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Throughout his presidency Ronald Reagan fanned the flames of racism in the United States. Yet he continues to be admired by millions of black Americans.
When the late William F. Buckley was editor of the National Review, he used to tell anyone who would listen that Ronald Reagan belongs on Mount Rushmore. It is now more than 10 years since a proposal to carve the Gipper in granite came up for discussion in Congress. The proposal is usually dispatched by warnings that the granite on Mount Rushmore is so fragile that further sculpture would cause George Washington's face to fall off.
In the new era of big government, millions of Americans have developed a new sense of nostalgia for the Reagan years. Ronald Reagan remains the most idolized of our past presidents. More than 70 percent of Americans today have a favorable opinion of Reagan. The former president appeared on Gallup's list of the 10 most admired people in America more than 30 times. On the list, only Billy Graham appeared more times than Ronald Reagan.
The idolatry of Ronald Reagan prevails among many millions of African Americans. Akindele Akinyemi, a GOP politician and educational consultant from Detroit, wrote in his Internet blog, "Criticism of Reagan from black leaders is motivated by hate and fear and not an objective review of policies adopted during Reagan's eight years. We can see through the lies and deception of the Uberai left and easily say that President Reagan was a good friend of black America."
In fact, President Obama has spoken favorably of Ronald Reagan. Obama cites Reagan's political skills, his gift of oration, and his straightforward approach to foreign policy. But many African Americans have misinterpreted Obama's words of praise for particular traits of Ronald Reagan. In many cases they assume that Obama is a supporter of the policies of the nation's 40th president.
But America's worship of Ronald Reagan, particularly among some African Americans, comes with a solid case of amnesia for President Reagan's consistent...