Has anyone considered than many here who want to compare Obama with JFK...

[wyldwolf]

would not have supported JFK?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. I don't get it.

It's hard to imagine any Democrat, even in those days, preferring Nixon. Only the very right-wing Dixiecrat types opposed JFK. Are you saying only our present-day right-wing DLC types would not have supported him? I don't quite get the point.

[wyldwolf]

4. Let me explain it you

Leading up to the '60 nomination, the "right-wing DLC types" where the Kennedy supporters. "Progressives" backed Stevenson and Humphrey.

[ruggerson]

5. Stevenson

was in contention at the convention, along with Johnson.

During the primaries (and there were few of them then, mostly in smallish states) Kennedy's opponents were on his left: Humphrey and Wayne Morse.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. OK. I was thinking of the general election.

It's true that the more liberal wing of the party was mainly supporting Stevenson. Still, I don't think the comparison of JFK and Obama has as much to do with their politics as it does with Obama's youth and charisma. He reminds me a bit of JFK also, in that respect (and I'm old enough to remember JFK).

[ruggerson]

2. Quite true

most here would have supported Humphrey or Morse.

[no name no slogan]

3. I don't think you know what you know. Because I know

what you don't know, even though you think you know what you don't know you really know.

Y'know?

[Fovea]

6. Clark supporters are closer to JFK in some ways

than Obama supporters, IMO.

Center left war hero with a historical perspective.

[ClarkUSA]

9. I am one of many Clark04 supporters who is now an Obama08 supporter.

Gen. Clark was a self-proclaimed "proud liberal" in 2004. There was nothing center-left about him then except the perception he was a moderate.

[Fovea]

32. I noted that statement at the time.

But I also noted that a fair sample of Clark supporters on board seemed center left, by which I do not mean necessarily 'centrist'.

I take your point, however, and I stipulate that Clark himself is a self described liberal.

[MethuenProgressive]

8. Obama is to JFK as Huckabee is to Lincoln.

ObamaNation seems to know little about history, so why is anyone surprised they make this uninformed comparison?

[ClarkUSA]

11. JFK aides/speechwriter Ted Sorenson and JFK policymaker Sen. Harris Wofford disagree with you.

I'm quite sure they know quite a bit more about John Fitzgerald Kennedy AND history than you do.

Everyone else, feel free to watch their video endorsements of Obama here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3886970&mesg_id=3886970

[Name removed]

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[ClarkUSA]

14. Oh, right, I forgot that! Thanks for reminding me...

;-)

[MethuenProgressive]

18. Did you even watch that? They say the comparison is superficial.

Your own link. :shrug:

[Name removed]

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[BeyondGeography]

19. Nah, JFK's pals have nothing on DU's anti-Obamabots

A pox on their would-be attempts to energize our party and change the country for the better!

[ClarkUSA]

24. Yeah, what do Ted Sorenson and Sen. Wofford know about JFK and the Democratic Party anyway?

I know who is really the pox on our party... it's the Southern Strategery wing of the DLC.

[alteredstate]

31. I was fortunate to hear Ted Sorensen speak last week

He said Obama has what it takes to be president.

Sorensen said the last time he stumped for a candidate was forty years ago --- for RFK.

[Major Hogwash]

33. Thanks for that post, man.

I didn't realize these people were knocking Obama on Christmas Day at DU.

Doesn't seem like anything is sacred to these people any more.

[PresidentObama]

10. I think those who compare Obama to JFK aren't comparing because he's a liberal.

They're comparing them because they both presented hopeful and positive visions for our country, and spoke about giving opportunity to all Americans. If anything, Obama's been very moderate in his rhetoric. Not liberal. So this has nothing to do with left vs. right. And if you don't get that, you aren't paying attention. If you want to argue he's a liberal using moderate rhetoric, by all means. But this comparing them has nothing to do with left vs. right. That's not why people compare them at all.

Obama is a lot like Bill Clinton as well. Both talked of lifting people up, creating a more hopeful America where everyone gets a fair chance.

And I've heard a lot of people compare JFK to Clinton.

[ClarkUSA]

16. B-I-N-G-O

:hug:

[Lucinda]

13. I hate comparing candidates to ANYONE. They aren't clones OR second comings

as far as I've seen anwyay, :) and I'm not fond of people trying to lay an aura of past heroes on their candidate. Policy's, platforms, and world views may be similar, but they ae individuals, not reruns. <end of rant>

As far as your OP point goes, I agree that the bulk of DU would most likely have favored another candidate. :)

[ClarkUSA]

15. The comparisons Sorenson and Wofford make are worthy ones. Kerry2008 summarizes their points well.

No one but Clintonians are spinning this into a meme about "clones or second comings." Watch the video endorsements in my reply
to Methuen Progressive. I think both men know what they're talking about more than anyone at DU.

[Lucinda]

22. As I said...I don't like it when people do it with ANY candidate.

What part of that concept are you having trouble with?

[ClarkUSA]

25. Um, okay... I'm disputing the notion that what you are describing applies to Sorenson & Wofford

Sorenson and Wofford are not making the case that Obama is a "clone or second coming" of JFK at all. Their nuanced comparisons
are well worth listening to - given their intimate working knowledge with and long personal friendships with JFK.

[MethuenProgressive]

17. Multiple mistresses, a Pulitzer Prize, decorated veteran, wealthy political family...

Yeah. Obama is soooo JFKish.
:rofl:

[PresidentObama]

21. You're totally missing the point people are comparing them on.

No Obama isn't 100% like JFK.

But the messages and vision they bring to the respective Presidential campaigns is pretty much the same.

A hopeful vision for America. Speaking about lifting people up. Optimistic, positive. Hopeful.

That's why people compare them.

[ClarkUSA]

23. You obviously didn't watch Ted Sorenson's and Sen. Wofford's video endorsement as you said you did.

Here's the link to the videos again: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3886970&mesg_id=3886970

Pay better attention this time before posting nonsense. :-)

[madrchsod]

26. the only valid comparison

is the message of hope and that`s it...different time and circumstances. kennedy was a realist, he knew just actually what was needed to be done and how to do it. he just was`t as far left as the others.

[Bitwit1234]

27. I get so damn sick when someone says Obama is like JFK

Obama will never ever see the day when he can come even close to JFK. He is a flip flopping panty waist who does not know what he is doing from one day to the next.

He says anything the people in front of him wants him to. And then goes on to the next group and says what they want to hear. OBAMA WILL NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER BE A JFK....

[MethuenProgressive]

28. Even Sorenson and Wofford say there's only a superficial likeness.

Looks good on TV, "young", etc.

[Name removed]

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[msongs]

30. JFK's election was allegedly rigged in Illinois-Chicago-by a Mayor Daley...

Obama -Illinois-Chicago-Mayor Daley??? -- hmmm well that would be revenge for bush 2

and then are the famous ballots boxes LBJ allegedly had dumped in Texas lakes.

Msongs