There you go again (Reagan)
Encyclopedia
"There you go again" was a phrase spoken during the 1980 United States presidential election debate by Republican
presidential candidate Governor Ronald Reagan
to his Democratic
opponent, incumbent President Jimmy Carter
. Reagan would use the line in a few debates over the years, always in a condescending way intended to disarm his opponent.
"There you go again" emerged as a single defining phrase of the 1980 presidential election
. The phrase has endured in the political lexicon
in news headlines, as a way to quickly refer to various presidential candidates' bringing certain issues up repeatedly during debates, or to Reagan himself.
. As Carter went on the offensive against Reagan's record regarding Medicare
, Reagan replied with "There you go again." In 1984, Reagan's opponent Walter Mondale
came prepared with a reply in case Reagan used the line again, which he did. However, Reagan disarmed Mondale with another line, in which he took the issue of his own age off the table by saying he wouldn't hold Mondale's "youth and inexperience" against him.
The Associated Press
wrote in 2008:
During the 2006 Connecticut
Democratic Senate Primary Debate, Incumbent Senator Joe Lieberman
used the line a number of times against his primary challenger Ned Lamont
. During the 2008 vice-presidential debate, Republican vice-presidential nominee, Alaska
Governor Sarah Palin
, used the line on Democratic opponent Joe Biden
. Both Lieberman and Palin lost those races; however, Lieberman went on to defeat Lamont in the general election running as an Independent.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
presidential candidate Governor Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
to his Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
opponent, incumbent President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
. Reagan would use the line in a few debates over the years, always in a condescending way intended to disarm his opponent.
"There you go again" emerged as a single defining phrase of the 1980 presidential election
United States presidential election, 1980
The United States presidential election of 1980 featured a contest between incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter and his Republican opponent, Ronald Reagan, as well as Republican Congressman John B. Anderson, who ran as an independent...
. The phrase has endured in the political lexicon
Lexicon
In linguistics, the lexicon of a language is its vocabulary, including its words and expressions. A lexicon is also a synonym of the word thesaurus. More formally, it is a language's inventory of lexemes. Coined in English 1603, the word "lexicon" derives from the Greek "λεξικόν" , neut...
in news headlines, as a way to quickly refer to various presidential candidates' bringing certain issues up repeatedly during debates, or to Reagan himself.
Context
The one debate between Reagan and Carter of the 1980 presidential year was held a week before the election by the League of Women VotersLeague of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters is an American political organization founded in 1920 by Carrie Chapman Catt during the last meeting of the National American Woman Suffrage Association approximately six months before the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution gave women the right to vote...
. As Carter went on the offensive against Reagan's record regarding Medicare
Medicare (United States)
Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over; to those who are under 65 and are permanently physically disabled or who have a congenital physical disability; or to those who meet other...
, Reagan replied with "There you go again." In 1984, Reagan's opponent Walter Mondale
Walter Mondale
Walter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale is an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 42nd Vice President of the United States , under President Jimmy Carter, and as a United States Senator for Minnesota...
came prepared with a reply in case Reagan used the line again, which he did. However, Reagan disarmed Mondale with another line, in which he took the issue of his own age off the table by saying he wouldn't hold Mondale's "youth and inexperience" against him.
The Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
wrote in 2008:
- "Reagan was a master at capturing a debate moment that everyone will remember. His 'there you go again' line defused his opponent's attack."
Later use
Reagan would sometimes use the phrase during his presidential press conferences.During the 2006 Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
Democratic Senate Primary Debate, Incumbent Senator Joe Lieberman
Joe Lieberman
Joseph Isadore "Joe" Lieberman is the senior United States Senator from Connecticut. A former member of the Democratic Party, he was the party's nominee for Vice President in the 2000 election. Currently an independent, he remains closely affiliated with the party.Born in Stamford, Connecticut,...
used the line a number of times against his primary challenger Ned Lamont
Ned Lamont
Edward Miner "Ned" Lamont, Jr. is a businessman and heir and most recently an unsuccessful candidate for the 2010 Democratic nomination for Governor of Connecticut. On May 22, 2010, Lamont received more than fifteen percent of the vote at the state Democratic convention, and appeared on the...
. During the 2008 vice-presidential debate, Republican vice-presidential nominee, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
Governor Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
, used the line on Democratic opponent Joe Biden
Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama...
. Both Lieberman and Palin lost those races; however, Lieberman went on to defeat Lamont in the general election running as an Independent.
External links
- Reagan interview regarding debate
- clip from YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- Reagan uses the line in 1984 (YouTube)