In his prime-time address on Monday, President Obama invoked the words of President Reagan while urging members of Congress to compromise on a deal to reduce the deficit and raise the debt ceiling. Two can play at that game: In responding to Obama's remarks, lawmakers and pundits used Reagan's words to suggest that Obama is lacking in leadership skills. Watch in the video below.
Using the words of Reagan isn't a new strategy for the White House. Press secretary Jay Carney has also been reading old letters from the Gipper to support Obama's case on fiscal policy. A TV ad from House Democrats asks "What Would Reagan Do?," and Obama has pointed to his predecessor's ability to forge a debt-ceiling deal. He noted in a recent radio address that "Ronald Reagan worked with [then-House Speaker] Tip O'Neill and Democrats to cut spending, raise revenues, and reform Social Security."
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