Why do conservatives like to claim JFK as one of their own?

Question

If a Dem proposed one half of the type of legislation JFK passed/proposed, Republicans would label him a socialist. By the way, JFK never signed a tax cut into law. It was signed by LBJ in 1964 and the cut was next to nonexistent. There was not even a drop in tax reciepts. Tax receipts took huge dives under Reagan and Bush Jr's tax cuts on the other hand.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2007/sheets/hist01z3.xls

- JFK was endorsed by the New York Liberal Party for president. In the acceptance speech he details why he is a liberal.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/presidents/35_kennedy/psources/ps_nyliberal.html

- He was a strong supporter of the separation of church and state.
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/40/story_4080_1.html

- He declared war against the "common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself" in his 1961 inaguration speech.
http://www.jfk-info.com/jfkinaug.htm

Liberal New Frontier social programs
http://www.answers.com/topic/new-frontie

Answer 1

As usual, the poor things are delusional and misinformed. I think prayer may help, though I fear most of them are damned as hypocrites, all the same.

Answer 2

Interesting... I'm a Republican / Conservative and have NEVER considered President Kennedy as "one of my own" !!

I learned young and early that he was a drug-addict, serial adulterer, tied to the mob, and and elitist leftist.

He left the Cuban freedom-fighters sitting on the beach without the promised support... and led us into Vietnam.

Okay he was a great speaker... got good advice and guidance during The Cuban Missile. I'll also give 'props' for the Peace Corps...

Answer 3

JFK lowered the capital gains tax. As for tax receipts going down under reagans and W's tax cuts, you need to read the news a little more. It was juts in the news a few days ago that the deficit went down (not due to cost cuts....which we desperately need btw) but because tax receipts were going up faster tahn the spending....it's Econ 101 dude....get to college and take some real course work, then get back to us.

Answer 4

Because JFK could never get nominated by today's Dimocrats. He cut taxes. He was stronger in terms of defense. He's wasn't a left wing nut job. The only thing he has in common with today's Democrats is the affair.

Answer 5

I wasn't aware that conservative claimed JFK, they merely say he had nothing in common with the liberals of today, which is true in many respects as well. Conservatives are for the separation of church and state, as you may note in the speeches you link, JFK always referred to the "Almighty God". Conservatives merely want it not to be illegal to mention your religous beliefs. That was not a controversy in the 60's. He was also a military hardball player, "any attack on the US will result in a complete retaliatory response".

Answer 6

First let me answer the clueless. I repeat, JFK never signed that tax cut into law. The tax cut was signed by LBJ in 1964 and the cut was next to nonexistent. Tax receipts never even went down. Tax receipts took huge dives immediately after Reagan's and Bush Jr's tax cuts because they were much larger. Plot tax receipts versus time to see for yourself.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2007/hist.html

JFK CONTINUED:

- He created the Peace Corps to help developing nations on education, farming, health care, and construction. Today's cons make fun of Kucinish for wanting to create the Peace Department.

- He created the Alliance for Progress that promised 20 billion within one decade for developing nations in central and southern America on the condition that they create progressive economic policies that included democratic governments (no coup d'etats), land reform, a more equitable income distribution, and taxing "those who have most." He said, "those who make peaceful revolution impossible, make violent revolution inevitable."

- He did not pre-emptively attack Cuba over the Cuban Missile Crisis which could have resulted in a nuclear war. Instead, he negotiated with the Soviet Union and got the ballistic missiles removed in exchange for America removing its missiles in Turkey.

- He signed the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963 along with the Soviet Union and United Kingdom.

- He had his own version of FDR's New Deal program called "New Frontier". It ambitiously promised federal funding for education, medical care for the elderly, and government intervention to halt the recession. Kennedy also promised an end to racial discrimination.

Among the laws/programs passed:
--- Massive liberal federal funding (22 billion in 1960 dollars) for the Apollo Project to take man to the moon. Such an effort created rapid scientific advancement that led to a stronger economy.
--- Passed the Fair Labor Standard Act of 1961 that expanded FLSA's scope and gradually increased the minimum wage.
--- Passed the Omnibus Housing Bill of 1961 that asked for 3.19 billion (again in 1960 dollars) to provide for affordable housing for middle and low income families. In addition, the bill provided for mass transportation, urban renewal, community development, and technical assistance to local and state government. All this was to be overseen by the newly created Department of Housing and Urban Affairs
--- Passed the Manpower Development and Training Act of 1962 that authorized a three-year program aimed at retraining workers displaced by new technology.
--- Passed the Area Redevolopment Act of 1961 whose goal was government funding of the private sector (usually urban or rural depressed areas) in an effort to stimulate job creation. The effort also included $4.5 million per year for vocational training programs.
--- Passed the 1963 amendment to the National Defense Education Act. It included $731 million for state and local governments maintaining vocational training programs.
--- Passed the the Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act of 1963, beginning a new era in federal support for mental health services.
--- Proposed the Medical Health Bill (later known as Medicare) to Congress, but congress failed to enact it.

- He was a liberal supporter of civil rights. His actions include:
--- Assigned federal marshals to protect liberal northern Freedom Riders from racist southern conservatives.
--- Sent 400 federal marshals and 3,000 federal troops to protect James Meredith, a black student, from angry white crowds and to ensure he could enroll at the University of Mississippi.
--- Intervened once again with federal marshals when Alabama Governor George Wallace refused to allow tep black students into the University of Alabama. Later that evening, he proposed legislation that would eventually become the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
--- Sent the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to Congress in June 1963, before he was assassinated. His successor, liberal LBJ signed it to law.
--- Created the President’s Commission on the Status of Women in 1961 to investigate questions regarding women's equality in education, the workplace, and under the law. The commission was chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt and other women's right activists.
--- Passed the Equal Pay Act of 1963, to address sex-based pay discrimination.

http://www.answers.com/topic/new-frontie...

Answer 7

Perhaps because a great leader belongs to America, not just one party. I long for that time to return...when each side can recognize a real leader, and throw their support behind him, regardless of his party affiliation...

Answer 8

He was more closely in line with a modern Moderate republican than a modern commie demon crat. He was a fiscal conservative. he went to war. he thought Teddy was not good for politics.........................