative credentials didn’t emanate overnight to match the political season. His was a slow and thoughtful transformation from the 1930s to the 1960s. Trump’s appears to be a midnight conversion just in time for the Iowa caucuses.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
Why take 4 decades to evolve into a position when you can make swift transition to different position (and back) within one minute. We need a flexible leader who can be agile with his positions to keep everyone guessing.
NONSENSE. A pack of lies spewed by #NeverTrump RINOS.
At the end of that "thoughtful transformation," in 1967, Reagan signed the most liberal abortion rights law in America...6 years before Roe v. Wade.
He also signed the Mulford Act, banning open carry in California. Reagan said he saw “no reason why on the street today a citizen should be carrying loaded weapons.” and that guns were a “ridiculous way to solve problems that have to be solved among people of good will.” In a later press conference, Reagan added that the Act “would work no hardship on the honest citizen.”
Unlike Bush I, Romney, McCain, Bush II, Boenher, McConnel, Paul Ryan, Marco FoamBoy Rubio, Kasich, Ms. Graham, Bush III, Neil Savings and loan Bush who over the last 30 years have proven their conservative bone us fides.
What was that Mitt Romney said about Trump, “if Trump gets the republican nomination it will be the first time since Reagan that a conservative has not headed the republican ticket.” Yeah right.
At this point in the 1980 Presidential campaign, it was still not a sure thing, according to the polls, that Reagan might possibly beat an incumbent President.
Everybody was against Reagan, it seemed, except the people. Even the Republican party, largely, was not particularly enthusiastic about him.
But it all turned out as simple as ABC.
Anybody But Carter.
And it could still be as simple as ABC.
Anybody But Clinton.
It must be true, because my first thought was: Oh, Jesus.......
Trump registered as a Republican in 1988.
Most of the controversies over his public statements are due to social conservatives who want the Federal Govt. to move on issues that are actually the responsibility of States.
Why do Trump supporters have to insult Reagan?
Reagan never, ever denounced FDR. To the end of his life he talked about the New Deal, but always held FDR in high esteem.
No question RR was far more conservative than Trump on a range of issues. But he focused on two or three major things (i.e., like Trump does with immigration and trade) and did not press on other things (such as downsizing government).
ANY president only has political ammunition for a couple of big things. If all Trump does is build the wall, limit immigration, and get our trade back to fair territory, he would go down as one of the all time greats.
I guess they think Reagan was GOPe.
Sorry I don’t buy that on Reagan. Reagan admired FDR and that never changed.
In re-exploring Reagan I find that he wasn’t very Conservative at all and was more Center Right, if that.
He was a Liberal New Deal Democrat till he was 51 years old and that never really left him.
What we have now with Reagan is the Myth vs the Reality.
Reagan was a great President but his record shows he was more Centrist than anything else.
You are really lying about that. When Reagan was elected, the abortion bill was already on his desk. He was told to sign it and he did. Abortion wasn’t on the radar like it has been now for 40 years. Reagan regretted signing that and wrote extensively about the issue. What you wrote about it is deceptive.
WHY DOES TRUMP HATER raptor22, AKADaniel John Sobieski, publish his own idiot column, WHICH INVOKES THE NAME RWR?
No, he registered as a Republican in 1987, but he became an Independent in 1991 and a Democrat in 2001.
I know, conservatives give liberals a headache.
Yep. Just look at the board yesterday & today.
The #NeverTrump Free Republic anklebiters are running with Matt Lauer's attempt to take out Trump yesterday.
Once again, Ashley Cruz, New York state roadkill, is shouting and snarking at Trump from the sidelines, safely out of the circle of the Media DeathStar's main weapon.
So you've got to chug from your aspirin bottle every time you get on Free Republic, eh, nickienevertrumper?
Because Sobieski [raptor22] is working against Trump on FR, like nicknevertrump... :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.