Republicans are sometimes criticized for focusing too much on President Ronald Reagan, so here’s an idea: It’s Democrats – specifically President Obama – who need to learn more from the Gipper.
It was 28 years ago this week – August 13, 1981 – that Reagan signed his signature tax cuts into law. Reagan’s historic 25 percent rate cuts were the first tax relief Americans had had in 20 years. They kicked off an unprecedented period of economic growth and came to define Reagan’s domestic policy.
In the 2008 campaign, Obama caught some heat from his liberal friends when he expressed admiration for Reagan, but Obama was on to something.
Like Reagan, Obama came into office during a period of major economic recession.
Like Reagan, Obama has proposed a transformational program of economic change to combat the recession.
But unlike Reagan, seven months into his presidency, Obama’s program for change is foundering, while Reagan’s was triumphant.
Obama would be wise to ask himself, why?
The answer boils down to one word: Trust.
Ronald Reagan trusted the American people. He used to say that “trust the people” was the “one irrefutable lesson” of the 20th century’s disastrous experiments with government control of the economy.
And even though Reagan – unlike Obama – faced a House of Representatives controlled by the opposition party in 1981, it was his faith in the American people that allowed his change-agenda to prevail.
The differences in how the two presidents communicate with the American people are striking.
Reagan communicated to illuminate. He patiently and methodically explained to Americans the benefits to freedom and prosperity that would be won by tax cuts.
The more Reagan talked, the more the American people supported him, proving that if you lead with the values and principles Americans share, they will rally to you.
Obama, in contrast, too often communicates to obfuscate. Because his energy and health plans are premised on a faith in government that Americans don’t share, he’s forced to talk about these issues in ways that obscure and confuse more than they reveal.
Such as when he promises that the so-called public option will provide “competition” in the health care marketplace.
Or his assurance that his budget-busting proposals won’t lead to new taxes on the middle class.
Unlike Reagan, the more Obama talks, the less Americans support him.
Even more troubling than the way Obama has talked to the American people is the way he has tried to limit the way we can talk back.
On the eve of the House vote on his historic tax cuts, Reagan made a nationally televised appeal to the American people.
Again he made his case for tax cuts. Then he called on Americans to contact their senators and representatives to express their opinions.
“I’ve not taken your time this evening merely to ask you to trust me,” Reagan said. “Instead, I ask you to trust yourselves.”
After 48 House Democrats crossed the isle to join Republicans in passing the tax cuts, a defeated Speaker Tip O’Neill (D-MA) credited Reagan’s appeal for the victory. Reagan’s speech, O’Neill said, touched off “a telephone blitz like this nation has never seen.”
Contrast the faith in Americans shown by Reagan with the distrust shown by the Obama Administration.
While Reagan had enough confidence in his ideas to leave their fate to the American people, Obama has time and again tried to cut the people out of the democratic process.
Instead of having the confidence to defend its ideas, Obama has tried to rush his agenda through Congress with little or no debate, attempted to demonize those who disagree with it, and even asked Americans to inform on their fellow Americans who disagree.
Reagan is often damned with feint praise as “the great communicator” – as if his speaking style, not his ideas, was responsible for his success.
Obama first seven months is turning into proof that the gift of oratory isn’t enough.
The lesson Reagan understood so well in 1981 is still true today.
Trust the people.
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich has published 19 books, including 10 fiction and nonfiction best-sellers. He is the founder of the Center for Health Transformation and chairman of American Solutions for Winning the Future. For more information, see newt.org. His exclusive column for The Examiner appears Fridays.
