If Obama Was Really Like JFK He Would Have Voted For the Iraq War

[MethuenProgressive]

http://www.taylormarsh.com/archives_view.php?id=26893
Taylor Marsh writes on the Obama/Kennedy comparison
Obama Would Have Voted For the Iraq War

Like John F. Kennedy, there can be no doubt that Barack Obama's rhetorical talents are inspiring and uplifting. But on experience, Obama doesn't measure up by half, if you only take in Kennedy's travels alone. The war hero aspect is another, especially Kennedy's deep skepticism about top military leaders at the time, which he witnessed first hand. Obama's military knowledge is miniscule in comparison. But there is one similarity that should give anyone pause moving forward. John F. Kennedy was a hawk through and through. Now, as I've said before, I don't think J.F.K. would have opted for preemptive war on Iraq, though he was clearly not squeamish about regime change. It just didn't have enough in it for the U.S. In fact, I don't think Clinton, Obama or Edwards or any other Democrat would have chosen preemptive war with Iraq either. However, what would J.F.K. have done as a senator presented with the AUMF on Iraq is another question entirely. This really gets to why I think giving Obama any credit beyond his 2002 speech is not only silly, but ignores Obama's record and the facts.

With Obama's Iraq votes mimicking Senator Clinton's one for one, minus one, General Casey for Chief of the Army, Obama says he would have voted no on the war if he'd been a senator. But is his 2002 speech evidence enough that would have been the case? If we take the J.F.K. analogy forward, I can tell you unequivocally, as I've said before, that if Kennedy had been in the Senate there is no way he would have voted against the force resolution on Iraq. His dad would have warned him that it would be political suicide for someone wanting to run for president. If you want to talk about the Kennedy who would have voted against the war resolution that would have been Bobby.
After studying John F. Kennedy for decades, this is an easy conclusion. Because first and foremost, John F. Kennedy was a brilliant, calculating politician. In 2002, if you remember the climate, the pressure on Democrats was intense. After 9/11, they all caved to the possibility of being accused of the "soft" label. This climate would not have gone unnoticed by J.F.K., and he would have made his calculations accordingly. He likely would have joined them, if only on looking forward to running for president.

Looking only rhetoric deep at any politician is dangerous. Romanticizing them is too. When looking at Mr. Obama's record, given his lack of experience, especially when compared to Kennedy who was also an unabashed Cold War hawk, which met the times, it should give everyone pause when drawing comparisons. Because if Obama had met the times in 2002 as a senator, there's no reason, given his record, to believe he'd voted differently from Clinton, Edwards, Kerry and even Joe Biden. Obama would have opted for calculation. John F. Kennedy would have too.

I personally think comparing the amazingly short and shallow record of Obama with that of Jack Kennedy is ludicrous.

[mod mom]

1. so says discredited Clinton shill Taylor Marsh. I believe JFK would have looked

at what experts were saying.

[MethuenProgressive]

3. "any media member who doesn't worship BO is a 'discredited Clinton shill' - The New Obama Chant?

Will it replace "Vote Foe ME! Hope I'll Change!"?

[mod mom]

6. LYING Clinton Hack Taylor Marsh Exposed by Las Vegas Sun:

Lying Clinton hack, Taylor Marsh, exposed by Las Vegas Sun
by Bob Johnson

Marsh has lied many times this primary season, including:
Claiming, falsely, that Oprah Winfrey is anti-union and runs a non-union shop (right before Winfrey and Obama embarked on their three-state tour), adding her own false, nasty, ugly spin:
This has been under wraps for a long time. Nobody has ever questioned the queen of talk, because she's always flown underneath the radar. Not anymore. This from a woman who makes billions while freezing out unions on her show. As I've said before, scrutiny sucks.
Suggesting that Obama attacked Gore in Iowa, a lie which Clinton backers spread across the Web and which was easily debunked. (She also claimed in this post that Obama attacked Kerry. He didn't, of course, and Kerry endorsed Obama last week.)
Spending two days pushing the blatant lie that the Obama campaign played a misogynistic song at its Iowa victory party including adding her own, vile twist to the lie:
Barack Obama had just won Iowa. He was triumphant. Exultant. It was time to party.
So into a victory party Mr. and Mrs. Barack Obama saunter. Guess what was blasting away? Jay-Z's 99 problems.
Problem was, she was lying. Again. Her story was debunked, but that didn't stop her from spreading it again the next day.
-snip

