Would JFK Be a Democrat Today?
I’ve always considered myself a Democrat in terms of party preference. I came to that position in the context of the ideas and policies of people like John F. Kennedy and other liberals and Democrats of that era (such as Daniel Patrick Moynihan). But when I think about today’s Democratic Party, including many of the people who speak for it and the ideology and policies they favor, I have to wonder what happened over the past couple of decades. I have to wonder if JFK himself would be a Democrat today.
As a Democrat, I believe that society, meaning government, has a responsibility to help the less fortunate; all men and women should have equal rights and equal opportunity; government should operate with maximum openness and transparency; capitalism and the free market are the best economic system, but business must be reasonably regulated and controlled to protect the people; taxes are required to fund the operations of an effective and efficient government, although under the right circumstances lower taxes can produce greater revenue; progressive taxation that places more burden on those who earn higher incomes is necessary and proper; and constitutional and human rights must be respected and protected by government.
I’m also pro-choice, in favor of gun control, against the death penalty, tolerant of gay marriage, indifferent to sexual orientations, opposed to censorship, insistent on absolute freedom of speech, and against mixing religion and government.
I believe we should be strong in defense of our nation and our values, which includes maintaining strong armed forces. We should never shrink from challenges overseas, employing force wisely but as necessary to protect our interests and those of our allies.
JFK most likely would have agreed with everything I just said, with the exception that he may have been pro-life because of his Catholic beliefs.
The difference between then and now is the degree to which Democrats pursue these principles and the way they do it. The primary voice of the Party seems to come mostly from the far left. There’s no longer much room for compromise, the extremes of every principle are pursued to the maximum, and those who disagree are viciously attacked.
Would JFK be a Democrat today? I think he would find it difficult. Or maybe with more leaders like him, the Party itself would be different.
I say none of this with reference to the Republican Party. They have their own strengths, failings, and problems. But I’m not one of them, so it doesn’t bother me so much. What does bother me is the current state of the Democratic Party. I haven’t left it, but more and more it seems to have left me.
I was motivated in part to write this article by a Jeff Jacoby column in The Boston Globe, ‘Kennedy’ once meant ‘tax cutter’. It’s worth reading.
(This article was also posted at Opinion Forum.)
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“JFK would be a libertarian”
That is even more patently absurd than the notion he would not be a democrat. He supported a 25% hike in the minimum wage and the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1960, an all out push for Medicare in 1962 and many other programs aimed at worker protection and poverty eradication. He supported civil rights legislation.
Yes- he cut the highest marginal rate from 91% to 70%. But that in no way supports the notion that he would support the current rates- which are half- the elimination of things like the ECIC, or a flat rate. Moreover- the reason he cut the rates was because he was Keynesian. He was not a supply sider. Lets get clear on who JFK was. This notion is tripe.
http://www.nationalcenter.org/JFKTaxes1961.html
“JFK would be a libertarian”
That is even more patently absurd than the notion he would not be a democrat. He supported a 25% hike in the minimum wage and the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1960, an all out push for Medicare in 1962 and many other programs aimed at worker protection and poverty eradication. He supported civil rights legislation.
Yes- he cut the highest marginal rate from 91% to 70%. But that in no way supports the notion that he would support the current rates- which are half- the elimination of things like the ECIC, or a flat rate. Moreover- the reason he cut the rates was because he was Keynesian. He was not a supply sider. Lets get clear on who JFK was. This notion is tripe.
http://www.nationalcenter.org/JFKTaxes1961.html
JFK would be a libertarian
I am in the same position. My family had been Democrat up until the 2000’s. I left the party because I cannot agree with how far left they have become. I also have a hard time believing that Kennedy would fit in, I mean just look how far Obama has gone to force his healthcare plan on us all? While I now register with the Independents, I am very much for Kennedy’s policies.
i mean im 46 years old(sorry for the error that i made)
jfk was a democrat,is a democrat and well be a democrat jfk was the man of peace he gave his life to save america from a nuclear war zone he was the man of honnor and that makes him my hero kids in 46 years old and listen to me jfk was the best president and the best democrat america ever had
JFK was not especially liberal by the then standards of the Democratic Party. Adlai Stevenson would have been perceived as more liberal. In fact Hubert Humphrey would been seen as Kennedy’s “liberal” opponent in the1960 primaries. Coming into the 1960 election JFK was something of hawk on defense and with a low profile on civil rights. I think is true to say that his views started to evolve during his presidency and a recognition of him of the changing times. How is would have all turned out it something that we will never know.
Today he would have been considered a conservative, even though Liberals would never admit to it. Remember his famous quote: Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” Today’s liberals are about entitlements and what the government can do for the poor, instead of letting the free market decide. They fundamentally a different view of the world as past Democrats did. They have socialist like tendencies through and through. The facts prove it.
JFK presidency was short lived but he did leave certain legacies. He was a fiscal conservative, enacting the largest tax cut up until that time, was a big proponent of the free market opposed to more statist policies, favored balanced budgets and as well favoring more job creation than increases in welfare. He was a neoconservative when it came to foreign policy. His strong stance against communists, Cuba especially with the Bay of Pig and the Cuban Missile Crisis and very notably with Vietnam. He had many speeches about spreading freedom and democracy abroad and securing America at cost which is the neocon mantra. When it came to social issues he was more of a moderate, his Christian faith though led the way, being against abortion, pro-family among others which today would be classified as ‘very conservative’.
Literally everything he said defines him as a liberal… I have no I idea why you think he sounds like Ron Paul?
When you explained who you believe you are and what you’re for; you sound like you would agree / side with Ron Paul on almost everything. That seems to be nothing like a Democrat and a little bit more like a Libertarian / Original Republican (I believe that the Republicans have changed a lot too from their original views.)