What JFK Might Tell Our Leaders

Reposted as history. Originally posted in May of 2005.

By Theodore C. Sorensen - May 28, 2005 - The Boston Globe

TOMORROW WOULD have been John F. Kennedy's 88th birthday. Were he still alive, I have no doubt that, with his customary idealism and commitment to country, he would still be offering advice to our current leaders in Washington. Based upon his words of more than 40 years ago, he might well offer the following:

To President George W. Bush on Iraq, Iran, and North Korea: ''The United States, as the world knows, will never start a war. This generation of Americans has had enough -- more than enough -- of war." (American University commencement, 1963)

[Kennedy, the man who kept missiles out of Cuba, would not have failed to note the war against us went on for 20 years before we retaliated. Starting a battle does not constitute starting a war. Kennedy would not have ignored 9/11.]

To President Bush on stem cell research: ''For those of us who are not expert ... we must turn, in the last resort, to objective, disinterested scientists who bring a strong sense of public responsibility and public obligation." (National Academy of Sciences, 1961)

[People who advocate the taking of human life for research are not objective, disinterested scientists. Opposing the spending of tax dollars while allowing private funds to continue to be spent is certainly more responsible than forcing people who hate abortion to have their tax dollars directed to something that they consider anathema.]

To Vice President Dick Cheney on international organizations, alliances, and consultations: ''The United States is neither omnipotent nor omniscient. We are only 6 percent of the world's population . . . we cannot impose our will upon the other 94 percent of mankind." (University of Washington, 1961)

[Multilateral for democrats means Russia, Cuba and France support us. Multilateral for Republicans means England, Poland and Australia support us. Notice anything significant about the character of nations the democrats admire? How much arrogance does it take to still insist that if no socialist states support us it is not multilateral?]

Sorenson and the rest of the Left are re-writing history. The bold entries are my responses to his bizarre accusations. As they have done with FDR, the left has abandoned Kennedy's principles and taken certain quotes out of context. They misconstrue the world we live in to support their new socialist principals (principals that Kennedy never espoused). In every case it is proof of their anti-Americanism.

I will not bother to answer all of Sorenson's attacks. I am simply amazed that his open admiration for socialism does not ever hamper his insistence the Left are not socialists.