Debunking the myths about Reagan

Michael KinsleySlate.com

“The Republican primaries have turned into a Ronald Reagan adoration contest,’’ said Michael Kinsley. Mitt Romney and John McCain have been falling all over themselves to praise Reagan as some sort of political demigod who would never have compromised his conservative principles. Reagan, Romney said last week, would never “walk out of Iraq,’’ would say “no way’’ to amnesty for illegal immigrants, and would insist on lowering taxes and cutting spending. Let’s review the real record, instead of this Republican “fairy tale.’’ As president, Reagan signed a law granting illegals amnesty. On Islamic militancy, Reagan “scurried out of Lebanon’’ when militants destroyed a barracks full of U.S. Marines, and later sold weapons to the regime in Iran. On taxes and spending, Reagan’s record belies his reputation as a conservative revolutionary. Federal spending doubled during his presidency, and he raised the annual federal deficit from $73 billion to $153 billion. Sorry, Republicans, but “it’s hard to find any ‘unshakable set of principles’ in this mess.’’