It’s no secret that Ronald Reagan was a beloved member of the conservative movement. Most Republicans will tell you he is a hero and talk about the things he did to benefit America. Republican politicians and conservative activists have long spoken highly of his legacy. He was a quotable President, providing some well-distributed one liners that are political and philosophical gold. It’s not difficult to see why many love him.
Quotes like “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are ‘I’m from the government, and I’m here to help” ring true even more so today than ever before. We live in unprecedented times, where the surveillance state has become more expansive and war has become more extensive.
For all the criticisms of the Reagan Administration by libertarians, there’s still an argument that Reagan understood things better than many mainstream figures.
But unfortunately for Reagan fans and America, Ronald Reagan is also no longer with us.
But he apparently he speaks to us. He speaks to use through his son, Michael.
This is what Michael Reagan would like to lead the world to believe as he spreads the word about his interpretation of his father’s views and principles. He does that because he is Ronald Reagan’s son, so why wouldn’t he know?
No disrespect to Michael Reagan personally, but he’s still not Ronald Reagan.
A lot of people know their parents well enough to know where they stand politically. Just get on one controversial topic and the position on a spectrum becomes clear quickly. In the case of Ronald Reagan, it’s easier to get a feel for where his politics are because his life and career are well documented. In terms of presidential politics, he was quite influential. This is also true of the conservative movement and the Republican Party itself.
Still, not one person interpreting Ronald Reagan, whether it be his son, biographer, or an obsessed conservative activist, knows what Ronald Reagan would think about anything current unless the man himself was alive.
The fact is Ronald Reagan has not been with us for over a decade. Though it would certainly be nice to know his input on the race, it’s just not possible. We will never know what Reagan thinks of Trump’s presidential campaign or the things he says. We will never know whether he would suggest supporting Trump against Clinton or entertain the thought of a third party vote.
Speculation can occur. Reagan’s son, family, and anyone else who claims to know the legacy of Ronald Reagan can speculate. But unless anyone has actually consulted the conservative legend from beyond the grave, it’s just not possible to know for sure what he would think. Again, no disrespect to Michael or the rest of the Reagan family. Ronald Reagan is no longer with us though. his input on this election cycle does not exist.
Michael Reagan is entitled to his own personal opinions, however. There’s nothing wrong with him having his views about Donald Trump or any other political topic. But those opinions are his and his only.
Not his father’s.
