By contrasting the presidents he chose with Nixon and BC, he was also trying to throw some shade onto the Clintons. However the bigger thing was comparing himself to Reagan - which no Dem should ever do. I mean, he's pretty much on every Dem's historical shitlist. I do agree with you Lauren, but it's still not a good look. Yes, even the great and wonderful Obama can misspeak. That's the second time this week he's made a gaff. It's bound to happen. No one is perfect - despite what certain ppl think.

That comparison was not a good look. Can't to hear what Billary has to say about this.

Hopefully they won't say anything. I mean, do they really need to? The media will run with it - like they always do. Or maybe he'll get a pass???

Say what? He changed the country for the worse. WTF kinda optimism did he bring? His handling of the HIV/AIDS epidemic was shitty and by the handling of several issues, he validated the stigma associated with the disease. He stood by while the crack epidemic ruined countless lives. Most of those people and their families were of color so I guess it didn't matter.

Some genuine investment in health research kept the research from growing the way it needed to.

Oh, while the conservatives praise him for his lovely economic policies, if you look closer, he left major deficits and quadrupling the national debt. The only people really living well were the upper crust.

The last person you want to compare yourself to is a man who spoke well, connected with people yet really didn't do shit for anyone (essentially, Bill Clinton's accusation of Obama). The older democrats remember how they foolishly gave him their votes in 84. I'm not

Well, BMD, not on MSNBC…
http://www.dailykos.com/story/...../50/437254

and this little gem…
http://wonkette.com/342380/i-double-dog-dare-you

Chris Matthews, who identifies as a "liberal Democrat," is basically doing Carl Rove's job. Oh, and that is the sort of misogyny and sexism I expect from Bill O'Reilly. Democrats are on a mission to shed the myth that they are somehow forward thinking, color blind, female friendly party. If you gave me those quotes, I would immediately think "Bill O'Reilly."

Chris Matthews is a woman hating pig. Someone should ask him about his mother. I bet that's where all of that stems from.

I LOVE Wonkette, btw. One of my must-visit-daily blogs.

Not that I think it was good move either way, but I think he was trying to draw comparisons between the way Carter messed up the Country and the way Bush messed up the country (obviously Bush messed the country more than ANY US President in history) Saying that He, some what like Reagan, came into the election with a hopeful message that contrasted the crap America was fed previously… We obviously know now that Reagan's "hopeful message" was meant for certain people and not the rest of us… I hope that's not the same deal for Obama :-/

I am still in shock that he pinched her cheeks. What. The. F—?! "A sexist way to assert dominance over a powerful woman" describes it perfectly. What's next? When Condi comes on, you'll give her an over the knee spanking for Iraq? Or pat Nancy Pelosi on the head for not having any abnormal screw-ups as Speaker?

I feel for these politicians because they can't afford to "keep it real" with some of these journalists. The reaction I would like to see: she'd take of her sensible heels and struck him repeatedly to the point that secret service would have to pull her off of his bleeding body.

aunty_rae, Carter only won because Gerald Ford (on my top 3 list of favorite presidents) pardoned Nixon and people were pissed. In hind sight, we know that pardoning Nixon was necessary for the country to move on. The American people made their bed with that one.

I think Carter is a wonderful human being in that his heart is always in the right place and he got back to his passion which was philanthropy. His leadership style is much better suited for that. He wasn't cut out of politics. The American people made their bed with that one just like 04 not that either one seemed competent.

Let me get back to my to-do list before I get sucked into this.

….Furthermore, he and his f— ups are why we're fighting a war on terror. Don't forget all that Taliban aiding. The Bhutto government took part too and they didn't know what they were getting into, but it's kinda silly to be be partaking in the democratization of a country by funding bat sh*t radicals? The Bush (41, not 43) followed that path, inviting said batsh*t people to Texas where several people raised the human rights and especially women's rights that were being violated.

The elephants don't want to admit it and the jack a–es are too scared of the resulting Caucasian backlash from those who seem to have been on another planet during the Reagan year.

I hate politicians!

THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS!!!

I'm sorry, I DISAGREE that this was a mistake. Obama is WAAAY too smart to make a mistake. This is what other progressive Democratic blogs are calling a "dog whistle" - a coded under the radar message to white Republicans and Independents that he is the candidate that is aligned with them.

Reagan was a HERO TO WHITE PEOPLE, the racist and gun-loving kind. Still is. Which by the way, Obama is attracting White Republican and Independant votes by the droves, why you think lily-white Iowa voted for him?

And forget the thought of this being a mistake.
In the interview, Obama chooses Reagan as a model because of his "optimism & hope" campaign. Ok, fine. BUT in his book, he elaborates more on his liking of Reagan. This "I love Reagan" diatribe was repeated in his second book.

I was a teenager in the 80s. For y'all who were to young or too into yourselves to notice what was going on, here is a breakdown:

-AIDS - Reagan called it gay cancer and dismissed its exisitence

-THREAT OF NUCLEAR WAR - every second and every minute against the Russians

-WELFARE QUEENS - "Welfare Queens" was the phrase he used to describe low income black women

-IRAN CONTRA SCANDAL - TO be elected, he bribed the Iranians to hold on to the US hostages a little longer, in exchange, he gave Iran millions of dollars worth of guns/bombs so they can TURN AROUND AND SELL THE ARMS to the Nicaraguan Contra Revolutionary Army.

-LATIN AMERICA & AFRICA- CIA sponsored civil wars

-ECONOMY - Tax breaks for the rich, created the 80s era of "Greed",

-FOUGHT AGAINST AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, SCHOOL BUSING & INTEGRATION

I can go on & on.

Why didn't Obama do everybody the favor and run as what he really is, A REPUBLICAN?

