It's Official: Obama is the JFK Candidate

[illinoisprogressive]

Barack Obama today was officially annointed as the next John F. Kennedy by the most devout keeper of the assassinated president's legacy, Theodore Sorensen.

In a New Republic article that just went online, the 79-year-old Sorensen walks through what he sees as the many parallels between the man he served as a loyal aide and the current Democratic presidential candidate. These range from issues ("On foreign policy," Sorensen writes, "both emphasized the importance of multilateral democracy, national strength as a guardian of peace, and the need to restore America's global standing, moral authority and leadership,") to the biographical (both "gained national acclaim through their best-selling inspirational books" -- Kennedy's "Profiles in Courage" and Obama's "The Audacity of Hope").

Sorensen also sees similarities in the contours of 1960's political landscape and the one Obama is navigating. "Most of Kennedy's opponents, like Obama's, were fellow senators -- (Lyndon) Johnson, (Hubert) Humphrey and (Stuart) Symington -- who initially dismissed him as neither a powerhouse on the Senate floor nor a member of their inner circle. That mattered not to the voters; nor does it today."

True enough, but we detect the dangers of overselling historical analogies in this latter point. On any number of fronts -- their institutional strength throughout the Democratic Party, their appeal to the rank-and-file, their organizational skills -- the trio of Johnson, Humphrey and Symington paled in comparison to the opponent Obama must overcome, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2007/07/the-jfk-compars.html

[David Dunham]

1. HRC will defeat Obama in every state except Illinois

[William769]

2. She's within the MOE there right now. NT.

[madame defarge]

3. Bullshit.

[calteacherguy]

5. Hubris. nt

[Ethelk2044]

4. I like the similarities

[illinoisprogressive]

6. the people in that circle have said the same as Sorenson about Obama

and Teddy Kennedy had Obama for dinner a while back.

[here_is_to_hope]

23. Mmmmm..Obama and some

"fava beans"....:evilgrin:
Sorry, couldnt help myself.

[OHdem10]

7. Unless something gigantic happens, Hillary will maintain

her lead.

[LittleClarkie]

8. That's what my conservative friend calls him as well

My conservative friend liked JFK, so I think he can picture himself voting for Obama.

[napi21]

9. I don't agree with that comparrison. Do any of you even remember JFK?

Now, I understand why JFK was better. He was raised in a family of a long line of politicians. He knew very well how to handle his opponents and his responses werw quick, calm, and concise.

I'm not putting Obama down. He's a good speaker, and he is truthful. That's important. However it can also get him into trouble. WE understand what he was talking about in that speech to Planned Parenthood, but what he said is something someone with more public experience wouldn't have said.

I don't think this small episode is going to hurt him very much, and it's not going to be long lasting, but it's silly mistakes like that that give a candidate the experience necesary to survive a national campaign.

[lastknowngood]

10. Bullshit! Someone needs to get back on their meds.

Those of us who remember that Obama ran as a progressive but turned into just another good ole boy after he was elected and started voting with the "centrist" as soon as he got to the Senate. I remember seeing him sucking up to the shrub on the floor of the senate after one of the shrubs state of the disunion speeches so pardon me but I was alive when the real JFK was president and Obama is not even a hair on JFK's ass.

[maximusveritas]

17. "I was alive when the real JFK was president" - Hillarious

Do you even know who Ted Sorensen is? I may disagree with him on this, but I'm not stupid enough to pretend I'm more qualified than he is to make this judgement just because I was alive when JFK was President.

[Dinger]

11. There May Be Similarities, But There Will Never Be Another JFK

Besides that, Obama is his own man.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

12. "Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."

I am glad it is "official" now. :rofl: Next: confirmation that Obama is the Second Coming of Lincoln.

[Colobo]

13. Viva Obama!

[Cameron27]

14. I don't really see it, but I've never heard Sorensen

compare anyone else to JFK, so it's quite a compliment.

[durrrty libby]

15. "It's Official: Obama is the JFK Candidate"

It's official: Delusions of Grandeur ......

very serious symptom, not to be taken lightly :dunce:

[NCarolinawoman]

16. The big difference was that Ike didn't leave his country in shambles.

From what I hear, a lot of people were feeling pretty good and optimistic about their country back then. For that reason, I believe voters felt they had the luxury to take a chance on a person of comparative inexperience.

I think Obama should just be allowed to be Obama. We seam to always be looking for another JFK or RFK, just like the Republicans are still craving another Ronald Reagan.

[illinoisprogressive]

18. HRC can be the Bush Candidate. so much alike

[draft_mario_cuomo]

20. In what ways? nt

[William769]

21. Thats known as a hit & run tactic.

Now tell me who's taking after the right?

[draft_mario_cuomo]

19. Has Ted Kennedy endorsed the "official" JFK candidate? nt

[mopinko]

22. does it get any dumber than this?

oy. you should be embarrassed for your candidate if this is the kind of thing they want voters decisions to be based on.