Have you ever read John Kennedy's definition of liberal?

[Mountainman]

This past week I have read some posts here that advocate the idea that Dems should not remain firm on abortion rights, or gay rights or some of our other core beliefs. Tonight I read a post that said that we need to stop calling ourselves liberals because the right has given the label negative connotations.

In November we lost a battle not the war but I feel if we listen to the DUers who believe we should begin to appeal the right in order to get their votes we will lose the war.

John Kennedy defined what a liberal is in 1960. I have always been proud to be a liberal and I will never stop calling myself a liberal.

I am a John Kennedy liberal. We don't need to shy away from calling our selves liberals, we need to be the one who defines the term.

Here is a link to John Kennedy's speech from 1960 defining what a liberal is. I think we would do well to replace the repukes definition of liberal with Kennedy's in the minds of the public. That will never happen if we are afraid to call ourselves liberal.

http://www.cjnetworks.com/~cubsfan/whatis.html



What is a liberal?
Sen. John F. Kennedy, acceptance of the New York Liberal Party Nomination, September 14, 1960.

What do our opponents mean when they apply to us the label "Liberal?" If by "Liberal" they mean, as they want people to believe, someone who is soft in his policies abroad, who is against local government, and who is unconcerned with the taxpayer's dollar, then the record of this party and its members demonstrate that we are not that kind of "Liberal." But if by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people -- their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties -- someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal."

there is much more to the speech please read it.

[Clarkie1]

1. Yes, I have read that definition. Here is another.

I am a liberal. We live in a liberal democracy. That's what created this country. That's in our Constitution. I think we should be very clear on this. You know, this country was founded on the principals of the Enlightenment. It was the idea that people could talk, reason, have dialogue, discuss the issues. It wasn't founded on the idea that someone would get stuck by a divine inspiration and know everything right from wrong. I mean, people who founded this country had religion, they had strong beliefs, but they believed in reason, in dialogue, in civil discourse. We can't lose that in this country. We've got to get it back."

Wes Clark - September 5, 2003

[marcologico]

3. great quote!

It was one of the first things I read on DU.

:toast:

[marcologico]

4. oops, I meant JFK's, but Clark's ain't bad either. n/t

[kerrygoddess]

6. Nothing can hold a candle to JFK's

I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal".

[Zenlitened]

2. Beautifully stated!

If by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people -- their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties -- someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal."

[zann725]

7. What a great picture! And the quote/speech too. Thanks for sharing.

n/t

[FreedomAngel82]

5. I just love JFK

He's great. :) I'm a proud liberal too! Embrace it. Don't let these thugs take away the good name anymore!