And for you Obama maniacs, stop drinking the Kool-Aid. One day there will be a Black President of the United States, but OBAMA AIN'T THE ONE!!!!

I absolutely love rice and beans. Don't you?

"The reaction I would like to see: she’d take of her sensible heels and struck him repeatedly to the point that secret service would have to pull her off of his bleeding body."

Seriously, I can't believe she "had" to take that. Had she stood up for herself or had the secret service use their stun guns on him, she'd be labeled a bitch (again).

I wish a mofo would try to pinch my cheeks like that. He'd be in the hospital wondering if they'll be able to reattach his testicles.

By the way, all that hatred was directed towards Reagan who was the worst president of the 20th Century. He did far more damage to the "fabric of America" than Nixon. And I could start on Nixon's shady self too. He had white people, elephants and jackasses, drinking his Kool Aid.

Bush Sr. is the one who sorta took the bullet for Reagan's failures. And I despise Bush Sr too.

Love you too Miss Blackmistressdiva!

Yes, my Mama's Rice and Beans are spicy today, I'm so mad at Obama for this. I truly feel betrayed.

Because how could he be so damn insensitive and liken himself to such an enemy of Black folks?

And then have Black folks just drinking up his "hope" Kool-Aid while Obama's saving the champagne for white folks because he's a Reaganite?

Haven't we had enough of that Tom-ness with Clarence Thomas, Alan Keyes, Condoleeza Rice and Colin Powell?

There are few people who can render me speechless, but Alan Keyes is one of them. I don't get him. I mean, doesn't he know that white people don't like angry black men - republican or not. Did you see him in that first repuke debate? He was yelling at the moderators while the other candidate gave him the "there goes the crazy negro again" look.

I rememeber that! He kept rambling on and on, the other candidates didn't know what to do with him.

He's outta his mind. Really out of his mind. And a terrible father. Have you read up on what he did to his daughter, an out the closet lesbian?

Republicans will eat their own, I tell you - THAT is why I'm so afraid with Obama, I think he did so with this Reagan thing.

Barack Obama is not a Republican and he is NOT Alan Keyes.

I forgot about his lessie daughter. Yea, he's not all there.

Obama is simply speaking in terms of transformational figures on two extremes of the political spectrum - both Reagan and JFK were just that. There is nothing in his words foretelling the would preside the way Reagan or JFK did however in both instances the state of the people's need for change and want for it was exhibited. Weird how that's trying to be twisted into drama it's clearly not. As far as Nixon and Clinton, history has spoken on them both and it reads 'divisive'.

His aligning himself with Reagan, was nothing more than a swipe at the Clintons. It also revealed something of his true political nature, which is more republican than his delusional supporters could ever dream.

Solitaire, why do you feel the need to go below the belt and insult Obama supporters? Is that your gut instinct all the time? I keep on reading on this very same blog about the Dems breaking each other down before a nominee is picked and you rise up to be the best example.

"doesn’t he know that white people don’t like angry black men - republican or not." explain clarence thomas

Nixon's legacy is not at all divisive. Clinton's is not. If you go by opinion polls, you'll note that several are on there that shouldn't be. Public perception of the success of Reagan, Kennedy and FDR are just wrong. Successful means you left the country in a better condition than you found it.

Reagan and FDR screwed up big time but had inevitable events take place during their administrations. FDR did not help the economy. WWII did. Reagan did not end the Iran hostage situation. Their dislike towards Carter's policies did. He didn't end the cold war. The Helsinki Accord did. That would be Gerald Ford and the leaders of many other countries who can take credit for that. Right time at the right place.

43 was in the wrong place at the wrong time. His administration and the ones since around the mid 80s created that situation. He can thank Reagan and 41's administration for creating that ticking time bomb. From funding radicals under the enemy-of-my-enemy-is-my-friend school of thought to the Gulf War, they really set him up for failure. Clinton's administration stood by (though he helped negotiate terms under which Israelis and Palestinians could temporarily live in peace), though I don't see how that avalanche could be stopped once it got going.

Kennedy was not a success but I suppose he didn't have a chance to really clean things up. People liked what they think he stood for and are blind to the truth.

The legacy of a president is what they actually did to make the country better, not the myths that we've led ourselves to believe. I thought JFK was the best thing since sliced bread until I actually learned US History. I have a pretty low opinion of him as a human being and as a president, though he was a good politician (not a compliment).

…and with that, I'm out.

*Delete:("His administration and the ones since around the mid 80s")
*really set him up for failure (though unintentionally. they just knew that someone else would have to clean it up. still waiting for that someone)

"I am not a crook!"

That used to be my ring tone.

Best line ever in politics. [Yes, better than the one you're thinking of....I'd did not have sex with...blah, blah, blah.]

Atalanta,

Not true. He's perpetuating the MYTHS of Reagan: optimism, accountability, etc. Bull! Shit!

Reagan?! If a white candidate said it, you know we'd be calling him a goddamn racist fool.

Again, weren't people blasting the Clintons for being all "code," and now we have this fool saying CLEARLY that he's going to continue santitizing and glorifying Reagan. That's not "anti-Obama," that's be *believing* what the man's own words. Clear. Cut.

Brother Obama is so busy listening to his white advisors and trying to appeal to independents, he's assuming that people don't remember the 80's. I was a kid and those were not good times.

The Reagan years were absolutely terrible for black people. He did nothing positive for black people, poor people, working people (unions) or gays. Reagan (more correctly his speech writer) coined the term "welfare queen" if I recall. That one phrase ushered in a new era of stereotyping black women.

I get a little scared when someone who says they are a liberal - and a black liberal at that - invokes his name.

I'm not making this too big a deal b/c I realize that he's pandering to Republicans when he says things like that.

This is what scares me about this country. Too many people are so ignorant. It's one of the reasons our current president got "voted" in twice.