Obama wins an endorsement, but at what cost?

Barack Obama got what he wanted when he stopped by the Reno Gazette-Journal earlier this week -- today, the newspaper endorsed him as its favorite in Nevada's Democratic presidential caucuses. But in the long term, Obama's visit will be remembered -- perhaps to his detriment -- for comments he made as he met with the publication's editorial board.

Obama, as we noted earlier, reflected on his managerial attributes ... or lack thereof. Hillary Clinton made sure to zing him on the matter at Tuesday night's debate in Las Vegas. And since then, she's continued to draw attention to the topic.

In an interview with NBC's Brian Williams, she said she was "taken aback when [Obama] said ... that he didn’t intend to try to manage or run the government -- that he was going to have advisors to do that.  That is very reminiscent of what we’ve had for the last seven years. I intend to run the government."

That's a questionable spin ...

on what Obama said, but Clinton and her camp clearly see an opening that they can exploit. (Here's the complete transcript of the fairly lengthy interview.)

A story in today's New York Daily News contains more quotes from Clinton differentiating herself from Obama on how she sees the president's job, including this one: "Being president means being both CEO and COO of one of the largest and most complex organizations in the world."

It was also during his sit-down at the Reno paper that Obama praised Ronald Reagan's leadership abilities. That would be bad enough for some Democrats, but he made matters worse with this line: "I think Ronald Reagan changed the trajectory of America in a way that Richard Nixon did not and in a way that Bill Clinton did not." (Here's a YouTube clip of Obama's musings.)

Among several progressive bloggers, the complimentary words for Reagan were not greeted kindly. (Some sample reactions are here, here and here.)

Some bloggers rushed to Obama's defense (here and here). And Obama's point about Reagan likely would play well with some voters in a general election campaign.

But first, of course, he's got to get there. And his remarks in Reno may not help that cause.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[converse]

"That's a questionable spin ..."

That's a generous description of complete distortion...

[Chris]

Everything he said was true. Reagan changed the country more than Bill Clinton. He didnot say he agreed with his policies, only his ability to move the country.

[Mikey]

Clintons please go away.

[Jenna]

I just threw up a little bit in my mouth. Reagan took America on a trajectory that Bill Clinton did not? Damn right. That senile old geezer slept while his minions created problems that still exist today. Thanks Reagan, we all really appreciated the crack! Thank you also for ignoring AIDS and its victims. I could go on, but its like shooting fish in a barrel with an AK-47. Did Obama forget he is running in the *Democratic* primary?

[barb]

ditto...Clintons PLEASE go away!

[Henry CA]

Obama is a lucky idiot, he wants to wins the battle of Carolina, and risk to lose the America war, and he will, started the race battle and caused the un-repaired damage to Dems.
The sad thing is he drags the Dems to lose with him. Now he tries to compare him with Reagan???? I don't know if this guy has a very slim idea about what Reagan did to Dems? It is a most stupid thing that I have ever known from a Dem candidate. He just lose the VP ticket to Edwards

[Danny Campbell]

I am laughing my butt off here...

Let me get this straight -- Obama is getting the support of LABOR UNIONS and is simultaneously saying Reagan was better than Clinton? Are you people on drugs or what ???

[Mark Kraft]

I think a lot of white Democrats are really missing the anger that minorities are starting to feel about how the Clinton campaign is being run.

If Michigan is any example, then Black voters have rapidly deserted Hillary's camp, and now, after Bill and Hillary defended the attempted disenfranchisement of thousands of latino and black shiift workers in Las Vegas, it seems like latinos are really discussing this and rapidly turning against Hillary Clinton.

Her supporters should consider this... can she win in a general election without black voters to win a few states in the South and without Latino voters to reliably win in the West and Southwest? Because things are not going to get prettier for her campaign. Quite the opposite, I expect.

[Rhon Salmon]

mark Kraft,

Do you think Obama can win a general election with little support of whites, this race thing didn't only damage Clinton, it damaged Obama.

