Peter Beinhart, column, The Daily Beast:

"Republicans love hallowing Ronald Reagan's name.

Too bad they know so little about the guy. ...

Reagan succeeded because he married a reputation for principle with an instinct for pragmatism. When Republicans lost big in the 1982 midterm elections because Democrats accused them of wanting to privatize Social Security, Reagan abandoned the idea and instead made a deal with Democrats that raised taxes and saved the program. ... In 1981, he nominated the socially moderate Sandra Day O'Connor to the Supreme Court, even though Jerry Falwell and other evangelical leaders cried betrayal. That was the real Reagan, the one Republicans need to embrace if they're to genuinely threaten Barack Obama's chances of re-election."

Posted at 12:20 AM/ET, February 04, 2010 in USA TODAY editorial

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2010/02/ ... PageReturn