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1/18/25812/2147/708/438638

[MethuenProgressive]

12. The Anti-Clinton, Pro-Obama Daily Kos, is not the Las Vegas Sun.

"It must be true! I read it on kos!"
:rofl:

[mod mom]

24. Las Vegas Sun: Following Up the Paris Las Vegas Incident (Calls out Taylor Marsh)

Following up the Paris Las Vegas incident
By Michael Mishak · January 17, 2008 · 5:08 PM
-snip

The situation is not as black and white as liberal blogger Taylor Marsh says it is. Marsh did not respond to an e-mail seeking an interview. Here are some questions the Sun sought to ask her.
1) Marsh did not identify the eyewitness to the Paris incident as a Clinton supporter. Why not?
2) Marsh did not include any interview with the actual alleged victim, Sylvia Antuna. Why not? In an interview with the Sun, Antuna said the incident may have been more misunderstanding than intimidation.
3) Did Marsh attempt to reach the Culinary Union to get its response to the allegation? If not, why not?
4) Last year, Marsh accepted money from the Association of Federal, State, City and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), to blog at a Democratic event. AFSCME has endorsed Clinton and is a longtime ally of the Clinton family. Has Marsh taken payment from AFSCME recently? If so, how much?

http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/early-line/2008/jan/17/following-paris-las-vegas-incident/

[baldguy]

2. So, what you're saying is Obama is smarter than JFK.

[MethuenProgressive]

5. The Obamas are claiming that, too?

I doubt many of them could even spell JFK.

[baldguy]

23. Can you read? I didn't post this story - you did.

We need smart people - people to make the correct choices the first time - to help us dig out of the mess the Bush Regime has intensionally created.

Experience doesn't make you smart.

As we learn more about the crimes this regime has committed in our name in Iraq - the obvious SMART choice would have been AND STILL IS to vote against the Iraq War. People with all the experience in the world, given the "evidence" presented by the lying Bush Regime for the invasion, and still voted for it ARE NOT SMART! And it would be foolhardy to put them in charge.

[Avalux]

4. Taylor Marsh is a loon.

Apparently she isn't worried about being taken seriously because she continues write hit piece after hit piece out about Obama. This one really takes the cake; dragging JFK into it.

[MethuenProgressive]

7. Naught for nothing, but you say Marsh "dragged JFK into it"?

She's commenting on all the "Obama is the new JFK" hysteria.
JFK was "dragged into it" before she commented on it.

[Avalux]

10. That doesn't mean she had to go where she did.

I don't care who you support, she's way out in the stratosphere making such ridiculous assumptions.

[MethuenProgressive]

16. The "ridiculous assumption" is that Obama = JFK.

ymmv

[Avalux]

17. LOL - that's not what we're discussing here.

You are entitled to your ridiculous opinions, of course.

[MethuenProgressive]

19. That's exactly what the OP is discussing.

[alcibiades_mystery]

18. "naught for nothing"

Well aren't we very hoity-toity! "Naught for nothing!" Here I thought we were just using street slang growing up when we said "not for nothin'," but apparently people go around saying - ahem - "naught for nothing." My, my, your majesty! You'll get me going will he nil he!

That's fucking great...:rofl:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=not+for+nothing

[WinkyDink]

8. Let's all pretend we know what any dead person "would have" done. It's easy-peasy!

[JVS]

9. Hitler would have voted for war.

[JVS]

11. -1

[alcibiades_mystery]

13. You support the Iraq War?

:shrug:

[OHdem10]

14. When the dust settles, Tayor March is correct. and

a lot TV Media will have respect they never regain.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

15. JFK would have gone after the correct enemy

instead Bush decided to invade Iraq which had nothing to do with 9/11. At the time the cold war was real. JFK was not stupid.

[Robbins]

20. Kennedy

Let's remember Ted Kennedy voted against going to war In iraq,and has been one of the strongest
opporents of the Iraq War.I think JFk's only surviving brother knows him better.

[dionysus]

21. more garbage from that crazy hack...

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

22. If JFK had voted for the Iraq war, then he would have been wrong too.

[MethuenProgressive]

25. Kick for SOTU night