You probably haven't heard about his church, and it's pastor preaching unapologetically black messages when in fact if a candidate of Obama's magnitude was white and he belonged to a pro-white Aryan brotherhood church...it wouldn't sit well with Americans. I'm black so don't get me wrong, but fair is fair if Romney had to go out of his way to explain being a Morman to the country, and Kennedy explained his being Catholic to the country, then Obama too should be held accountable.

Those of you who are Democrats have failed to realize that Obama has alot of things that the GOP will use to pick him apart in the General Election....we say we are tired of negative politics but guess what---it is still effect. Hello people, Karl Rove is going around running his mouth....this man isn't going away. We (Dems) are 0-2 against the Karl Rove machine...it will take the Clinton machine to go up against them.

And he went on to compare himself to Regan...in other words Obama is saying that Regan in his eyes was the best president. I guess I can kiss my somewhat ok military pay goodbye and other things that the military needs...at least I know Hillary would do things for us due to her membership in the Armed Services Committee.

[christy]

OBAMA PLEASE GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND LEARN ETHICS: TONY REZKO LOOK HIM UP WWW.YOUTUBE.COM THANKS BUT NO THANKS I'll take a Clinton anyday

[miguel]

Without denying the diabolical power of the Rove apparatus, it was certainly helped by the fact the last 2 Democratic candidates waged stiflingly triangulated, ultra-centrist, uninspiring campaigns, which is exactly what we can expect from Ms. Clinton.

Reagan did bring about massive change, unparalleled in the last half-century. Granted, it was a disastrous change, but through his senile snake-oil salesmanship, he managed to sell it, even to many of its victims, many of whom continue to perversely revere him.

On health care, the Clintons immediately capitulated once the GOP spin machine got rolling, without bothering to put forth any compelling counterargument. Then, the tone was set; henceforth Clinton I didn't really move in any clear direction, but mostly just kept pace with Newt & Co.'s neo-Reagany nonsense.

I do think Obama is our best hope for an anti-Reagan, to really make a persuasive appeal to the American public and get the pendulum swinging back. Nothing in the last 15 years of Hillary's career indicates that she has any ability or strong desire to do so.

[Marks]

Obama can take the criticism from things he said, but lets discuss what Clinton is ranting about.

When someone mentions Reagan they have to be Republican? I thought Reagan was stupid sending Donald Rumsfeld to meet with Saddam in 1983. That did change trajectory of the United States!

Can't we see the evidence since that moment in 1983 how this country has been inside Iraq doing something military expensive!

If Democrats have to vilify every Republican as evil, they are weird, non inclusive and separatist minded. Being partisan is ruining Congress and they can't pass legislation acting that way.

I hope Hillary keeps blasting Obama's Reagan statements, because Republicans that admire the journey she's on, will abandon her as a partisan that we have all seen before. The Right Wing Conspiracy Hillary, one of her past personalities

Reagan had his minus and plus moments. He was a better Republican than Newt Gingrich types. I never voted for the man but can see the difference in governing from Reagan and the Bush's father and son administrations.

Reagan "tore down walls" with his words. Father Bush and son have built partisan walls up in this country with their governing. Bush's hated the Clintons while Bill was President with a passion that's not good for American politics. People remember "Willie Horton" because of George H.

American politics were changed radically right there.

Bush's altered Congress for the worse with their rhetoric.

I don't see legacy of Reagan, Republicans keep speaking his name like it means something definable. Smaller government isn't going to happen! Reagan began the increasing size of government spending and ran a deficit to pay for it.

Now President Bush has sold America to China to borrow money the way he spends. Cutting too much taxes from the Corporate set at expense of social policies. The national debt is obscene. The unspoken debt is too much contemplating because trade is so unbalanced like never before.

Bush cut taxes from the oil companies with $100 a barrel now and the Fed is taking much less revenue from them. Bush sold America to corporates more than any other President in history and its had a negative consumer affect on our economy. Subprime banking was allowed under Bush because of the profitability bank officials had for a long time. They put Bush in power to make that happen. Back dating stocks by Coporate Executives allowed for a long time by the weakened SEC under Bush's direction.

