Crooks: Reagan R’s In Name Only

The Wednesday debate among Republican presidential candidates was held at the Reagan Library, which features the airplane the Gipper flew on as president. It’s no surprise that all of the candidates, except for Jon Huntsman, crowded onto the very tip of the right wing, but it’s strange that they would express their adulation for a president who traveled comfortably in the middle. I can envision a couple of Ronald Reagan’s retorts to some of the candidates’ comments. “There you go again!” Texas Gov. Rick Perry concurred with the other candidates who had rejected a hypothetical budget deal in which there would be $10 in spending cuts for every dollar in tax increases. The bipartisan Deficit Commission suggested a 3-1 ratio of cuts to new revenue. Reagan signed off on multiple tax increases, some in response to widening deficits. “Facts are ugly things”/ Gary Crooks , SR Smart Bombs. More here. (SR file photo)

Question: Why do so many Republicans today want to claim the mantle of Ronald Reagan when they embrace extreme positions and refuse to compromise for the good of all?