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.