It's one thing for Reagan to talk about reducing people on Social Services back in the 80's. Bush has taken money away completely from Millions of more individuals. Cut Police funds so some neighborhoods are staying too dangerous. Cut money from states to use prohibiting crimes from happening.

The most dangerous Republicans are the Bush family and their legacy continuing in the White House. Former Governor of Florida, Jeb Bush is going to get ready in 2012. His oldest son is George P. Bush, Hispanic looking from his mother and speaks Spanish.

Those two have ideals just like Father and Son President Bush's we have already had. Jeb wants to be President and his son George P. some years later.

Reagan can be talked about because he's dead and has no legacy. He's not a dangerous topic anymore. Democrats can talk about good Reagan did all they want.

Many places are named for Reagan. They won't be for George H or George W.

America better wise up to the threat coming from the Bush family. Elect Hillary and Bill back to the White House, Jeb will be President in 2012.

GOP will promote Jeb out of spite! Bush's will really hate the Clinton's again. Partisanship in Congress will cause more stagnation. Congress will have a the Republican majority again.

No matter how Obama seems to phrase some statements, he's not demeaning his position, promoting change in our government.

Vote No Bush\Clinton\Bush\Clinton and Bush again in 2012.

Putting Bill back in the White House isn't a definable position in American politics before. He's an attention grabber and policy statement maker. He'll argue for bills to pass in Congress as First Man. He won't be decorating the White House when that's the First Lady's job description.

Bill will be getting his third term! Can't let him get there!

[Gene L.]

What Obama said is nothing new. Here's what he said to Tim Russert in 2006 on Meet the Press:

'And, you know, there are circumstances in which, I would argue, Ronald Reagan was a very successful president, even though I did not agree with him on many issues, partly because at the end of his presidency, people, I think, said, "You know what? We can regain our greatness. Individual responsibility and personal responsibility are important." And they transformed the culture and not simply promoted one or two particular issues.'

Obama clearly states that although he disagrees with Reagan on many issues, he can still admire certain aspects of what he accomplished as president.

[Alison]

Obama is the most authentic and honest of the three Dem. candidates.

No more Clintons.

Gi, Obama

[darrnen]

HITLER CHANGED GERMANY, WAS CHARISMATIC, AND HAD POPULAR SUPPORT.

[debbie n]

Obama is the only canidate that can actually bring change. Go to one of his rallies and you will see so many people of different views and lifestyles, races, religions, gender, and backgrounds coming together for change. There really is magic in the air. In addition to change in Washington, he's capible of creating change in society, and in the world's opinion of Americans. He's an amazing man, and everyone should be watching him.

[Scott]

Yeah, it's terrible that Obama actually ANSWERS questions, isn't it? I mean, we'd much rather have somebody in office like Clinton, where every statement is poll-tested and filtered through a Karl Rove playbook. We'd much rather have someobdy in office who, when asked what their greatest weakness is, says "I'm just too impatient for change." Gag.

Let's choose honesty and frankness for once, folks. Clinton would bring Republicans to the polls in droves, and even if she did manage to sqeak out a win in November, it'd be another four years of divisive politics. Obama can help create a movement to expand the democratic base -- which is all that he really meant when he was talking about Reagan. Bill Clinton may have won two terms, but he nearly destroyed the Democratic party in the process. And do we really want a return to the Clinton melodrama?

Let's turn the page on the politics of the past.

Obama '08.

[alison weil]

There are only two major newspapers in LV and the LV Sun was not exactly neautral

"LVsun owner (Brian Greenspun) was Clinton's room mate at Yale - and donated $500,000 to Clinton Library

Link for entire article attached:

"The next tier down is labeled "Philanthropists." A major New York labor organization, Local 1199 of the Service Employees International Union, donated at this level, which appears to correspond to gifts of $500,000 to $1 million. Also donating in this range was the editor of the Las Vegas Sun, Brian Greenspun, who was one of Mr. Clinton's roommates at Yale."

http://www.nysun.com/article/5137?page_no=3

Obama and Edwards should push harder for the Clinton records and library donors to be disclosed

Maybe the4 LVSun editorial board really believes Senator Clinton is the right candidate - but don't you think this stuff should have been at least disclosed to a public who is reading this?

