Robert Reich: Why Obama Should Learn the Lesson of 1936, not 1996

[highplainsdem]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-reich/why-obama-should-learn-th_b_777966.html

Robert Reich
Posted: November 2, 2010 07:35 PM

Why Obama Should Learn the Lesson of 1936, not 1996

Which lesson will the president learn from the midterm election -- that of Clinton in 1996, or FDR in 1936? The choice will determine his strategy over the next two years. Hopefully, he'll find 1936 more relevant.

-snip-

Obama won't be able to win this argument by moving to the center -- seeking to paint himself as a smaller-government moderate. This only confirms the Republican's views that the central issue is size of government, that it's been too large, and the economy can improve only if it's smaller.

On the Republican playing field, Republicans always win.

Obama's best hope of reelection will be to re-frame the debate, making the central issue the power of big businesses and Wall Street to gain economic advantage at the expense of the rest of us. This is the Democratic playing field, and it's more relevant today than at any time since the 1930s.

-snip-

[whoneedstickets]

1. After 2008, the GOP did not move left. They dug in their heels and activated their base...

..so should we.

[highplainsdem]

6. Yes.

[bluethruandthru]

8. +10000

[Toots]

9. Just who is the Democratic Base?

Certainly not the Liberals.....Who are you going to activate?

[Axrendale]

2. Massive K&R!

President Obama should draw lessons not only from FDR in 1936 (and 1940, and 1945), but also from Harry Truman in 1948, when he pounded the "Do-nothing 80th Congress" and proudly nailed his colors to the mast as a liberal, whilst tearing his opponents and all that they stood for to shreds. All of the pundits and predications of the day were for a decisive Republican landslid. But instead, the people responded, and Truman was reelected with 303 electoral votes and 50% of the vote.

The President might also want to consider how Lyndon Johnson was reelected in 1964.

[young_at_heart]

3. Can't Robert Reich be an advisor?

He's one smart cookie and Obama could use more like him!

[highplainsdem]

4. +1

[deaniac21]

5. That guy will never paly power forward.

[BlueGirlRedState]

7. I glanced over all the General Discussion posts

with their "why...?" and "can we..." and selected this one to read because Robert Reich always makes me feel better with his common sense and clear direction.

[deacon]

10. That would be a solid answer in how to fight the corporate money roberts unleashed

on us, that Obama just goes out there and be a true solid democrat.

[BootinUp]

11. Will never work:

First off the economy is not AS bad as it was then. We have tepid growth and safety nets that didn't exist then. AND We just got our ass kicked for being "over-regulating, spend crazy, socialists" according to the rabid liars.

So Reich is suggesting we double down essentially, of course nothing will get done it will just be positioning and arguing. He thinks Americans want to listen to nothing but fighting for another 2 years?

jmho.