JFK Definition of a liberal

[DeeDeeNY]

This never gets old:

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."


http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/presidents/35_kennedy/psources/ps_nyliberal.html

[Peace Patriot]

1. "...someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions

that grip us in our policies abroad...".

Wow!

And that outlook, which is not exactly conducive to war profiteering, is probably what got him killed.

[abburdlen]

2. Can you imagine

any of our current candidates proudly labeling themselves as liberals
corporate media would have a field day.

[Totally Committed]

3. I have a very soft spot in my heart for this speech.

It was absolutely formative to my political identity and belief system. After this speech, I never had to wonder how to describe who or what I was, politically. I never had to search for a word to describe myself, politically. It made me proud to say I was a Liberal, and I never lost that pride, even when the Republicans decided to make that word and ugly slur. Whenever I was called a "Liberal", even if it was derisively, I always held my head up high, and proudly owned up to it. And, I was proud to defend that word whenever I had to.

To this day, I always say, I am a loud, proud, old-fashioned, Left-Wing LIBERAL. And, this speech was one of the moments in time that gave me that pride.

Viva, all you LIBERALS! You are the heart and the soul of the Democratic Party I always envisioned belonging to, and building.

TC

[DeeDeeNY]

4. Exactly

Democrats should not be afraid of the word "liberal" and should never have let Republicans change the connotation to something ugly.
Bobby Kennedy Jr. often mentions on his radio show that when he travels around the country speaking and there are conservative audiences, it almost always turns out that they have to admit they actually have liberal values but didn't realize this because they had a distorted perception of what liberals stand for.

[Totally Committed]

5. The RW extremists' version of what "LIberal" stands for has been jammed down the

throats of the Republican rank and file, and the American public skillfully and thoroughly. There are even those who say they are in our Party who deride us for our views. It will take a lot of doing, but I believe we can turn that perception around, and maybe drive those trying to turn this Party conservative out. Maybe.

I just know I will never back away from this description for anyone or anything.

TC

[CTyankee]

6. Have you read "The Missile Crisis" by Elie Abel. It's an old book

but I ran across it in my husband's political library and read it while I was recuperating from surgery. The book is wonderful, gripping even. As one who lived through the missile crisis (in absolute terror as I was a young mother at the time), I was interested in seeing how things played out.

JFK was masterly in his handling of the situation. He covered all his bases in gaining support for a blocade, even calling it "preventive quarantine" (using the term "blocade" is considered an act of war) on any ship carrying missile weaponry. He sought support on a regional basis with South American countries in the OAS, the UN with a nervous U Thant, and our Western allies (Britain, France, Italy, W. Germany, etc)
by sending just the right person as personal envoys of the President of the United States. And with the reconaissance photos to back up our claim. He knew he needed the free world's support, he was unafraid to use some of the U.S. military power by calling out the U.S. Navy, but was restrained yet firm in his approach.

AFter reading that book, I was sadder than ever at the sorry excuse we have for a president. JFK called in advisors who knew something about every aspect of the situation (military, international lawyers, Harvard intellectuals, diplomats, people knowledgeable in their fields. I have new respect for JFK and nothing but despair for our current mess.

[matt819]

7. A Liberal is a conservative who's lost his health insurance - nt

[Perry Logan]

8. Doesn't this make most children in America liberals?