"I'm proud to say I'm a 'Liberal." John F. Kennedy, September 14, 1960

[BikeWriter]

"What do our opponents mean when they apply to us the label "Liberal?" If by "Liberal" they mean, as they want people to believe, someone who is soft in his policies abroad, who is against local government, and who is unconcerned with the taxpayer's dollar, then … we are not that kind of "Liberal." But if by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people -- their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties -- someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal."
- John F. Kennedy, September 14, 1960
http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=131981

[lonestarnot]

1. Liberal and Proud of It!

Demise of identity is in person wearing the label.

[BikeWriter]

3. I'm proud, too, Pard!

:-)

[zann725]

6. Proud too! Plenty!

n/t

[BikeWriter]

18. Thank you, Zann! n/t

[marcologico]

2. awesome quote

It doesn't get any better than that! :toast:

[BikeWriter]

4. Yes, I love the quote!

I thought it might up some spirits around here!

[NewJeffCT]

5. just goes to show you...

It just goes to show you how far we've regressed. When Ike ran, he had to embrace many liberal ideals just to be considered in the mainstream. Goldwater is more liberal than many of today's Republicans, but was considered an extreme radical conservative back in 1964.

[tabasco]

7. Ike would strongly oppose the neocon corporate cabal.

He warned us in no uncertain terms against the power of the military-industrial complex. He may have invented the term. Ike would be on our side if he was here.

http://coursesa.matrix.msu.edu/~hst306/documents/indust.html

[BikeWriter]

17. Damned right Ike warned us...

about exactly what is happening today!

[BikeWriter]

12. Yes, but considering Gore and Kerry got more legitimate votes...

...all we have to do is keep the thieving GOP away from our ballot boxes!

[proud patriot]

8. Great post

:thumbsup:

[BikeWriter]

13. Thank you, Patriot!

I am honored to be able to share those words with you all!

[theangrydem]

9. Full text on PBS site

The text of the full speech is available on the PBS site. Sorry, no link.

[BikeWriter]

14. Hmm, thanks. I'll have to see if I can find it!

:-)

[Been Fishing]

10. YES!

See this definition of Liberalism expressed in very simply and straight forward language:

http://www.liberalslant.com/liberalism.htm

[BikeWriter]

15. Superb!

Thank you, my Friend!

[dolstein]

11. Of course, back then, not all liberals were wusses

JFK was a war hero and a staunch cold warrior who was campaigning to the right of Nixon on foreign policy.

Unfortunately, in the late 1960s/early 1970s, the left-fringe hi-jacked the term, causing the population at large to associate liberalism with a weak, pacifist foreign policy, and a hostility towards all things patriotic.

[BikeWriter]

16. Yep, JFK and RFK were anything but weak! n/t

[moggie12]

19. Quick Liberal Test

Take this test to see if you are a Liberal who "looks
ahead and not behind".  Here's the question:  Was
Clinton's welfare reform policy good or bad?  If you answered
"good", that means you are a forward-thinking
liberal:  The welfare system desperately needed change.  It
was a well-intentioned effort, but had counterproductive
results.  If you answered, "bad", you are a
backwards-looking liberal.  It means you are unwilling to look
at reality and see where we went wrong.  If we can't learn
from our mistakes, we will never get anywhere.  

P.S. I worked in local government for 20 years and saw
firsthand how destructive the welfare system was for the very
people it was supposed to help.  Please, please, think about
this and don't reject my viewpoint out of hand.