Carter-era appeal won't work today

July 22, 2008

In their column "Hold on, GOP" (Commentary, July 16), David E. Johnson and Holly Robichaud wrote, "America remains a right-of-center-nation." They did not quote any recent public opinion surveys to substantiate this assertion.

Then they claimed that the Republican Party can do fine in the next election by appealing to the values and concerns Ronald Reagan appealed to in 1980.

However, 2008 is not like 1980, any more than 1980 was like 1932. The Republicans cannot keep running against Jimmy Carter any more than the Democrats could keep running against Herbert Hoover.

It is not always fair, but the American people blame a bad economy on the incumbent president and his party.

Come November, the Republicans are going to be burdened by the dismal record of that man in the White House.

John Engelman

Wilmington, Del.

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