Obama the New JFK?

Well, he's not noticeably a womaniser, hasn't brought us to within a hair's breadth of nuclear extinction, informed the populace of Germany that he's a doughnut, or had anyone attempt to kill him yet. So I'd say the similarities are pretty thin.

Obama is no JFK. Last time I checked gave American who actually pay taxes a tax cut. Last time I check JFK never put down his country, or its people. Last time I check JFK did not call his fellow man a bunch of bitter clingers, and he was embarrassed of them. Last time I checked JFK used warrant less wiretaps against the Mafia. 'I knew John Kennedy, and believe me, Obama is no John Kennedy would be a great line for McCain and would just get the Kennedy's all up in a fluster.

In a sense, Obama is the new JFK. First, you have to realize JFK was a terrible President. On the day before JFK was shot in Dallas TX, his popularity polls were so low Democratic leaders were wondering if he should run in 1964. Before being made a martyer, JFK was not respected by many. He was also at war with the CIA. We know how that turned out. Much of the internation crises JFK dealt with for which he is praised, such as the Cuban missile crises, only happened because the USSR leaders sensed he was incompetant and that they could get away things a strong leader would not allow. Yes, Obama is like JFK in some ways, and we don't need that.

I don't think stealing Lloyd Benson's line would be a bright idea. It would be kinda like having Bush tell us that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. (Wait a minute... that's the opposite of the Bush strategy!) Still, the right line has to come at the right time from the right person to have impact and it can't be rehashed. O'Bama IS charismatic and that seems to be a requirement for a candidate who is breaking historical barriers. If Kennedy hadn't been extremely charismatic, we would not have had our first Catholic president. Unfortunately, Hillary wasn't charismatic enough although she would probably have made a good president. We'll probably have to wait a long time for a woman to fill the bill but Obama might make it.

It is not a fair comparison. John Kennedy at least had leadership qualities and he stood firm against Cuba. I do not think Obama even comes close to the former president. I mean Obama is not in favor of off shore drilling in spite of his supposed change of mind and he wanted the gas prices to go sky high but not this soon. So I would have supposed once he got into office, he would have taken steps to raise the price of oil and gas even if it had not been up until it did reach $4.00 a gallon. So if he wants to echo Kennedy's "ask not what your country can do for you---" it is because he is forcing people to do more because they have to work harder to make a living, not like Kennedy who knew that many Americans could have gotten out of their homes and applied for jobs that were there and in abundance.

To me it's just a horrible comparison and insulting to the JFK. John F. Kennedy was a patriot who fought for this country. He served in the military and he had a solid record of experience with many great ideas for this country. Now I don't think he was a great president, but he was a great man. Obama has nothing even remotely similar to JFK's achievements prior to running for the presidency. Not to mention that John F. Kennedy was well known for saying "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country". Obama on the other hand is all about having the government baby our citizens rather than support people taking an active role in bettering our country. Obama also agreed to disenfranchise millions of voters in the primaries. I can't imagine Kennedy ever supporting such a disregard for voting rights.

I would say this only goes as far as his popularity and ability to speak well and move a crowd. In terms of philosophy and principal, he is about as far from JFK as you can get. With out detailing line by line, JFK was a far more moderate democrat of old school. Obama is far more to the left and all one need sot do is a line by line comparison to quickly see this.