Michael Reagan’s time as silent observer is over. This afternoon, Michael Reagan endorsed Newt Gingrich. Here’s Reagan’s endorsement statement:
I am endorsing Newt Gingrich for President and here’s why:
Newt understands that we must reject and fundamentally change the course that Barack Obama has set for America.
Newt is our only chance in 2012 to contrast a Reagan conservative with Obama’s European’ styled socialism. Newt exemplifies the conservative principles my father championed. Strong national defense, lower taxes and smaller government.
In the 90’s Newt’s leadership brought us the Contract with America which changed Washington. I’m confident Newt can do it again.
We cannot afford a candidate backed by the same Washington insiders who repeatedly tried to undermine my father and the Reagan revolution.
It’s time to choose.
Do we go forward with bold ideas or continue with failed policies? So I ask my fellow Republicans and conservatives to join me in supporting Newt Gingrich for president.
What’s key, in my opinion, is that Michael Reagan took aim at “the same Washington insiders who repeatedly tried to undermine my father and the Reagan revolution.” That’s clearly directed at Mitt.
It sounds like, in Michael Reagan’s mind, it’s 1980 all over again, with Mitt playing Bush the Elder and Newt is the man who most resembles his father.
Clearly, Newt’s leadership isn’t in question with Reagan. I suspect that’s because he’s looking at Newt’s accomplishments, including the passing of his father’s tax cuts, Newt’s plan that wiped out the Democratic majority in the House after 40 years in the majority and Newt’s helping pass the welfare reform.
This endorsement means something more than the usual endorsement because a) it’s Michael Reagan, heir to the Reagan legacy endorsing Newt and b) it’s from an anti-establishment outsider.
Couple that with Chuck Norris’s endorsement and you’ve got something that the casual observer will notice. Here’s what Chuck Norris said in his endorsement:
“I’m tired of watching our country being torn to shreds by those who think the answer is more government debt and control. I’m tired of being in bondage to a tax system that robs U.S. citizens like the King of England did before the Revolution,” Norris writes.”I’m tired of watching our sovereignty being sold by foreign loans and loose borders. And I will not sit back and merely watch this decay and degradation of the U.S. and then hand it over to my children and grandchildren to deal with.”
Norris continued, “That is why my wife Gena and I have committed the rest of our lives to help Old Glory rise again to her heights of splendor. And that is why we are endorsing and standing with Newt Gingrich, because we believe he can lead all of us who have committed to the same.”
There’s no question what the message behind these endorsements is: America was great under Reagan. We’ve stumbled since then. Now it’s time to right the ship and Newt’s leadership is what’s needed to straighten this ship out.
Tags: Endorsements, Michael Reagan, Ronald Reagan, Chuck Norris, Reaganomics, Job Growth, Newt Gingrich, Conservatism, Bush the Elder, Mitt Romney, Establishment, GOP, Election 2012
Chuck Norris endorsed Ron Paul. Reagan Endorsed Ron Paul.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p68OG-PM7sU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyXW1hb-JQg
In the interest of accuracy, Chuck Norris essentially said he’d use RP as a consultant to find out who’s honest in Congress.
In the interest of accuracy, Ron Paul treasured President Reagan’s endorsement so much that RP officially quit the GOP:
Later, RP tears it:
Ron Paul’s love of President Reagan is as phony as Mitt Romney’s conservatism. Ron Paul’s love of President Reagan is as real as Chuck Norris’s & President Reagan’s endorsement of RP’s presidential candidacy.
Gary, who really cares? Chuck Norris? Get real.
Michael Reagan? Ditto.
Who’s Nancy Davis endorsing, if any, this early? She was the power behind the throne anyway, she and GHWB.
Perry, that endorsement has weight. But Chuck Norris. Come on. Has Huckabee endorsed anyone? McCain? Fred Thompson? Rubio? Paul Ryan? Boehner?
Beyond that, it’s the individuals, not the size of the endorsement list that matters. It is still, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, and the idiot. A three horse race.
Mitt and Newt are each fighting for the “I am the one who can beat Obama” mantle. For now, you may be right, it could be Newt, How I read the crystal ball, it’s a toss-up. Romney has all the money, and that’s a major factor. Many, many people have a visceral hate for Gingrich. Triple A has little love for the man. However, looking behind smoke screens — Ron Paul IS the one who has a chance to beat Obama. Romney? He would not polarize things the way Gingrich would. But would he energize many to even bother to go vote for his uber-wealth distance from the 99.9% of us?
It IS interesting, and once Santorum quits, it will be more interesting. Santorum is only a drag on what will be the ultimate result among/with/regarding the other three.
RP would be lucky to get 50% of Republicans to vote for him. Suggestions that he’d unite people is ridiculous.