Obama's Win & Comments on Caroline Kennedy's Pruned and Clipped Sculpture of JFK's Legacy

The only thing I can tell definitively after the South Carolina Democratic primary is that John Edwards is out, but I thought that before. But not winning in the state of his birth pretty much seals the deal that Edwards will not live in the White House, at least not next year.

Barack Obama had a big win in South Carolina. For those who support him -- this victory was huge. Some are saying he took and handled everything the Clinton machine threw at him and prevailed. Maybe so. When I see that 80% of the African-American vote went to Obama, I can't help but think that this may be a negative in attracting Hispanic votes -- and it is the Hispanic voter that is increasing in weight in the country. Some suggest that a candidate who draws heavily from the African-American vote will lose the Hispanic vote, and vice versa.

We'll see. And the Hillary Clinton people say that they knew this was going to happen in South Carolina and thus sent her off to prepare for February 5th.

I think that the battle is looking very close -- and that Denver should be fun. I'm going to get my accommodations lined up now.

One last note on something that makes me feel very uncomfortable. Caroline Kennedy endorses Barack Obama today in an op-ed titled "A President Like My Father" and promulgates more of the ethereal mysticism about Obama being the new JFK. I won't challenge Kennedy's own preferences or her own assessment of her dad's contributions to national life.

But I will say that JFK, as significant a leader as he was, was a hard core Cold War hawk. He approved the invasion of other nations and approved of regime change as a tool of American foreign policy. While in the end, his intellect and the assembled high quality intellectuals he had around him kept the world from falling into a nuclear catastrophe with the Soviet Union, it was Kennedy's youthfulness and his combination of hawkishness and Wilsonian rhetoric that helped precipitate a number of crises.

Messing with the memory of any icon like JFK has its dangers -- but while Caroline Kennedy may not want to feature these parts of her father's legacy in her endorsement of Obama, I feel I must note them. Obama is a compelling candidate who must know that gravity operates even in the White House.

Mysticism and gut will not assure our allies, deter our foes, restore confidence among our citizens, or make America regain its unique national and international character again.

Steve Clemons publishes the popular political blog, The Washington Note

Comments

[Zanti]

Dang it. I came up with "Obama nation," then of course discovered it's all over Google. I was late to the pun.

Regardless, let me say that I do not want an Obama nation.

[holeybuybull]

To all of those busy slurping the Obamaid.
Should this man be elected, there will be a new entry in Webster's dictionary:
Obamaboozled - fooled again.

[ObamaEdwards]

Obama will, undoubtedly, do as JFK did and surround himself with experienced cabinet members who will offer him good advice. Problem solved.

Can you find another speck of dust to complain about? Sure you can.

[Issak]

"But I will say that JFK, as significant a leader as he was, was a hard core Cold War hawk"

I think that the context of the times was markedly different from today. The USSR unlike the supposed evil extremists of today ( a rag tag band of thugs, conveniently elevated to godzilla status) the USSR represented a true and present danger- a formidable opponent intent on world expansion. How do you suppose they could've been handled? if you know your history olive branches was food to them -

At any rate, ultimately the JFK to Obama comparison seems inept to me, that Caroline makes it is actually unfortunate, because it reveals a lack of understanding on the issues. Hers is no more than a superficial assessment consistent with the majority of Obama followers seemingly unaware of the true meaning of change. Obama -put simply is not JFK. Period.

[longislandlol]

There's an old expression.. that goes something like this.. and the young shall lead.. all the young people are leading their parents with their minds...

[deminmo]

JFK had a lot of military advisors that wanted him to do something a lot different than what
actually happened in the Cold War. Just like
Bush, they believed a "pre-emptive strike" was
the way to head off trouble. Obama is not JFK
and will never be. He would do better to seriously consider his own legacy building if
he becomes President, and how it will build
bridges with other countries, and solve a lot
of messy problems here. His focus is on his
campaign, but he would do well to pay attention
to what the guy who still has the position,
does in the coming months.

[SamanthaJaneSalem]

"Mysticism and gut"-- that would be Jenna Bush's endorsement, not Caroline Kennedy's.

I'm OK with "Obama is like JFK" (or Reagan or Lincoln) or "Hillary is like Bill" (or LBJ). But one erroneous comparison we need to bury deep then carve RIP on the gravestone above is "Obama is like Bush."

Obama won't have Halliburton's ex-CEO as his running mate, willing to start a war so his old company can make billions. Ashcroft or Gonzo won't be his Attorney General. Rumsfeld wouldn't be his Secretary of Defense, and Condi Rice wouldn't be sitting at the table with him either. Many of the disasters of the past seven years were due to the people Bush surrounded himself with.

