Monday, April 08, 2013

Obama says he's carrying on the work of Margaret Thatcher ... really?

President Barack Obama says in a statement on the passing of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, "Michelle and I send our thoughts to the Thatcher family and all the British people as we carry on the work to which she dedicated her life—free peoples standing together, determined to write our own destiny.”

Maybe it's just me but I am thinking there is a world of difference between Margaret Thatcher's philosophy and leadership, and Barack Obama's. What do you think? Here is his entire statement:
With the passing of Baroness Margaret Thatcher, the world has lost one of the great champions of freedom and liberty, and America has lost a true friend. As a grocer’s daughter who rose to become Britain’s first female prime minister, she stands as an example to our daughters that there is no glass ceiling that can’t be shattered. As prime minister, she helped restore the confidence and pride that has always been the hallmark of Britain at its best. And as an unapologetic supporter of our transatlantic alliance, she knew that with strength and resolve we could win the Cold War and extend freedom’s promise.

Here in America, many of us will never forget her standing shoulder to shoulder with President Reagan, reminding the world that we are not simply carried along by the currents of history—we can shape them with moral conviction, unyielding courage and iron will. Michelle and I send our thoughts to the Thatcher family and all the British people as we carry on the work to which she dedicated her life—free peoples standing together, determined to write our own destiny.
George Will had some thoughts on her accomplishments. Harking back to 2007 is a four-part series from writer and businessman Conrad Black who even then was noting the vindication for this leader who was against the European Union, as he noted, "Her response to the proposal to reduce Britain to a local government in a federal Europe was, memorably: 'No, no, no, and never.' "

And then there's today's Business Insider that takes the European Union question a step further (and now it's six years after the Black article) with their post, "Margaret Thatcher Was Freakishly Correct About Why The Euro Would Be Such A Big Disaster."

She helped modernize Great Britain while loosening the death grip of the unions, privatizing the airlines and other losing businesses to turn a profit, cut taxes, faced the Cold War, and refused to compromise with terrorists. That's just the tip of the iceberg of her accomplishments during her eleven years of leadership.

Considering what Obama has done in his four years as president, I'm not convinced he is a believer in the same goals as Margaret Thatcher....

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