The General Electric Candidate
by digby
Yesterday, I linked to the fabulous "First Reagan Democrat" catch by The Donkey Edge. That post ended by questioning what it was that made old Ronnie change so dramatically from a staunch progressive to a far right conservative.
Today, they answer that question. I think you might be able to guess what that was.
I wrote about this a while back as well.
This comes from a speech by GE Chief Jeff Immelt at the Ronald Reagan centennial celebration, which GE is helping to sponsor:
Our CEO at the time, Ralph Cordiner, told Mr. Reagan: “I am not ever going to censor anything you say. You are speaking for yourself. Say what you believe.”
And so he did, writing and delivering the message that would become known as “The Speech,” his testament of faith in the virtues and abilities of free people and the great country they
had built. In 1964, he gave a famous version of that speech before a national audience on behalf of presidential candidate Barry Goldwater, and began one of the most successful American political careers of the 20th century.
GE saw his roving ambassadorship as a way to engage with its workforce. Mr. Reagan saw it as an education.
He had been interested in politics long before that, of course. He was a union leader. But when GE hired him they were grooming him for something much bigger. And he delivered.
Ronnie was basically a hired gun.