What was going on when Ronald Reagan said this that made this so important to be part of his campaign

where I got this on the Internet as a whole argument going back-and-forth about it. From one guys perspective and both sides of this. He brings up a lot of interesting things things I already know of course.

Here is the link https://medium.com/@camclayton1/ronald-reagan-each-individual-is-accountable-for-his-actions-ab6b96104d65

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dancingtongue · 80-89, M

Reagan made this statement twelve years before he became president, at a Republican platform meeting in 1968. He said it in response to the urban rioting that was taking place in the aftermath of the Martin Luther King assassination.

Jonjdw · 46-50, M

@dancingtongue ok thank you for explaining this. I was too young then we’re actually in 68 I was not born.

That does give me some insight on it. But my workplace put this up they are Republicans. And it just bothers me because I feel no need for it I feel the very gray area.

Yes I know that they will argue in court about things that may have affected someone who committed a crime and they may go more lenient on these people for their problems in their life

Not saying that is right or wrong.

Also I believe if somebody had military service as I take that into accountability with sentencing they may go more lenient on them. Again I believe that to be true I believe I’ve heard a judge say that.

dancingtongue · 80-89, M

@Jonjdw The key word is "every" which acknowledges that sometimes society CAN BE at fault for helping create the situation. So the question should be was Reagan criticizing the protesters after King's Assassination for blaming society for their actions (as most conservatives believe) or was he claiming King's assassin was solely accountable for his death and not racism or the Civil Rights turmoil. As with most of Reagan's aphorisms, deliberately designed to be taken two ways feeding the base while being defensible to critics.