Posted on 07/03/2017 11:31:39 AM PDT by detective
John F. Kennedy lowered taxes, opposed abortion, supported gun rights, and believed in a strong military. And he was a proud Democrat. But would he be one today? Author and talk show host Larry Elder explains.
(Excerpt) Read more at frontpagemag.com ...
JFK for all his flaws was a nationalist who loved his country. He would find no home in today’s Democrat party.
No one was talking in public about abortion until about 1966. It makes no sense to bring up abortion in connection with JFK—i.e., as a political matter.
JFK was a self centered, disease ridden, drug addled amoral philanderer who made good speeches and had great hair. His daddy bribed his way into the Navy and then Jack managed to get his PT Boat sliced in two in the dark by a Japanese destroyer. There’s plenty more about him, and it ain’t pretty.
He was a good swimmer. From what I know, all the Kennedy’s were good swimmers.
No, it's more likely that some folks feel like being contrary and obtuse, rather than give a thoughtful reply.
In my opinion, any politician today who espouses the same policy positions and ideology that JFK once did, would have a tough time being accepted by the GOPe (they'd peg him as not "moderate" enough) and would be treated with outright hostility by the current Democrats. Such a politician might still manage to get elected in a deep red state, but not the "toss-up" states or Establishment strongholds.
It's a good example of how far left the Uniparty has dragged this country.
From what I've seen, today's crop of Democrats is much more careful about making supportive statements when the topic of Jack Kennedy comes up.
“It’s amazing the confusion about JFK. The guy was a Leftist in training. He began as so many early, equivocal Leftists do - using common sense like lowered taxes, opposed abortion, supported gun rights, and believed in a strong military. But that was only because those things were convenient and could get him elected.”
JFK was never a leftist in any way.
Despite the popularity of socialism and communism in the Ivy League Universities when JFK attended and in England during his youth JFK was never attracted to leftist groups or ideology. Unlike a great many of his contemporaries, JFK never was taken in by the leftists.
JFK also opposed the leftists in the Democratic Party. He was close friends with Senator Joe McCarthy and agreed with McCarthy’s anti-communist positions. Joe McCarthy was invited many times to the Kennedy home and was a frequent visitor. JFK’s sisters dated Joe McCarthy and RFK worked for him.
JFK often clashed with the leftists and progressives in the Democrat Party in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s.
JFK was strongly opposed by the liberal wing of the Democrat Party. Stevenson, Humphrey, Eleanor Roosevelt and most other liberals strongly opposed Kennedy.
JFK was pro business and strongly anti-communist.
His tax cut was the first major tax cut in decades and was often cited as an example of supply side economics before its time.
JFK was a lifetime member of the NRA and strongly pro Second Amendment.
Kennedy’s personal life has been criticized but his policies were very conservative.
“There are no longer any Democrats who stances on the issues align with JFK’s”
That is true.
If JFK were in politics today he would be considered a right wing Republican.
You cannot measure him by today’s standards ... today’s standards did not exist during JFK’s reign. I’m 75, sick to see “today’s standards.”
Kennedy had a lot to do with getting us into Vietnam.
Which would make him an enemy of the NeoCon nutjobs as well.
Look up his advisors -- McNamara, Rostow, the Bundies -- they would have fit in very well with Bush and Cheney.
The question of what any politician from the past would be if they were alive today usually involves treating them as if they were dead, that is to say, as if they'd made up their mind all those years ago and nothing going on today would make them change their opinions.
"JFK" just wouldn't exist today. I mean, a politician like Kennedy, somebody with his experience, opinions, and power base, just wouldn't rise to the top of the Democratic party.
And if the historical Kennedy had survived to 100, chances are he would have followed his party, his state, and his family leftwards. JFK looks like some kind of maverick now because he was killed at a comparatively young age before his party moved to the left, but he really wasn't independent-minded enough to go in the opposite direction from his family, state, and party, or even to hold his ground.
“By all accounts, JFK was not all that bright and utterly UNPREPARED FOR THE JOB!”
JFK was very intelligent and a very skillful campaigner and politician.
There are many children whose wealthy, influential parents who tried to get them elected to national political office.
Almost all failed.
Also, Joe Sr. was extremely unpopular in the Democrat Party and with the American people.
FDR had fired him and Joe Sr. was widely accused of being a Nazi sympathizer and appeaser during WWII. Joe Sr. was in many ways a negative for JFK. But he did finance JFK’s political career.
“You cannot measure him by today’s standards”
I am not “measuring him by today’s standards.”
I am simply pointing out that JFK’s policies and positions would today be considered very right wing.
