"Stories Politics" Obama and Reagan

Despite the acrimony one would expect from juxtaposing these leaders, President Barack Obama does have a lot in common with the late President Ronald Reagan. These similarities should be enough to dissuade any Republican stalwart from emulating the Gipper in elections or in office.

Obama and Reagan are great communicators. They both knew how to light up a crowd with soaring rhetoric. They both knew how to appeal to the innate vanity of the crowd:

Ronald Reagan called the American people "heroes."

Obama declared, "We are the change we have been waiting for."

Both hijacked Thomas Paine's grating gainsaying, declaring word for word in sentiment that we have it in ourselves to "make the world anew." No. We. Do. Not.

Reagan decried the growth of government, yet ensued spending sprees that still plague us to this day. While championing the growing role of government, Barack Obama has exploded the national debt more in one year than all previous years combined.

Caught up in their lofty aspirations of this country, they have set the debate in politics for years to come. Yet in both instances, there is a demand for less government, and this time the American people really mean it.

In their communications with the public, they established a fantastic narrative. We need leaders who will not just read us a nice story in which we are the main character, but thrust back to us the greater responsibility of making the most of our lives.

"Americans want change they can believe in, now more than ever." -- Steven J. Ross

When the American people start looking to themselves and their local communities, as opposed to Washington D.C., to effect these changes, then we all can enjoy the welcome restoration of our rights, responsibilities, and values.

Enough with the pleasantries, we need to face political realities. Leadership is not running from or covering up the sober outcomes which threaten this nation's internal stability and external security. Instead, the federal government which acquiesces to the U.S. Constitution, respecting our rights, protecting our borders, and discharging our debt will have accomplished the extended maximum expected from government.