I just made a post a few hours ago regarding the election of 1928. In many 1928 campaign mirrors that of the 1960 campaign. However, I believe the election of 1960 is most comparable to the election of 2008, which is why I saved it for this last post. For the purpose of this post I will assume Barack Obama will be the Democratic candidate, quite frankly, because it makes for a more relevant comparison.
(* = or Clinton)
-In this election one of the major issues was whether to vote for Irish Catholic John Kennedy or Protestant Richard Nixon.
-In the election of 2008 It would be black candidate Barack Obama* who also has relatives of Muslim descent versus….well we don’t really know what the hell McCain’s religious views are.
-Kennedy had to avoid isolating the Protestant voters. To do this he took a platform stressing the importance separation of ‘church’ and state.
On September 12, 1960, he went to speak to members of the Protestant Church in Texas. During the speech Kennedy said, “I am not the Catholic candidate for President, I am the Democratic Party’s candidate for president who happens also to be a Catholic. I do not speak for my church on public matters, and the church does not speak for me.” (Boller, Jr. 298)
Despite this, the campaign featured religious propaganda.
-Obama has had to stress, “that he has “been to the same church _ the same Christian church _ for almost 20 years," Obama said, stressing the word Christian and drawing cheers from the faithful in reply. "I was sworn in with my hand on the family Bible. Whenever I'm in the United States Senate, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. So if you get some silly e-mail ... send it back to whoever sent it and tell them this is all crazy. Educate." According to a Jan. 21st article on MSNBC.com http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22767392/ .
Despite his words, there is still propaganda circulating on the web pertaining to his race and religion.
Nixon made charges against Kennedy that included exploiting the fact that Kennedy was young and “inexperienced (300).” Kennedy was 46 when he died in office.
Clinton has made the same charges in regards to Barack Obama who turns 48 in August.
Kennedy charged that the country had been in decline under the rule of the Republicans. He emphasized America’s decline in the eyes of the world, America’s lack of production, and America’s failures in the arms race vs. Russia. (298)
Both Democratic candidates have made an issue out of the sinking economy under the Bush Administration, the failures overseas, and our inability to maintain a good foreign image.
John Kennedy was the first Irish Catholic president, if Obama happens to win he would be America’s first black President. Both men dealt with issue of culture and religion, and both were considered to be charismatic, energetic, and well spoken young men. Both ran against a Republic party that had controlled office with a two term incumbent (Eisenhower and Bush). Both ran against older candidates and were thought to be liberal and forward thinking. The lines of comparison are seemingly more generic on the Republican side, both were white, Christian of some sort, and older men.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-01-16-clinton-bush_x.htm
http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=12782369
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22767392/
Presidential Campaigns and Elections. Boller Paul.
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