The RJ was the only other paper - he had to get that endorsement -

[JKay]

Smart move by Obama. He gave fair acknowledgment to Reagan’s ability to mobilize and the ideas of Republicans - not approving end products, just giving fair acknowledgment. This is smart because any Democrat who does not avidly ''hate Republicans'' and who sees this as a fair call comment will not abandon him. Independents will see someone taking a weighted view on things and think ''maybe this is someone I can get behind''.

It’s also true to Obama''s message of uniting people. You don’t alienate half the populace by ignoring/disrespecting their heros. For blue leaning Republicans, here is a guy who does not demonize their hero and has shown respect and balance. That doesn''t mean Obama = closet Republican, rather he is trying to transcend the Republican/Democrat divide, get people to work together around tough issues that they need to come together on, uniting Americans.

Given a majority of Democrats are aligned to Clinton, unable to see past preconceptions of inevitability and having built up a fairy tale of the Clinton years when juxtaposed with the Bush Admin, and with time growing short to keep getting Obama''s message out, increasing shifts we have already seen, then what Obama has effectively done is stack the deck with wild cards in the form of blue leaning Republicans and independents. This may be the unexpected edge that wins the day.

So Obama is good at playing this game. He’s no dummy. He knew that praising Reagan was going to have two effects: a) gain some admiration, support and openness from Republicans/Independents, b) drive his opponents to use this ‘easy meat’ against him, them slamming Reagan and Republicans in the process, and in doing so polarizing themselves to hardcore isolationist democratic positions, thus validating him as the only major candidate on the democratic ticket to hold any hope of uniting the people.

Well played Mr Obama. You’ve taken the attacks from both Edwards and Clinton and now you’ve turned it into political ju-jitsu – using the pre-disposition of your opponents to attack, to turn their attacks back on themselves. So much for inexperienced eh? These so called more experienced politicians fell for it hook, line and sinker.

[Jennifer]

Exactly what kind of change does Obama Hussien want to do for America? Seriously, the guy won't even put his hand over his heart for the Pledge? But that doesn't matter to a lot of you because most schools now don't even say the pledge do they? Then, he refuses to put his hand on the bible to be sworn in, but that doesn't matter either does it? No one cares about the bible anymore? I think America has had ENOUGH change! Our kids are killing each other! Girls are having abortions left and right! The evil in this world is sickening! Gay marriage? NO! It's not a marriage! Marriage was created for 1 MAN and 1 WOMAN! Ever notice that the parts on a man fit perfectly into a woman? How do babies happen? Again 1 MAN and 1 WOMAN. Seriously, someone needs to knock the stupid out of you all. Take your blinders off and look around you! I say we go WAY back, back to old school! I'm talking about when America was a country to be proud of! Now, other countries are laughing at us! Ever watch BBC? Watch Top Gear! They make fun of americans at least once every episode! I ask my husband why do you watch them? They have nothing but contempt and scorn for us? And yet you are lining their pockets? Where is the sense in that? If Obama gets elected, and lets just say, God forbid, we have another 9/11........I have 2 questions, 1-who's side is our president going to be on? and 2-where will he be? Hiding underneath his desk and covering his head? I want a man of courage to be our president! Not a little chicken scared to fight back! Make love not war! Thats not reality! America has had to fight since America was born! That is the ugliness of humans! It's ever kill or be killed people. If we don't fight, we cower in the corner like beaten dogs! Grow a back bone and stand up for your country! Elect someone who isn't afraid to stand up for his country! McCain already has! Go ahead, elect the man that won't even say the pledge! No pride whatsoever for America. So, I ask you, why does he want to be president? Why does he want to "change" America so much? How much more change can America handle before the Statue of Liberty walks across the ocean to France where she came from! We are going down people, while we are still a great country of freedom.......how much longer will we have that freedom? Who is running our country? Who ever fights the most...Liberals....I haven't met a happy one yet. God help us and God take me home before this gets much worse! Christians, pack up, pray up, look up! We are going home soon! He promised he'd come for us and He's coming soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See you all at the big house