JFK was a CLASSICAL LIBERAL:
Classical liberalism is a political ideology, a branch of liberalism which advocates civil liberties under the rule of law with an emphasis on economic freedom. It is closely related to libertarianism and to free market capitalism.[1][2]
Classical liberalism developed in the early 19th century, building on ideas from the previous century.
It was a response to urbanization, and to the Industrial Revolution in Europe and the United States.[3] Notable individuals whose ideas contributed to classical liberalism include John Locke,[4] Jean-Baptiste Say, Thomas Malthus and David Ricardo. Far from the Modern day Liberal/Progs.
It drew on the economics of Adam Smith and on a belief in natural law,[5] utilitarianism[6] and progress. However I am amused by those here BASHING HIM and were not even around than. HEH HEH
ORLY, I know I was there: http://bostonreview.net/us/galbraith-exit-strategy-vietnam
So just QUIT IT. LBJ was the one that continued the war, it was the FRENCH that started it. SHEESH. You would do better to quit your ad hominem attacks, it does not become You!
Why are you so angry. Were you on PT109? he ran his own PT boat aground? Did you even serve. QUIT IT. For his courage and leadership, Kennedy was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, and injuries suffered during the incident also qualified him for a Purple Heart. Ensign Leonard Thom also received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. But for John F. Kennedy, the consequences of the event were more far-reaching than simple decorations. Lets see YOUR decorations.
“JFK was a CLASSICAL LIBERAL:
Classical liberalism is a political ideology, a branch of liberalism which advocates civil liberties under the rule of law with an emphasis on economic freedom. It is closely related to libertarianism and to free market capitalism.[1][2]
Classical liberalism developed in the early 19th century, building on ideas from the previous century.”
Classical liberalism was actually a political philosophy from the 18th Century that greatly influenced the founding fathers and the creation of the U.S. Constitution. It was responsible for the enormous prosperity in Great Britain, the United States and western Europe in the 18th, 19th and 20th Centuries.
Classic liberals such as John Locke, Adam Smith, Charles Montesquieu and others developed the philosophy of individual rights, individual responsibilities and a government of limited powers. The United States was the first time their philosophy was put into practice.
Classic liberals disagree with everything current liberals and leftists argue for.
Leftists simply stole their name. Norman Thomas, the head of the Socialist Party, said, “The American people will never knowingly adopt Socialism. But under the name of “liberalism” they will adopt every fragment of the Socialist program, until one day America will be a Socialist nation, without knowing how it happened.”
Leftists and socialists used the name liberal to describe their policies which were completely different from those of the classic liberals.
The classic liberal policies are considered conservative or right wing today.
“Nobody, especially YOU know what JFK would be, today...besides DEAD. ;^)”
That would make him a democrat for sure.
Thanks for your comments. You are very knowledgeable about history and classical liberalism.
Nevertheless, we never saw the end result of the equivocal, vacillating, double-minded JFK. The JFK that couldn't figure out what to do about Khrushchev, Castro, and Cuba. The Kennedy that vacillated even while he got us into the Vietnam War without a winning strategy or goal. His only anchor was a belief in government because he was raised to believe in government, like his brothers.
There are other Democrats who didn't start out so clearly Leftist. Teddy Kennedy for example. It took time for him to ramp up, but he turned one the most destructive federal officials ever.
The prospect of a Kennedy dynasty if JFK and RFK had survived is a truly freighting scenario in retrospect. I believe Teddy Kennedy showed us where JFK & RFK were headed.
What do our opponents mean when they apply to us the label “Liberal?”…[I]f 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.” — John F. Kennedy, September 14, 1960
https://www.jfklibrary.org/Research/Research-Aids/JFK-Speeches/Liberal-Party-Nomination-NYC_19600914.aspx
JFK's voting record in Congress regarding proposed federal government activity:
- supported unconstitutional civil rights,
- supported unconstitutional labor rights,
- supported unconstitutional federal aid to education,
- supported unconstitutional public housing,
- supported foreign aid,
- supported unconstitutional minimum-wage increases,
- supported unconstitutional extensions of unemployment insurance,
- supported unconstitutional Social Security expansion
https://www.jfklibrary.org/Research/Research-Aids/Ready-Reference/JFK-Fast-Facts/Voting-Record-and-Stands-on-Issues.aspx
After his election JFK tried but failed to get medicare passed. Government interference with healthcare has long been known as the gateway to socialism.
His moral disasters didn't end with his endless adulteries and sexual dalliances. There is strong evidence of JFK and RFK's involvement with the rackets and the murder of Marilyn Monroe.
No, JFK was a preview of coming attractions of the likes of Clinton who many say also had "conservative" policies, but was in fact another equivocal leftist socialist.
JFK would be part of the McCain branch of the RINO Party..
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