NBC’s Andrea Mitchell raised the ire of former Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan on Meet the Press when she said that Republicans were “trying to appropriate Ronald Reagan for their own political purposes now.” during a discussion of his legacy. Noonan was quick to fire back at Mitchell, telling her that  “Republicans are not, I think, trying to appropriate Ronald Reagan – Ronald Reagan was a  Republican. Conservatives aren’t trying to appropriate him – he was a conservative.” Mitchell then backtracked by saying that she was referring to “some of candidates and the Sarah Palin quotes-one wing of the party” that she feels are constantly invoking Reagan’s name.

The mainstream media has also been saying much of the same thing, with stories over the weekend on how many times Palin and other potential 2012 candidates refer to Reagan in their books.  In addition, there is Palin’s speech at the Reagan ranch on Friday, where she ripped the Obama Administration but also said that Reagan would be proud of the conservative movement today.

There is nothing wrong with Republicans trying to, in Micthell’s words, “appropriate” Reagan.  He is an icon and a true conservative hero.  In a time when conservatism is experiencing a rebirth, it is a smart strategy to emulate a president who still evokes fond memories in the movement. As Noonan pointed out, allowing Mitchell to clarify her remarks isn’t about appropriating, as much it is about trying to lay claim to the Reagan mantle. What Mitchell should be criticizing are Democrats that are trying to compare Obama to Reagan and steal his legacy. That is a very tall order. Politicians have been trying for more than 20 years, without success, to assume the mantle. It isn’t likely to occur with the current group of prospective presidential candidates either.

There was and will always be only one Reagan in our lifetime and that’s the way it should be.

Share This

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

About the author

Don Irvine
Don Irvine is Chairman of Accuracy in Media. He is active on Facebook and Twitter. You can follow him @donirvine to read his latest thoughts.

Related Posts

6 Comments for Andrea Mitchell: “Republicans Trying to Appropriate Reagan”

Gaspar

Like Hosni Mubarak, it is time for Mitchell to go.

Ted

Today’s “Reaganites” are clearly revisionists. “Reaganomics” has caused more economic harm to the American working middle class than any other thing I can think of … and Reagan added some TWO TRILLION DOLLARS to the $800 billion national debt that existed on his first day in office … much of it the result of the same kind of UNFUNDED TAX CUTS that Bush II used (together with two unfunded foreign invasions) to add some SIX TRILLION DOLLARS to the national debt that existed on his first day in office!

C. Roy

Nothing like a liberal such as Ted to tell the rest of us all about Reaganites and Reaganomics. Poor Ted doesn’t understand that Reagan was saddled with a Democrat congress that promised “two dollars in spending cuts for every one dollar in new taxes”. Sure. Right. You can count on a Democrat to cut spending, can’t you? Sort of likr Obama, right?

Corey Mondello

Im glad Reagan is dead. He started the fall of America. Only the elimination of all conservative Christians will allow all Americans to be free and the world to no longer have to live in fear of the U.S.A.’s imperialist, terrorist holy war. The conservative ideology has never helped mankind in any way, it has not only never helped mankind in anyway, it has oppressed, murdered, raped and killed all those in it’s way to gain power. History shows us this. Fact shows us this. James Madison, the “Father of the U.S. Constitution”, along with many founders of this country, regardless of their religious or non-religious affiliations, knew keeping politics and religion separate not only preserves each, but helps them flourish: “The number, the industry, and the morality of the Priesthood and the devotion of the people have been manifestly increased by the total separation of the Church and the State.”

Wildbird

Corey you sound like someone whos brain is the size of a pea a total nit-wit