Liberal, Conservatives, and Limousines

[erpowers]

Most of the people at DU have heard the phrase limousine liberals. For years the phrase has been used by conservatives as a way to insult liberals. However, it is surprising how little the use of limousines by Republicans and Conservatives is discussed. Recently, there was talk of Republicans and limousines due to the uncovering of credit card charges on the Republican Party credit card. However, it seems as if this incident was reported as something out of character for Republicans and Conservatives. In reality this behavior most likely was not out of character for Repbulican and Conservatives.

Yesterday, I requested suggestions for books regarding how President Ronald Reagan increased the size of government. One of the responses was Sleepwalking Through History: America in the Reagan Years . Today I looked up the book on Amazon.com and read a section of the book available at the website. I was surprised at what was mentioned in the first pages of the first chapter.

As the book begins the author, Haynes Johnson, describes the events surrounding Ronald Reagan's first inauguration. According to Johnson, Republicans who attended the events surrounding the inauguration came to Washington, DC and the events in corporate jets and limousines. In discussing the jets Johnson wrote, "At National Airport, corporate jets were packed wing to wing on the tarmac. The airport was unable to accomadate private planes seeking space. They touched down, dropped off invited inaugural guests, and then departed to bring back more." In discussing limousines Johnson wrote, "Limousines were the preferred symbol of status"...So brisk was the limousine business that all available ones in the capital area were quickly leased. Calls went out to dispatch others from as far south as Atlanta and as far north as New York."

I know the inaugruation happened more than 20 years ago, but I think it can still be discussed currently. I find it interesting that the Democrats are always tagged as the ones who like the corporate jets and limousines while the Republicans are always tagged as the people who perfer their trucks and cars. It seems that there is always evidence that the Republicans like corporate jets and limousines just as much if not more than Democrats.

[virgogal]

1. IMHO once they reach a certain level of power it's limos for them. no matter

what the political persuasions.

It's classism,pure and simple.

[Captain Hilts]

2. It is a given that Republicans like to conspicuously consume. It's the Roosevelts and Kennedys that

drive shabby cars and wear worn out clothes, not the Lodges or the Reagans, etc.

In fact, it was interesting to read local descriptions of the Roosevelts by local media when they were on a cross-country tour. Folks noted that the Prez had some frays in the knees of his suits and that Eleanor's stockings had been mended. And they both were wearing somewhat wrinkled clothes.

[PoliSSHat]

4. I agree. The Kennedys were early adopters to shabby chic....

They were definitely "real people" representative of the average US populace. Its not like they had a compound in some fancy island like many rich Repubs I know.

[Captain Hilts]

6. Right. Kennedys. Roosevelts. Katharine Hepburn, etc. nt

[happyslug]

5. Lets NOT forget FDR's Ford, no limo for FDR

http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/museum/exhibits.html

[Captain Hilts]

7. With the device that dispensed LIGHTED cigarettes!

FDR checks out Eleanor's De Soto

[happyslug]

8. Saw a special of that car a few years ago

It was a Standard, so he had a manual mechanism to engage the Clutch which required the use of his left hand, while his right hand was shifting gears. The Driver in the show pointed that required FDR to take BOTH hands off the wheel, then joked about even the idea that George Bush would have ONE hand off the wheel of a vehicle.

[Captain Hilts]

9. That's funny. Riding with FDR scared the shit out of most people. nt

[miscsoc]

3. i know, it's absurd

you have to admire the diabolical craftiness of the right in the way they managed to associate actively anti-people economic policies with populist imagery. it goes directly against all logic and sense but somehow it worked.