Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

John F. Kerry is no John F. Kennedy (From the College Front)
Daily Targum (Rutgers U.) ^ | 9/1/04 | Yoni Rubin

Posted on 09/02/2004 1:34:14 PM PDT by NorCoGOP

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. -- A few months ago, Sen. John Kerry, while campaigning in Ohio, visited Jim's Steak and Spaghetti House and sat in the same booth John F. Kennedy sat in during his 1960 presidential campaign.

Seemingly, Kerry has many things in common with Kennedy. Both are Democrats from Massachusetts, Roman Catholics, products of privileged upbringings and both served in the Navy. Kerry now hopes to replicate Kennedy's successful presidential campaign. While Kerry and his family were even friends with JFK, the comparison between them ends there. There are three big differences: Their beliefs on taxes, policies regarding pre-emptive military actions and where each stands in relation to the extreme leftists.

The first difference is clearly seen in their economic policies toward taxes. On Dec. 14, 1962, Kennedy gave a speech to the Economic Club of New York. He said, "The final and best means of strengthening demand among consumers and business is to reduce the burden on private income and the deterrents to private initiative which are imposed by our present tax system; and this administration pledged itself last summer to an across-the-board, top-to-bottom cut in personal and corporate income taxes to be enacted and become effective in 1963."

Kennedy's view couldn't be further from what Kerry has repeatedly said. Kerry has spoken out against the long-term federal income tax cuts and corporate tax cuts President George W. Bush has passed and has insisted he will repeal them. After repealing the tax cuts, he will spend lots of money. Former Clinton administration economist Ken Thorpe, estimated the cost of Kerry's health care program stands at $653 billion over a decade.

Their second difference is seen in their positions on the use of pre-emptive military force. Kennedy, without international support, approved the planning and funding of the attempted overthrow of Fidel Castro and his socialist government. Kennedy authorized the use of U.S. B-26's, disguised to look as though they were Cuban planes, to bomb four airfields in Cuba. He even equipped about 1,500 of the Cuban exiles with U.S. weapons. After the fighting commenced, the exiles landed on the southern coast of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs. Kennedy decided against giving the faltering invasion U.S. air support when he thought a ground invasion would be necessary to win. By the time fighting ended April 19, four U.S. pilots were killed, 90 exiles were dead and the rest were captured. Kennedy was forced to negotiate for the release of 1,189 of them.

The character traits Kerry openly flaunts are not those of a leader. A leader is a person who will take unilateral action when necessary. Kerry is a follower, not a leader. He believes the United States should only act if other countries support our actions. Kerry's moral choice is merely based on what the majority agrees with. While everyone would like other countries to help and support our actions, Kerry seems to need other governments to agree with his decision before he is confident any action is the correct one to take.

Its not easy to compare how Kerry would act because he has never been clear on how he would have acted with regard to the situation in Iraq. I encourage everyone to see a short film made up of TV interviews Kerry has given over the last few years. Rudy Giuliani said about the film, "I urge [Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie] to show to every American, because I think every American should see this." Since most of you have seen "Fahrenheit 9/11," if you are truly open-minded, then you need to see this short film at www.KerryOnIraq.com.

When Kennedy ran for office, his strongest position was that he more anti-communist than his presidential opponent Richard Nixon. Once elected, he sought to contain the spread of communism. In the first speech he made to the American public as their president, Kennedy made it clear he intended to continue Dwight D. Eisenhower's policy of supporting the South Vietnamese government where he sensed a growing communist threat. He argued that if South Vietnam became a communist state, the rest of the non-communist world would be at risk. If South Vietnam fell, Laos, Cambodia, Burma, Philippines and many more would follow. If communism was not contained in Vietnam, it would gradually spread throughout the world. This view became known as the Domino Theory.

Kennedy went on to argue, "No other challenge is more deserving of our effort and energy. ... Our security may be lost piece by piece, country by country, and that under his leadership, America would be willing to, "pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty." Kennedy's action to send the first 100 military advisors and a special unit of 400 soldiers to Vietnam became the beginning of the Vietnam War. Kennedy argued, "those who make peaceful revolution impossible make violent revolution inevitable."

At many of the pro-Kerry/anti-Bush rallies, I have seen signs and booths proposing communist ideals. A few of those organizing protests in New York City during the Republican National Convention openly acknowledge they are proponents of these views. Castro even showed Michael Moore's entertaining movie, "Farenheit 9/11," over the state television.

One of Kerry's catchphrases during this election is "Let America Be America Again." The line comes from a poem written by Langston Hughes, who was outspoken about his communist affiliations and even wrote for a Marxist Journal. Many interpret this poem as speaking of a hopeful dream that America will turn into the communist utopia. Communist Party USA has come out in support of Kerry for this election. The support Kerry is getting from the radical left, the very views Kennedy fought against, leads me to think Kerry isn't very far from them.

As Kennedy was scheduled to say in a speech at the Trade Mart in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, "We in this country, in this generation, are - by destiny rather than choice -- the watchmen on the walls of world freedom."

If John F. Kennedy were alive today, he wouldn't be voting for Kerry.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: jfk; kerry

1 posted on 09/02/2004 1:34:14 PM PDT by NorCoGOP
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: NorCoGOP

In Kerrys speech to Congress in 71 he even tries to sound like Kennedy. He tried to copy Kennedy by, went Navy, small boat unit so he could captain a craft, took his camera crew for documentation for future political hype,told others of his future presidential run, married into wealth etc, etc.


2 posted on 09/02/2004 1:45:08 PM PDT by Uncle George
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle George

Lets see what they dont have in common.

1. Kennedy did love America. He wasnt a Communist.
2. Kennedy never trashed his fellow servicemen.
3.Kennedy had a record in Congres, Kerry has one
too , but he cant mention it, its so bad.
4. I think John Kennedy knew Teddy was a fool and
wisely styayed away from him.
5. John Kennedy had a pretty wife.
6.Kennedy had a bad back no windsurfing for him
7 Kennedy went to Hollywood and got laid by Marilyn Monroe
Kerry got turned down by Morgan Fairchild with predjudice.


3 posted on 09/02/2004 2:10:32 PM PDT by sgtbono2002 (I aint wrong, I aint sorry , and I am probably going to do it again.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: NorCoGOP
But because John F. Kennedy is not alive today, he may be voting for Kerry.
4 posted on 09/02/2004 2:12:40 PM PDT by Verginius Rufus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NorCoGOP

BTTT


5 posted on 09/02/2004 2:35:29 PM PDT by EdReform (Support Free Republic - All donations are greatly appreciated. Thank you for your support!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NorCoGOP

I thought Kennedy horribly botched the Bay of Pigs, and then sent the first ground troops to Vietnam (14,000 troops?) thus making him the president who started that horrible war.


6 posted on 09/02/2004 3:10:24 PM PDT by tkathy (There will be no world peace until all thuggocracies are gone from the earth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson