On ABC’s This Week, Representative Cole compared entitlement reform to Nixon’s opening of relations with Communist China: “Look if only Nixon can go to China, then only Obama can fix entitlements. The president has to lead, and has to be specific. You can’t expect Republicans to lead on an area that he has dominated in politically.” In Cole’s mind, as only Nixon with his sterling anti-communist credentials could reach out to Mao Zedong, only Obama with his proclivity for government expansion can lead on entitlement reform because Republicans aren’t allowed near the issue.