Stop calling JFK conservative: The right’s favorite new lie is filled with historical flaws [View all]
The right's embrace of JFK is filled with historical flaws on taxes and abortion -- and ignores his real record
BY PAUL ROSENBERG
Conservatives have two favorite ways to deal with liberals. The first, Plan A, is to slander and demonize them. It was part of Rick Santorums shtick, for example, to blast John F. Kennedy for supposedly kicking religion out of public life or at least getting the ball rolling. As he told ABCs George Stephanopoulos early in 2012, Kennedy for the first time articulated the vision saying, no, faith is not allowed in the public square. I will keep it separate. Go on and read the speech I will have nothing to do with faith. I wont consult with people of faith.Of course Santorum was lying about what Kennedy said in his famous Houston speech on separation of church and state, where he allayed Protestant fears that he would rule as an agent of the Vatican, rather than simply as an American citizen.
But it wasnt just Kennedys own words that refuted Santorums claim. More important, as I explained in a column for Al Jazeera English, Kennedy refuted Santorums slander with his actions as well:
Kennedy never shunned religious leaders. To the contrary, on June 17, 1963, just two days before he introduced the Civil Rights Act (passed after his death), Kennedy met with a delegation of 250 religious leaders to discuss the issue. The meeting was held in the East Room of White House and Kennedy arranged for a follow-up process as well. What he did not do was take religious instructions, as opposed to exchanging ideas and opinions.
So much for conservatives Plan A slandering JFK. Now conservatives are trying Plan B pretending that Kennedy was actually a conservative all along, just in time for the 50th anniversary of his assassination. Theyve tried this repeatedly with Dr. Martin Luther King, but they never get any traction outside of the Fox News crowd though not for lack of trying. Now theyre going after Kennedy as well, lead by Ira Stoll and his new book, JFK, Conservative.
full article
http://www.salon.com/2013/11/03/stop_calling_jfk_conservative_the_rights_favorite_new_lie_is_filled_with_historical_flaws/