Why did Ronald Reagan leave the Democratic Party ??

[kentuck]

He used to joke that the Party left him, that he didn't leave the Party. Was that simply a throwaway line? After all, he had been a Democrat when FDR was President. FDR was the creator of the New Deal. He was responsible for much of the government oversight that we have even today. He believed in "big government"?

So was Ronald Reagan simply naive? Because obviously the Party did not leave him if he knew anything at all about FDR. Did he just change his philosopy on government? If so, then that is different than saying that "the Party left him"...

[FlashHarry]

1. Er... because he was a racist?

The old Democratic party, especially the southern "Dixiecrat" party (the one that Zell Miller apparently pines for), was the party of segregation, de facto and de jure. I believe both Jesse Helms and Strom Thurmond were once Democrats.

Remember, Ronnie began his campaign in Philadelphia, Mississippi, the site of Klan atrocities. He also spoke fondly of "states' rights," a not-so-thinly-veiled codeword for segregation.

[LTR]

2. Swallowed up in McCarthyism

Became a big anti-communist. Favored the blacklist.

Also Nancy steered him toward conservatism, and working on Nixon's congressional campaign.

So I heard.

[eissa]

3. Didn't it begin while he was President of SAG,

the actor's union? I thought I read somewhere that many of his colleagues turned on him at that time because he tended to support the studios more than the actors. Also, did not take a stand against McCarthyism and the witch hunts that occurred during that time. Left such a bad taste in his mouth that he was fervently anti-union from then on. Correct?

[mistertrickster]

5. Take a stand, are you kidding me--he was a major informant, ratting

out his friends and colleagues.

[mistertrickster]

4. He was influenced by his SECOND wife (you know, the adulterous one)

and her rich bitch friends.

[erpowers]

17. More details please

I am not completely clear on how Reagan met Nancy. Could you either explain that to me or tell me where to go to get more information. I had once heard a report that she gave birth a few months after she married him. However, a few days ago I saw a listing of Reagan's life and it said that they had Ron Jr. in 1958 a few years after they were married. Did she cheat on him or did he cheat on his first wife with her(Nancy). I am only 22 so I do not know very much about Reagan's personal life. I only know about his presidency because my mother and grandparents told me about the problems that came about as a result of his presidency. I also read a few liberal books and a few articles that discussed some of his policies.

[Bandit]

6. I'm sure it had something to do with money and power.

That is the bottom line for Republicans.

[Michael Costello]

7. Career and IRS problems

Some have speculated that his career never really took off into star level, and he may have begun resenting Hollywood and its liberal milieu.

Also, the IRS auditted him and he had major tax problems, which made him very bitter about the IRS and government.

[sam sarrha]

8. he was a fink for McCarthy, turning in Union members who came to him for

counseling about how to deal with the Hearings. You see he was a Union Counselor for the screen actors guild for people who thought they might be called for dating a socialist flusy in the past or something stupid .. they would go to him for advice, he say .."No worry, not a problem'.. then call J Edgar Hoover and the McCarthy Nazi's and turn them in.. he ruined many Innocent peoples lives.. it doesn't make you very popular in the democratic party but a hero in the republican party.. it got him big Corporate connections.. like GE.

It is that sort of Patriotism that gives the Right wingers a hard-on when they hear the name Reagan. :puke:

[JayS]

9. "Why did Ronald Reagan leave the Democratic Party"

To get to the other side. :)

[I thought so.]

10. Nancy.

She still keeps his balls in her purse.

[Dirk39]

11. After the communist party rejected Reagan...

he might have thought that the Republicans are the only party for "featherbrains" like him?

"The Sunday Times (London) 26 September 1999

REAGAN TOO MUCH A 'FEATHER BRAIN' FOR COMMUNISTS

It is too late for the politburo to gloat, but Ronald Reagan,
slayer of the "evil empire," tried to join the Communist party as a
young man and was rejected for being too dim.
The revelation is made in the authorized biography done by
friends who knew the former president when he was an actor.
One of them, Howard Fast, the writer, said Saturday that
Reagan "was passionate" about enlisting with the American
Communist party in 1938.
"They thought he was a feather brain and turned him down,"
Fast told The Sunday Times.
Reagan always portrayed himself as a former left-leaning
Democrat who moved to the political right after seeing the
communists in action in Hollywood. It now emerges that some of
his closest friends were communists. "He felt if it was right for
them, it was right for him," said Fast.
In 1938, the 27-year-old actor announced he wanted to sign up.
The party conducted an investigation, said Fast, and "word came
back he was a flake ... who couldn't be trusted with a political
opinion for more than 20 minutes."

Hello from Germany,
Dirk

[librechik]

12. no point staying after everybody knew he was a ratfink

Sounds like another way to say "They kicked me out so now it's sour grapes!"

[Skittles]

13. because he was a racist, elitist, greedy f***ing asshole

he was far more suited for the GOP.

[Junkdrawer]

14. Because of all the mean things DUers were going to say at his funeral...

Nancy's astrologer told him.

[FatSlob]

15. He changed his philosophy.

He moved away from big-government to small-government. I agree with him in many ways. Big government is wasteful. I believe in low taxes. However, I stand with the Democratic Party because human rights are more important to me than fiscal policy. I do have a bit of a "bleeding heart".

[Walt Starr]

16. He named names in the HUAC hearings

HE cooperated with the Republican witch hunt.