Obama is not the son of a political dynasty with troubling Saudi connections. Obama wasn't arrested for drinking and driving. Obama hasn't gleefully sentenced men to death. Obama doesn't mistake his Christian faith for some divine mission.

So the next time you say hear someone say, "We don't need another President who is just nice, who simply has good intuition and only knows how to act on a gut feeling"-- I beg you to remember, Al Gore received more votes than Bush, and half the country knew in 2000 that Bush was not a compassionate conservative, that he wasn't a likable guy, that he lacked judgment and honesty. The electorate was not fooled-- the majority knew Bush was a bad person.

And tonight Bush will continue his streak of having never given a good speech. So that's not a similarity either.

"Ask not what your country can do for you . . ." JFK is known for his inspiring words more than the details of his policies. Having a President who can inspire us with his speaking ability doesn't sound like a bad thing to me.

[holeybuybull]

Wow! Obama as the second coming of JFK!!! Do we have to wait until after his coronation for him to do the following:
(1) expand the war effort as JFK did
(2) use massive amounts of prescription drugs
(3) reanimate the corpse of Marilyn Monroe for sex
I can't wait.

[LeeFromVA]

Don't down play what Senator Obama has to offer. His head may be in the clouds, but his feet are firmly planted on the ground. He has an exhaustive plan for the future that is very much a mainstream Democratic platform. The real question is, who is best suited to implement the new agenda. Clearly this is more than a resume job. We are looking for the leader of the free world, and I can think of none better to represent us on the world stage. Oh yeah, and his ability to change the discourse is an added benefit.

[fitCTmom]

Kennedy wasn't comparing their "hawkish-ness" she was comparing the sense of purpose, hope and inspiration both her father and Obama instill in those that open their minds long enough to listen to him. They understand that nothing truly gets done in this country without the support of the people. Big huge land-slide elections produce big huge changes. 51% of the vote for a presidential winner means 4 years of bitter nothingness.

[jazzman]

Obama is not Martin Luther King.
Obama is not Jesse Jackson.
Obama is not JFK.
Obama is not Robert Kennedy.
Obama is Obama. A truly unique and transcendent figure who has entered politics and begun inspiring a new generation which is quite different from the baby boom generation.
It's time to move over and let this new intelligent and charismatic figure lead us and his generation into the future.

[Ashall]

Look at the core supporters of Barack Obama - our youngest generations "get it" just like they did computers and new technology, because their minds are open and clear, not closed and clouded by memories of long ago that no longer make a difference. The world looks at us like we're all a bunch of ruthless cowboys who don't have a lick of sense. We're separated by all the very things that laws are supposed to protect us from...race, gender, religion¦. Barack Obama wants us to lay down our weapons and work together for a common good. What's so bad about that? His plan is to work out problems with words, not weapons. We all know Washington's way of doing business is so broken that all the candidates are screaming "change", but Barack Obama, in reality, is the only one who can make it happen. All the negatives from the Clinton campaign only reinforce their greatest fear¦that this young American is destined for greatness as a world leader, and that"s something they can"t duplicate. Their age (mine) and their closed minds can"t perceive any other way but their own, and that"s the tragedy of it all.

[moonjumper]

What's the rationale for Hllary's campaign again? It seems to have morphed from into only one message -- why you shouldn't vote for Obama.

[texanna]

Ted Kennedy's entitled to support whomever he wishes, but I don't for a second think his support is anything but politically calculated, because that's who he is. With respect to Caroline, well, she really wasn't around then, now was she? Obama = Kennedy? Please! Kennedy didn't run on a platform of "just follow me, because I know the way". He had actual things he intended to accomplish beyond making nice with the other side of the aisle. He was also a stark contrast in his positions to the other side of the aisle, whereas Mr. O doesn't just want to reach across the aisle he wants to jump in their laps. Excuse me if I have been demagogued to death, literally, for the last 7 years and don't want to continue with that punishment. Bush swept into the WH with much the same rhetoric as that of Sen. Obama's current speechifying and look what that's gotten us. While I don't have quite the same dark thoughts that I had about W from the beginning, I am put off that I have been made to feel uncomfortable about not being an Obama supporter in much the same way that I have been made to feel unpatriotic by W and his NeoNut Bushies for not supporting his positions.

[ltyr2002]

Inexperience.
My misgiving with Obama has always been that he has the thinnest resume of any candidate in memory.

What kind of president would he make? Who can say. He certainly speaks well and has lots of fans, but does that make a good president?