If you must understand Obama and his role as President, it must be said that he sees himself emulating Ronald Reagan. No, it’s not Franklin Roosevelt or even Abraham Lincoln but Reagan, whose style of leadership he respects, and who he considers to be a role model for his Presidency.
Much like Reagan, Obama wants to usher in a new era where Democrats, and in particular, policies of the moderate left, are now favored – in comparison to Reagan’s time when he made a successful case for conservatism.
People who did love that Reagan speech now criticize Obama for taking a page out of their hero’s book.
If you observe Obama’s Presidency, it follows the style that Reagan used, in not getting the opposition party’s leaders to approve of his programs but a minority of Republicans who are flexible and less oriented towards implementing doctrine without consideration for practicalities.
Reagan, during his time as President, did the same by gaining the support of a minority of Democrats from the South, who were aware that the country was in support of the President’s policies.
Another aspect of Obama’s Presidency is the change in his approach to foreign policy, and similar to Reagan’s change in approach – although their policies seem diametrically opposed.
In fact, while Reagan policy was ‘peace through strength’, Obama’s policy involves ‘strength through peace’. What also clarifies this difference in approach, is the manner in which Reagan built arms while opposing the Soviets aggressively yet Obama has taken the opposite approach by bringing troops home from both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Finally, even though both Presidents were elected at a time when the people were clamoring for change yet in the case of Obama, who openly admires Reagan, it is evident that through his policies, the Reagan era is finally over.