"Reagan was all about America, and you talked about it. Obama is, 'We are above that now. We're not just parochial, we're not just chauvinistic, we're not just provincial. We stand for something.' I mean, in a way, Obama's standing above the country, above - above the world. He's sort of God. He's going to bring all different sides together"

This quote by Chris Matthews suggests that Ronald Reagan was focused on America and its interests, while Barack Obama is focused on a higher function. Obama is aiming to bring different sides together and is seen as a leader who is above the nation and the world. Matthews indicates that Obama is almost like a God-like figure, who is seeking to bring peace and unity to the world. This quote suggests that Obama is wanting to transcend the conventional limits of nation-states and produce a more unified world. It likewise indicates that Obama is wanting to create a more globalized world, where different nations and cultures can come together and collaborate.